Coaches for kids

I've been in many discussions about sports for kids the past several weeks and it seems that one problem that I believe should be immediately addressed is the lack of properly trained coaches to handle children.

There are many people who can coach and there are many who think they can coach, but are not really coaches. On the matter of coaching kids, there are many who are doing the job now, but look like they are not really qualified to do so.

Due to the lack of properly trained coaches for kids, sports patrons and eager parents have no other recourse. This is not exactly something that is unique to us in Cebu. In fact I believe that this is a worldwide problem though some countries are doing so much better than us due to their resources.

While I am not saying that we as a nation is doing very bad on this aspect, I firmly believe that we can do better if our limited budget for sports would be spent on properly training the trainers and the coaches.

As a parent who spends a lot of time on the playing field with others who are also supportive of their children, I hear and personally experience horror stories that could have been avoided had the coaches been properly trained.

Honestly, I have a very vague idea of how to really get this on track and I hope that our brilliant minds in sports out there would contribute what they can to make this happen.

We can build so many arenas and purchase so much equipment and recruit thousands if not millions of kids for sports. However, without the proper coaching, all the investment will not be worth it.

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One thing that I am hoping for today and in the next few days is that there would be fine weather. Why? It is because I'll be off to Danao City today and tomorrow together with our team captain Jiji Gullas, for the 70th Anniversary Tournament of Club Filipino.

Golf and rain just do not seem to be a merry mix for me. Aside from having to limp home from the course with a bruised ego from all the mishaps, there are also those pains that I suffer from being out there in the cold.

Yes, it comes with age folks and I would not try to explain that I injured such part of my body playing judo and other sports that I love to do.

Anyway, if the weather doesn't hold, the fun will continue and I'm sure all the misadventures will be more than made up when we are in the company of friends.

Club Filipino has been known for its legendary camaraderie and this tournament will be another chance to experience that. That would explain why a non-member of the club like me would end up as part of the tournament's working committee.

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While I was about to end this column, heavy rain suddenly fell and it felt like my wishes for good weather would not be granted. Or probably it will be. Since today we shall see the sun shining. Well hopefully that is.