Guidelines for Special Sports Program Pilot

The Special Sports Program offers a four-year secondary level curriculum patterned after a regular high school using the National Secondary Education Curriculum (NSEC), but allows flexibility with specialization in athletics and sports.
During the first year of the pilot phase (SY 2000-2001), the program offers these sports events: Athletics, Gymnastics, Swimming, Taekwondo, Badminton, Lawn Tennis, and Table Tennis.
The sports subject is scheduled in an 80-minute time-frame from Monday to Friday.
The subject must appear in the report card using the nomenclature: Physical Education and Sports (P.E.S.) I (name of special sports).
The sports subject is awarded 2 units of credit.

Student-athletes are admitted upon compliance with all required qualifications.
Applicants must have potentials/skills in more than one of the school sports offered.
Applicants must have demonstrated remarkable performance in any sports competition, attested to by the school principal.
Applicants must pass the physical fitness test and/or skill test in their field of interest.
Applicants must possess a desirable and healthy attitude toward sports activities.
Applicants must submit the following enrollment documents:
- Form 137 with a general average grade of not lower than 80.
- Original birth certificate, showing birth between January 1, 1986 and January 1, 1989.
- A Medical Certificate administered by a government physician.
- Parental consent stating that the student/athlete may undergo rigid training in specialized sports.

Student-athletes may be retained in the program upon compliance with retention requirements.
Students must not have any failing grade in any subject.
Students must not have a grade lower than 85 in their PE and sports subject.
Students must not incur absences of 20% of the total number of school days.
Students must be physically fit and mentally fit.
Students must exhibit good behavior at all times and demonstrate consistent improvement in performance in their specialization area.

Student-athletes are assessed/evaluated based on performance, attitude, and written output.
Performance is weighted at 60%, consisting of:
- Skill test: 15%
- Progress Chart: 15%
- Participation or involvement in class activities/sports competition: 30%
Attitude is weighted at 15% and covers attendance, punctuality, sense of responsibility, and similar indicators.
Written Output is weighted at 25%, consisting of:
- Quizzes/unit test: 10%
- Periodical test: 15%
The total grading scale is 100%.

Student-athletes receive incentives/benefits subject to availability of funds.
The incentives/benefits include:
- Free athletic and school uniform
- Free board and lodging
- Monthly training allowance
- Competition allowance
- Cash award for winning athletes in the regional level
- Insurance (Group)
Enrolled students are exempted from taking the Regional and Division Achievement tests.

Teacher-trainers/coaches must meet the specified qualifications:
- Must be a Bachelor’s Degree holder major in PE/Sports/event concerned.
- Must have a satisfactory track record of athletic/sports participation (training, coaching, actual playing).
- In the absence of teachers with specialized training experience, coaches/trainors may take the place of teachers, but they must have at least one (1) year exposure/experience in the sports concerned.
- Must have a very satisfactory performance rating for at least a year.
- Must possess good moral character.
- Must have unquestionable integrity and commitment.
Incentives/benefits for teacher-trainers/coaches and school principals are granted subject to availability of funds.
Incentives/benefits for teacher-trainers/coaches and principals include:
- Awards for most outstanding teacher-trainer/coach and program implementors (principals)
- Priority for scholarship/attendance in national and international conferences
- Free sports uniform (1 set)
- Free board and lodging/transportation during intensive training (for 2 weeks before each competition)
- Cash award for winning coach in outside school competitions
- Certificate/Plaque of commendation/recognition for winning coaches in the regional level
- Insurance for coaches
- Extra essential services for principals

Students enrolled in pilot testing schools must have a separate section in the tryout school.
Two (2) sections composed of 40–45 students each may be organized in the pilot school.
A Committee on Admission of student-athletes must be organized at the school level to undertake screening of student-athletes.
The P.E. and sports subject is equivalent to two (2) loads.
A teacher-trainer/coach must be given two (2) loads less in the regular load of a teacher in favor of the double period in P.E.S. without advisory class or a minimum of 6 regular loads.
Fund sourcing is assigned as a responsibility of the school administrator to sustain implementation of the program.
Each student athlete must have a pre and post performance profile per sports event.
A monitoring and evaluation team from the Division, Regional and Central Offices must oversee implementation of the program.
Practices of student-athletes outside school hours must be determined and approved by the school principal.

Each pilot school must be given PHP 500,000.00 for program support subject to availability of funds.
The PHP 500,000.00 must be used for the following expenditure objects:
- Repair, rehabilitation and maintenance of sports facilities: PHP 200,000.00
- Purchase of athletic and sports equipment/materials: PHP 100,000.00
- Training of teacher-trainers/coach: PHP 70,000.00
- Transportation of stakeholders of the program during sports competition or relative activity: PHP 50,000.00
- Extra essential services of the school administrators and PEHM Department Head: PHP 30,000.00, allocated as P1,000 for Dept. Head and P2,000 for Principal per month
- For winning coaches and athletes: PHP 50,000.00

The Central, Regional and Division Offices must monitor and supervise implementation of the program and provide technical assistance to the special sports program.
The School Principal must:
- Implement policies and guidelines for the program
- Organize the school program of the faculty and personnel of the sports program
- Recommend policies/guidelines and budget allocations for improvement
- Supervise faculty and other personnel in program implementation
- Link with NGOs, GOs, and other business/private entities to sustain implementation
- Perform other functions assigned by SDS, RD and CO
The PEHM Department Head/Sports Coordinator must:
- Recommend experts to the principal to handle specific sports events in the absence of the teacher-trainer coach for valid reasons
- Assist the principal in implementation, organization, and supervision of the program
- Perform other functions assigned by the school principal
Teacher-trainers/coaches must:
- Implement program policies and guidelines
- Prepare and implement syllabus and/or training design for the assigned special sports event
- Evaluate progress through quarterly performance tests
- Conduct pre-and-post skill tests for student-athletes and keep records for future use
- Perform other functions assigned by the teacher-trainers/coaches