PSC, CHED partner to improve college coaches

The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) have forged a partnership in hopes of upgrading abilities of coaches in the collegiate level that could result in the country developing more elite athletes and taking away its dependence on Filipino-foreign bets.

Both government agencies have begun to map out the direction designed to upgrade the skills of tertiary coaches, trainers and even faculty members by providing short courses, training accreditation and licensing, the first time it will be done at that level.

“It is the missing link that will provide a professional development in continuous sports education and will cater more to the educational aspect of our teachers in coaching,’’ said PSC chair William Ramirez.

Even the construction and maintenance of sports facilities in colleges and universities nationwide will be under the watchful eye of the CHEd and the PSC.

“We must make sure that what they (schools) build are up to standards. You cannot produce great athletes if you have defective facilities because there is a science to that,’’ said CHEd chair Prospero de Vera III.

The CHEd chair explained further that enhancing the competencies and skills of the coaches in various sports in higher education institutions should be done in a unified manner.

Both the PSC and CHEd vowed to gather data on how universities are developing great athletes and use the valuable information to help other universities improve their sports programs.