‘Good job’

Expert lauds PSI Smart ID Mindanao trainers

TAGUM CITY, Davao del Norte - The 18 participants of the Philippine Sports Institute (PSI) Sports Mapping Action Research Identification (Smart ID) Train the Trainers Program Mindanao leg were lauded by organizers at the Rodolfo del Rosario (RDR) Gym in Davao del Norte Sports and Tourism Complex in Tagum City here yesterday.

PSI Sports Mapping Action Research for Talent Technical Experts and Manpower (Smart Team) leader Josephine "Joy" Reyes said, "They are doing generally okay sa pag-conduct ng tests sa mga bata. Protocols are being implemented. They are doing a good job."

The 18 trainers, coming from Regions 9, 10, 11, 12, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm), conducted anthropometric tests and performance tests to 50 Grades 7 and 8 students of Tagum Comprehensive National High School.

Reyes, who observed the tests with PSI national training director Marc Edward Velasco and deputy national training director Henry Daut at the airconditioned gym that hosted several national tournaments like the 2015 Palarong Pambansa and Batang Pinoy 2016 National Championships, said she's glad that the trainers were applying what they have learned from Sunday's orientation.

"They are good listeners and attentive. They also perform the tests systematically and communicate well with their fellow co-assessors. Maayos din ang mga demonstrations nila," Reyes said, adding that the Smart ID participants will themselves conduct trainings and testings when they return to their respective regions.

She, however, urged them to continue practicing to correct minimal flaws.

Grade 7 student Jake Welvin Y. Nonan, who was among the students who underwent the Smart ID testing, said he appreciates the tests that were being done on him and that he also learned to do proper warm-up exercises.

Nonan, the second among five children of Willie, a disaster responder, and Luzviminda, a sari-sari store owner, said he was able to experience how far he can throw during the medicine ball throw test, how high he can jump during the vertical jump test and how fast he can run during the agility test.

"Ungta makatabang jud ning Smart ID test sa mga bata na mahibaw-an kung para asa jud sila nga sport (I hope this test will help children know which sport they are really fitted)," Nonan, a sipa takraw athlete, said. He started playing sipa in fourth grade but stopped a year later due to persistent cough. He returned to training in Grade 5 and became a team captain of sipa takraw beginners in their school but he has never played in the Davao Region Athletic Association (Davraa) Meet. He only went as far as the district meet.

Nonan dreams of becoming a sipa takraw coach and a businessman someday.