One Student, One Sports program readies Maogmang Lugar to be city of champions

By Jason B. Neola NAGA CITY --- To provide the young ones with competence to excel in sports, understand and apply the concept of teamwork and the value of sportsmanship are what the “One Student, One Sports” program of the local government here advocates. The program which is anchored on the city government’s thrust to build a city of champions will also enhance the sports program of the Department of Education (DepEd) and strengthen collaboration between the two government entities as the LGU consolidates its new and existing sports programs under one umbrella campaign. Executive Order 2016-048, which seeks to enhance the Department of Education (DepEd) sports program by establishing and implementing the “One Student, One Sports” program of the city government anchored on the thrust to build a city of champions was issued on November 4, last year by Mayor John G. Bongat, and will take effect this school year 2017-2018. The executive order details how the program will operate as it also defines the roles, functions and responsibilities of each partnering entities, specifically the city government of Naga, the DepEd, and the city’s 27 barangay councils together with the Education, Scholarships and Sports Office (ESSO) and the City Events, Protocol and Public Information Office (CEPPIO). Citing sports as a human right for all individuals, the executive order mandates all the partnering entities to “provide sports activities to school children to promote their good health, education and well-being.” It is underscored also in the executive order that with the operation of the program, the children, who are becoming less engaged in physical activities with the rise of interactive technology, will be led to a well-rounded lifestyle. How it will go? Based on the implementing guidelines, the students shall, upon enrolment, initially choose three out of the 22 Palaro sports disciplines that they like best since they must be allowed to develop naturally as they mature physically, mentally, and emotionally at different rates. Sports experts, coaches, and sports psychologists believed that it is not good for the maturation process of the students to allow them to specialize in one sport early in life. Instead, the child must be allowed to sample a range of sports or several physical activities before settling on one sports. At ages 2-5, when children are beginning to master basic movements but are said to be too young for most type of organized sports, unstructured free play comes out the best like running, climbing, kicking, tumbling dancing, playing catch with lightweight ball, and pedaling a bicycle with a training wheel. Close supervision by coaches, mentors or trainors is highly needed when children are doing these sports activities. At age 6-7, when children’s coordination and attention spans improve and that they are able to follow directions and understand the concept of teamwork, organized sports activities are suggested, such as, softball/baseball, soccer, football, martial arts, tennis, track and field, and swimming. At age 8 and above, most sports including contact sports may be acceptable as long as the student is provided with protective gear. School children must be carefully supervised during strength and conditioning training. It is also emphasized that as a child tries various sports, physical education teachers must stay involved and consider team assignments where children are grouped according to physical maturity and skill level. After the development process of physical activities and skills training, the P.E. teacher is required to prepare an inventory chart showing the sports event the children are inclined in. This, in order to guide the teachers to provide proper direction to students towards their specific sports specialization. Grades 3-10 students who are ready for a highly competitive level are guided to choose only one or two sports and focus solely on it until the Junior Level. At this point, the student enjoys the game and excels above all others for specialization in the senior high school (Grades 11-12) such as coaching, officiating, fitness and wellness, sports medicine, sport management, etc. or for college scholarships. Monitoring schedules For the month of June to July, students will be given the liberty to choose initially 3 sports during enrollment period while the preparation of the available facilities and equipment is going on along with the conduct of Physical Fitness Testing/Anthropometric Testing, and the training of coaches and trainors. For August to September, exploratory activities/free play for pre-school and kinder, Team games/Contact games for Grade 6 and above, checking of the Sports Inventory Chart, Sports Caravan (school and barangay level), participation of students in school intramurals. For October to January, participation of students in Inter-School Sports Events/Competitions, participation of students in district meet and city meet, live-in and live-out concentration training of city athletes, participation of Naga City athletes in Batang Pinoy and other national and international sports events. For the month of February, participation of Naga City athletes in Palarong Bikol, Post Physical Fitness Test (PFT), and the schedule for students to choose one sport that he/she wants to concentrate in, from the 3 sports he/she originally chose. March to May, live-in and live-out concentration training of city athletes for Palarong Pambansa, participation of Naga City athletes in Palarong Pambansa, Summer Sports Camp, Inter-Barangay Sports Festival, and training of coaches and trainors.