By Kristel Satumbaga
The Commission on Higher Education yesterday released the guidelines that will be used by collegiate athletes and schools for them to be allowed to resume practice.
CHED chair Popoy de Vera yesterday said the recommended protocols are now up for approval from the Inter-Agency Task Force and, and as soon as it gets the green light, they will allow student-athletes to resume training.
“We hope our stakeholders and administrators can seriously implement the guidelines,” said de Vera in an online presser also attended by representatives from the Department of Health, Philippine Sports Commission, Games and Amusements Board and school leagues like the NCAA and UAAP.
The guidelines, however, will be limited to workouts, drills and physical conditioning. Scrimmages or actual games are strictly prohibited.
Athletes who are aged 18 to 21 years old have to secure parental consent while those younger athletes will be limited to virtual training.
It also bans live audience and is limited only to places under General Community Quarantine or more relaxed levels of quarantine at a “bubble” or schools.
Upon the recommendation of the DOH, a 14-day quarantine is recommended as an alternative to testing.
De Vera said it could be enforced as soon as the IATF gives it a go and how quickly schools can meet the requirements.
“The earlier they can comply with the guidelines, that’s the determination as to when they can start,” said de Vera.
De Vera said if athletes follow the guidelines to the letter, there’s a strong chance competition would be allowed next just like what happened in the pro-leagues like the PBA and Chooks-to-Go 3×3.
“It’s the same with pro-sports. It will be very easy to convince the IATF groups doing the practices if they can do a very good job protecting the athletes. And if we can show this, I don’t see any major obstacle why the IATF won’t approve tournaments,” said de Vera.
The NCAA and UAAP are both targeting the first quarter of next year as the start of their respective seasons.
