Empowering 50 Student Athletes in the Philippines

Dumaguete City recently ventured on making the locality as the country’s new center for sports development. The local government has ventured on improving its sports facilities and equipment in order to meet the standards and demands of professional games to be held in the city. This action has become an advantage for Foundation University to develop its homegrown talents in sports, especially in the events like basketball, football, badminton, soccer, volleyball and beach volley.

Recently, the team from Foundation University won a spot at a national competition. Their victory in beach volley proved that a locally-grown team can well compete with those from the National Capital Region. Moreover, the trainings done by the University through its sports development arm, the Institute of Youth Sports for Peace (IYSP) has been instrumental in keeping up with the honing of skills and talents of young people who usually come from the grassroots level.

Because sports demands discipline and commitment, the IYSP has made it sure to instill the right values and skills into the athlete who is being given a training under its various sports programs. Before being chosen to represent the school in any competition, the athlete is made ready in all aspects – physical, mental and spiritual. This is done in order for the athlete to give one’s best during the competition and win or loose, one can best display the training methods and discipline instilled by the trainers and the institution, as a whole.

One good preparation or method of producing an athlete who can best compete for the school is through efficient practice. During the drills and practice games, what is expected from an athlete is full cooperation and focus on the activities. In doing so, the athlete will gain deeper knowledge and understanding regarding the use of techniques and strategies during the actual games.

In the end, the University’s program to hone the local talents especially in the area of sports is an ideal move, coinciding with the City of Dumaguete’s move to make the locality one of the country’s center for sports development and venue for the national sports events.