NEWLY-APPOINTED PSC Commissioner Fritz Gaston intends to help the Philippine Sports Commission enhance its grassroot sports development programs, including coming up with a general template for all National Sports Associations that the government sports agency is assisting and funding.
“What I gathered from my meeting with PSC chairman Dickie Bachmann last week is that there should be general guidelines or principles that will apply and can be adopted by all the NSAs,” said Gaston, who was appointed as the fourth commissioner by Malacanang last March 24, completing the five-man PSC board.
“We are on the same page as the chairman that we need some basic conditions for all NSAs in having an honest-to-goodness grassroots sports development program and that is where I believe I can help,” he said.
“Hindi puwede ang mga NSA motherhood statements that they have grassroots sports development programs. They must show proof they, indeed, have one based on the guidelines that we have set,” Gaston, who earned a Masters’ degree from the prestigious Asian Institute of Management, added.
He said the grassroots plans by the NSAs can be “feeders” that help can identify potential athletes who can be nurtured to elite level and can ultimately play for the country in international competitions.
“Part of the talent identification is that these budding athletes should also have the character and aptitude for the sport they have chosen, which is actually what is being done in Australia,” the former Ateneo varsity basketball standout and coach said.
“The Australian sports authorities will observe for a year or two if these young athletes can cope with the demands of their respective sports. If not, then they are cut,” Gaston said.
Drawing from his own experience with the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas as part of the SBP Coach’s Commission, he said grassroots sports development should be complemented by clinics for coaches and trainors, who will teach the young athletes properly.
“Among the basics in these coaching clinics is how should a coach or trainor comport himself, including attire, in coaching these buddings athletes, and they should relate to them,” Gaston stressed. “Dapat alam nila ‘yun.
“You can only have good students and athletes if you have good teachers and coaches. So this I believe is part of my mission and vision for the PSC,” he said.
Gaston said the NSAs and sports he will oversee are boxing, kick boxing, kurash, rowing, sambo, shooting, wrestling, swimming and motorcycle sports.
