Samante: Sports and citizenship

Samante: Sports and citizenship

TWELVE days before the elite athletes of the 30th SEA Games embark in the competitions, showcased elsewhere are various grassroots sports programs. It is the Davao City Athletic Association (DCAA) Meet 2019 for basic education student-athletes to qualify for the Davao Region Athletic Association (Davraa) Meet 2020 and, ultimately, the Palarong Pambansa 2020 in Occidental Mindoro.

Over the weekend, the BEST Center sponsored Small Basketeers Philippines (SBP)-Passerelle National Finals Twin Tournaments will be staged in Roxas City. The SBP-Passerelle will showcase the best four elementary and junior high school basketball programs from Luzon, NCR, Visayas, and Mindanao.

I had the opportunity to coach the AdDU elementary basketball teams in these tournaments during my foray into coaching. Our Dcaa team in 2010 made it as far as third place in the Palarong Pambansa 2011. The SBP teams I have coached went to three straight finals appearances from 2007-2009.

Grassroots sports programs do their part in developing potential athletes for future competitions. The government must, by all means, continue extending their support for these programs.

Grassroots sports are not only about competing. It is also about instilling the values we wish our young and aspiring athletes to carry on with them. Participation in grassroots sports is the opportune time to mold and prepare better citizens of our country. Citizens, as they mature, will look back into their early experiences in games and translate it into something better for everyone.

In developing children through grassroots sports programs, we also have to remember that these are all school-aged children. These are student-athletes. By the very term of being a “student-athlete,” students first before athletes. As adult companions, coaches and parents, of these budding athletes, introducing the balance between academics and extra-curricular activities, falls on our shoulders. We have to make these student-athletes understand that being a responsible athlete is not only translated into success in games but in academics as well. Let us not fall into the trap of treating them as young professional athletes. They are not. Use their participation in sports as a medium for helping them become better adults in the future.

All the best to the coaches, parents, and supporters of our young student athletes in the games that you will be playing.

Notes from the sidelines:

Today, November 20, is Game 2 of the UAAP Men’s Basketball Final between ADMU and UST at 4 p.m. at the Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena.

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