WHILE some collegiate teams are looking forward to resuming conditioning workouts once the Commission on Higher Education’s technical working group releases its safety and health guidelines for the COVID pandemic, a coach of one UAAP men’s basketball squad is not completely sold on that idea.
For good reason.
The coach said getting back to shape after a lengthy seven-month layoff takes time and doing it under the proposed “bubble-type” training inside the school premises or dormitory makes it even harder.
The UAAP intends to launch its 83rd season, set to be hosted by La Salle, early next year but with the lingering health risks and perils brought about by the deadly virus, the fate of the new season is hanging in the air.
So, why prepare?
“That’s welcome news but you have to look at the whole picture. Remember, the last practice session was seven months ago so you are looking for at least three months of workouts to be back in basketball shape,” the coach, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Malaya-Business Insight yesterday.
“So, you will be in a bubble for three months? Next question is when will the season officially start?”
The CHED bared last Oct. 8 the draft of its health and safety guidelines for collegiate teams bidding to return to training, with stay-in training inside the school premises highly encouraged.
The set-up is like the bubble situation the Joint Administrative Order group approved for pro leagues such as the PBA, Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3, and Philippines Football League.
Unlike the pros, however, these bubble set-ups for collegiate teams are limited only for training and practices.
The coach said the CHED should be more detailed on its guidelines, adding bubble-type workouts, although voluntary, will leave schools with big holes in their pockets.
“The CHED should be more specific on its guidelines like ilan ang players na puwede sa workouts, paano iyong shifting, and the like kasi collegiate players are not like the pros na madali makapag-adjust, kaunting turo lang, alam na gagawin,” the coach explained.
