By Aimerose C. Atienza and Adrian Earl E. Taruc

Two years after the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP)  was put to a halt due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) officially permitted the resumption of collegiate athletic training for universities, including Far Eastern University (FEU), last December 13.

FEU Athletic Director, Mark Molina, announced that the FEU Tamaraws received the go-signal from CHED through a Twitter post. 

“Let’s do this!” Molina captioned, along with a photograph of the authorization given to the university.

Upon gaining approval, FEU had to meet the requirements set by the Inter-agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF), Department of Health (DOH), and CHED.

Requirements include a letter of intent, a sworn statement adhering to local protocols, health declaration forms of involved individuals, and proof of documentation that the activity is properly coordinated with the Local Government Unit (LGU). An on-site inspection was also conducted.

To ensure the safety of all the student-athletes and other personnel during the face-to-face training, rules and regulations set by the agency must always be practiced. 

Despite the safety protocols provided and lower risk of infection due to mass vaccination, the face-to-face training sessions are only limited to fully vaccinated student-athletes.

“Most of our players are back in Manila already. For now, it's basketball first but the athletes of the other sports should be back on campus by January,” Molina said in an interview with CNN Philippines. 

The approved training of student-athletes in a face-to-face setting can now begin with facilitators and athletes immediately per CHED chairman Popoy De Vera. However, virtual training remains for student-athletes below 18 years old.  

This immediate face-to-face training may implore the commencement of UAAP Season 84 in the first quarter of 2022.

(Photo courtesy of Pauline Verzosa, CNN Philippines) 

RELATED STORY: https://feuadvocate.net/uaap-vaccinates-student-athletes-sees-possible-season-84-return/