PSC readies coaches’ clinic; Visayas rollout starts next month

MANILA, Philippines–The Philippine Sports Commission was forced to cancel several big-ticket projects this year due to the coronavirus health scare, but it won’t hold back from strengthening the country’s grassroots development program.

PSC Commissioner Ramon Fernandez said a series of coaching clinics would be rolled out in the Visayas region beginning next month, jump-starting the sports agenda of the government long hampered by the quarantine period since the middle of March.

The coaching classes, which will zero in on sports psychology, physiology, strength and conditioning and nutrition, will be done online with doctors and experts from the PSC-Medical Scientific Athlete Service taking the lead.

“Focus should be given on coaching since it’s an important aspect in sports development,’’ said Fernandez.
He added the PSC won’t spend much on the program because the classes will be online while the honoraria of guest speakers can be funded by sponsors.

When the PSC announced the series of monthly clinics until December, over 800 coaches have signed up from more than 40 cities and towns in the Visayas.

“We were surprised on the level of interest that the coaches have shown. After the online lectures, we’re hoping that we can come up with a face-to-face method of teaching,’’ said Fernandez.

A total of 100 coaches have been entered into the first batch for July and several more will participate in the succeeding months, all of whom will receive a Level 1 certificate after passing the grade in the written examinations.

According to Fernandez, coaches will progress to Level 2 (coaching in high school and college) and eventually to Level 3 (national team coaching) if they can show exceptional learning.

“At that point (Level 3), we can send them to study overseas which the PSC will fully support,’’ said Fernandez.