Collegiate leagues should push for additional protocols for violence and prioritize the student-athletes’ safety and mental health according to lawmakers
As the first half of collegiate leagues ended-- bringing some of the most spectacular highlights and unexpected runs-- the ongoing sports calendar also brought some notable incidents that players and schools themselves would rather forget.
In this light, three lawmakers have raised their opinions and suggestions on how to maximize the upcoming offseason for the betterment of the image of the local leagues and to prioritize the safety of the players. .
Rep. Angelica Natasha Co from ADMU Class of 2011 sent her congratulations to her alma mater as it clinched the Men’s Basketball title in UAAP S85 while also prodding the governing body for reforms.
She urged that the UAAP must “take a hard look at the new and quickly evolving amateur and professional basketball environment, especially now that our best basketball athletes and even coaches have foreign leagues as alternatives to the PBA and other local leagues.”
Rep. Bernadette Herrera of BHW Partylist asked the local leagues “to factor in compliance with our sports laws, including RA 10676 (Student-Athletes Protection Act) and RA 11180 (Athletic Programs Report Act),” in light of the recent violence that have been highlighted in the recent weeks.
She said that championships come hand-in-hand with additional pressure on the shoulders of the winners especially after the impact of the pandemic on the players’ mental health.
“Rules of engagement between the UAAP and the Philippine National Police might be necessary given the troubling incidents of violence coming with unsportsmanlike conduct...Let post-season break be time to review, and amend policies on sportsmanship, violence, abuse, and athletes’ welfare,” the Congress member said in a statement.
Manila Rep. Joel Chua (3rd District) said, “championship game pressures test the composure and talent of any team and its athletes. Not to be overlooked is the sportsmanship of players and their coaches who resisted the temptations of unsportsmanlike conduct on and off the court.”
Lastly, Manila Rep. Chua posted his concern as the Commission on Higher Education issued guidelines on tertiary sports development last July, unfortunately, Order No. 8, series of 2022, did not touch on the specifics which deals with violence and abuse.
He asked the leagues, together with CHED, to implement special provisions which will prioritize the mental health of these students and to include comprehensive psychosocial assessments of the athletes and coaching staff.
“Given recent developments involving sports violence, the policy review and changes I am suggesting are necessary and urgent. Such policy issues should cover prevention, incident response, post-event actions, athletes, officials, staff, spectators, the conduct of competitions, coordination with law enforcement, safe spaces, and protection of children, teenagers, and young adults,” the lawyer-congressman added.
Tags: UAAP, NCAA, student-athletes