By this time, most of the districts in our provinces must have already conducted their district athletic meet in preparation for the division athletic meet. This is the culmination of sports activities participated in by student-athletes from both private and non-private schools from elementary and secondary levels. Their goal is to reach the national level while this ‘Palaro’ aims to inculcate the spirit of discipline, teamwork, excellence, fair play, solidarity, sportsmanship, and other values inherent in sports.
In this event, the teachers act as coaches of their student-athletes. But they are also the event organizers. They facilitate. They make sure game rules are complied with, schedules are followed, and participants are safe. They hold a vital role in the success of an event momentous in the life of a child. Beyond this though, their bigger role, their more important task is to help each student-athlete develop values he will need for life.
Discipline, teamwork, excellence, fair play, solidarity, and sportsmanship are traits these children will not need only for the moment; but are life skills they will need for daily survival if they are to live in harmony with other people. Indeed, these will be inculcated in the lives of these little ones through sports, if they were properly guided. Teachers should not think that this is just a district meet (or any other meet). They should not think that the children just came to play; they came to learn! For a beginner who tried her best to play in table tennis and lose, it is tempting to just let the moment pass. Anyway, she played and that’s what’s important. But, what about her frustration? Was the coach there to help her develop sportsmanship? Or maybe the coach thought her/his duty was over when the game was over?
Did we let the child play for life? Or did we play just for now?
By Janet G. Coria-en