DepEd Benguet pushes sports tourneys to boost medal hauls

Coaches told: Reign in temper 

By Augustin Dao-anis

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet—Alarmed by its medal standing in the recently concluded 2017 Cordillera administrative Region Athletic Association Meet, provincial Education officials urged its coaches to initiate sports competitions in schools to expose athletes in different levels of tournaments.

An evaluation meeting called for by the Benguet Division Office found out most of the province’s athletes lacked exposure to sports tournaments.

Dean Mark Monang, Benguet provincial government sports coordinator, said during the meeting that there was need to expose the athletes to competitions.

To encourage athletes, the provincial government gives cash incentives to athletes who earned gold, silver, or bronze medal in regional or higher sports competitions as stipulated in provincial ordinance number made in 2015.

Coaches admitted most athletes only participate in DepEd-organized sports competitions like district and provincial athletic meets, which only happen once a year.

Benguet sports coordinator Ceasar Luma-ang and Lucio B. Alawas, school governance and operations development chief, urged coaches to submit sports competition proposals or training designs.

They also required the coaches to submit list of priority sports equipment to be purchased.            

Luma-ang said he supports any move of coaches or trainers in enlisting their athletes to any sports tournaments organized by private organizations provided protocol is observed.

Benguet only earned 33 gold medals, which is lower than its 43 gold medals in last year’s CARAA Meet.

Meanwhile, Alawas cautioned the hot-tempered coaches to control their emotions and observe decency and respect especially during critical judgments during games. “We cannot avoid being angry at times but we should do the proper way,” he said.

Benguet Schools Division Superintendent Federico P. Martin said he received a letter from tournament managers concerning an issue of a coach who allegedly assaulted officiating officials due to unfair officiating last CARAA Meet.

Despite this, Martin recommended inclusion of the coach to the Palarong Pambansa next month.

Meanwhile, Diego Dumapis, a Benguet sports analyst, said there is need for a sports psychologist for the province.

“The coaches should be guided on how they treat their athletes, which would affect their performance,” Dumapis said. “There are coaches, who get angry or shout at their athletes. That should not be.”