From the scholastic football games, we now move into the club games.
Football Clubs and Academies
Club games and practices are usually on a weekend. Usually. But not always.
When there is school, club meetings are limited to once a week to give way to academic activities and other matters like football. Yes, like football.
Come Summer time, it could be dizzying or tiring for the unprepared.
Since football clubs are literally everywhere, from Aparri to Jolo and in between the three major islands of the Philippines. Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao have got what we call the best football programs with Visayas boasting of Barotac as the country's football capital.
So yes, as a player of Cavite Football Academy, one joins the weekly training at the football field of Philippine Christian University-Dasmarinas. Every Saturday, from 8 AM to 12 NN, rain or shine (sometimes earthquakes and flooding), they play with their buddies.
Video Courtesy of Mr Edric Luna
With several clubs forming different teams for each age groups: Under 7, Under 9, Under 11, Under 13, Under 15 and Under 17, a player is never to run out of teams and tournaments to play. For each team, there are tournaments for every reason and season.
It is surprising to find out the organizations you encounter for each tournament. There are Regional Organizations like Luzon Football Association, Cavite Football Association, North Eastern Luzon Football Association, Laguna Football Association and many more.
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| AFC Grassroots Day Celebration at Carmona, Cavite. 05.15.2019 |
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| Football Moms at the AFC Grassroots Day Celebration |
Isn't it amazing? Football is very much alive in our country. And that's one of the reasons why our youth players, if left unguided, might get lost or burn out with all the tournaments and training they take part of.
For CFA Players
They have played in various tournaments like:
- CAFA Cup
- Xavier Cup
- Philippine Football Federation's (PPF) Festival of Football (FoF)
- PFF's U15 National Championships
- San Lazaro Cup
- Youth Football League
- Gilligan's Cup
- And many more
Football parents have learned to work around the schedule and pressure of watching and sending their kids to football games. Some parents have the old-school approach to the extent of taking the coach stance during games. Some parents choose to act like normal member of the audience: claps-shouts-use-phone-repeat-cycle.
After six years of watching football games, I haven't understood this one football rule: The Offside Rule.
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| AFC Grassroots Day Celebration 2019 |
And after years of bringing them to football games, me and my wife have met people who have become regular weekend companions. Slowly, we have become certified football parent: burnt skin, husky voices, achy feet and thrilled to be with our kids (di ba?).
Expenses
Fortunate we are for we are part of Cavite Football Academy, a sports program under the Provincial Government of the Province of Cavite. CFA provides our kids the following support:
- Coaching and training are all free of charge
- Pick-up points, transportation to and from training and game venues
- Football kits (light and dark)
- Food during practice and games
- Five kilo of rice every two weeks
Imagine that?
In which area do we really spend money one?
Boots and more boots. For teenagers like mine, game day allowance is a must. Socks, shin guards too. Gas for car and food for everyone joining in the fun because you cannot spell fund without fun.
And that's what life is like for most of us football parents.
Thank you for taking time off to read.
