4 Ideas to Strengthen Youth Football in the Philippines

4 Ideas to Strengthen Youth Football in the Philippines

By Rely San Agustin

The past couple of months saw some promising news for Philippine sports with the IATF giving the thumbs up for professional teams to resume supervised training. The PBA resumed practice last August and is now preparing for the restart of the 45th season this coming October 9 at Clark City. Chooks-To-Go 3x3, also a professional sport, resumed training last month, and the Philippines Football League (PFL) has allowed their teams to resume training and targeting this October to kick-off the new season.

One thing that sees no clear future yet is the resumption of youth sports, both training and competition. As of the moment, coaches and kids engage in online training week in and week out. A method focused more on technique and just that. It lacks the other half of the spectrum; the matches, playing with teammates and physical presence.

Youth football in the Philippines has gone through a lot of changes in the past 30 years; some for better, some for worse. How to further develop and take it to the next level is an on-going discussion in the football community.

Here are some suggestions that could improve youth football in the country.

REVIVE THE PAST YOUTH TOURNAMENTS

Bring back more school-based tournaments that are nationwide in scale where school teams compete for that honor of being “National Champions”.

Aside from the existing Palarong Pambansa, successful age group tournaments in the past such as the Coke Go-For-Goal (U16) and the Philips Cup (Collegiate), to name a couple, were yearly competitions that worked, created a lot of buzz and discovered a lot of talent.

These tournaments strengthened our grassroots program. Reviving these while expanding the categories will complement the PFF’s program in scouting local talent for their own national age group tournaments and youth national teams. Given its scale and reach, targeting schools is the best approach to attracting corporate sponsors who look for tournaments with mass participation; exposure on a local, regional and national scale similar to the National Basketball Training Center (NBTC), a program and tournament that focuses on nationwide public and private high school basketball.

RESPECT THE UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL PROGRAM

Schools invest heavily on local talent as early as elementary all the way till college. It entails heavy use of resources and a lot of sacrifices and long-term planning by coaches to develop these players. To play football for a school/university – your alma mater is a privilege; an honor, win or lose. The emergence of youth football clubs in the past decade has given student-athletes more opportunities to be better and more skillful; a move that complements the varsity program.

Sadly, as unexpected fate may have it, these days, some of these “exceptional” student-athletes forego their high school or college playing years and decide to turn pro. There is no rule in Philippine football prohibiting this. The price one pays for such move, is a loss of amateur status and eligibility to continue playing for the school.

A player’s future in the varsity program creates a lot of uncertainty because of this option. In an ideal setting, student athletes honor their commitment to the school. They have a lot of time and opportunities to turn pro. Believe that the school team program can equally develop them physically, mentally and emotionally. No need to rush.

BE PATIENT! FOLLOW THE RULES!

This pandemic has crippled youth football; more than half a year already and counting. As mentioned, nothing we can do now but seek alternatives. Most football clubs/schools have resulted to online training. Pro leagues are getting their chances now, but on the amateur level, no choice but to wait. As long as there is no ruling yet, the youth and amateurs must follow the rules. Stay indoors. Be patient. We are all in this together. Take the learnings from the fallout of UST’s Sorsogon Bubble to heart. At this point, we play the waiting game. Guidelines need to be set.

DEVELOP THE PFL YOUTH CLUBS

The PFL teams will eventually need to create, strengthen and develop their own youth program. Create a path for the younger generation to play top-flight youth football as the end goal, be part of the first team. Youth clubs exist to further develop the athlete or student-athlete and enhance the current training that he receives.

With the PFL youth teams in place, it puts everyone at ease. Players are able to stay within their age group and retain their amateur status. Give them a path. Provide guidance. Infuse the importance of the school leagues/tournaments.

A few years ago, the UAAP and the NCAA allowed high school and collegiate players to compete in the United Football League (UFL) as the league was categorized as an amateur league.

The situation has changed now with the PFL, playing here will violate the amateur rules. The solution: create the PFL youth league in the future as part of the league’s 2nd phase. The UFL did it, the Youth Football League (YFL) continues to do it with great success. As long as there is an opportunity to play competitive youth football, they will stay on course. Let’s face it, as much as we want to replicate the European style youth program, much discussion still needed; different culture – different system - different rules.

In a nutshell, youth football should be protected and given the utmost respect. The future of Philippine football depends on this. A call to parents, coaches and advocates, to work hand in hand; be as one; all for youth holistic development. It starts with us. And as we wait patiently for things to normalize, may it be in thought or action, let’s do our part, for the love of the game.