FOR any sports team that has a winning tradition, hearing anecdotes of player’s developing attitudes is a huge disappointment and at the same time discouraging for the coaches.
In a recent tete-a-tete, a volleyball coach (who refused to be named) shared his experience with his players, who after hoisting a number of titles have started to develop some unusual behavior.
“You know, coaching is a thankless job,” he said. “If the team is winning, ang sinasabi ng mga fans ay ang gagaling ng players, but if your team is losing, they are blaming the coaches. What they don’t know what happens before and after the games.”
“To be honest, walang isang player ang gusto mag-practice. Those conditionings, drills and whatever they do not want that. All they wanted is to play, play, play but how could you play well if you don’t prepare?”
“Of course for a team to win, kailangan mong mag-practice, to have a game plan so that you will know what to do when you are on the court. Conditioning as well para hindi ka ma-injury while playing.”
“For our team na nakakatikim ng championship recently, the expectations are higher everytime you come out on the court. Volleyball fans wanted to see more kaya as much as possible ay dapat double ang effort sa training.”
“But that is the disappointing part, unlike before when we are still rebuilding, my players now have side comments. Habang na training may madidinig ka na kung anu-ano, also after minsan binabanatan pa kami.”
“What they do not know is we wanted them to be a better player. What we are doing is for their own good in the long run. So that if they go out there to play in the big leagues or commercial leagues, they have developed that mental toughness.”
“If we do not prepare them now physically and mentally what will happen to them in the future? It is saddening that these players do not see the bigger picture only ‘yung ayaw nila mahirapan.”
“Kaya para sa amin masakit din ‘yung me marinig kang complaints. We take it in stride but deep inside masakit ‘yun. Huwag lang nilang antayin na gumive up na sakanila ang coaches dahil sila din ang kawawa sa huli.”
“As coaches we are doing our best for them. Sila na din ang makakapag-decide if they want to get even better o kontento na sila kung ano meron sila. Again, this is a thankless job and we can only do so much. It is still the players who decide their future.”
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Unlike in the previous years, the NCAA is preparing a simple yet elegant opening ceremony to usher in Season 95 of the league this afternoon at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Peter Cayco of host Arellano University said the NCAA Management Committee has decided to do away with having a special guest speaker and instead will just have the games declared open by the league’s Policy Board President Francisco Cayco.
“We’re deviating a little from the usual. We will have no special guests or even guest speakers. Our Policy Board president will only declare the season open,” Peter said in his appearance at PSA Forum.
“Each of the 10 presidents of the 10 universities or schools will have their time to give their messages to be played during the opening ceremony,” he added.
The games remain the staple attraction of the country’s oldest collegiate league, with the centerpiece event of basketball kicking off hostilities for the new season.
Aside from basketball, other sports at stake this season include volleyball, swimming, athletics, taekwondo, lawn tennis, chess, football, beach volleyball, soft tennis, badminton, and table tennis.
This season, the women’s lawn tennis will finally become a regular part of the league calendar to be followed by cheerleading next year./PN
