Training grounds have always played a role in a team’s performance. Aside from the concepts learned from the guidance of the coach, teams consider its training grounds as its home.
The current setting
The Enrique Razon Sports Complex has served as a home court and primary training venue for many of the athletes.
Sheltering majority of the DLSU varsity teams over the past years, the building has become known as the center for sports.
Aside from giving the athletes mental empowerment, the building also provides quality facilities many sports teams need for training. Teams like the Green and Lady Archers, Spikers, Judokas, Tankers, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, and Shuttlers all have their regular practice sessions at Enrique Razon.
Extra ounce of motivation
Despite its size and number of facilities, the building has not been able to serve all of the teams.The football, baseball, softball, tennis, athletics and fencing teams of La Salle are just some of the teams that have to constantly change venues and schedules.
The football teams often have different training rotations on the Rizal Memorial Football Field and at De La Salle Zobel. The baseball, softball, and tennis teams also train on the field while the athletics and fencing teams have their training at the Philippine Sports Commission (ULTRA).
DLSU football Coach Hans Smit explained, “You know, I don’t cry over spilled milk. You do the best with what you have, that’s life.”
But while training without a home court has proved to be tough, many of the teams have managed to adapt.
This UAAP season, teams like the Green and Lady Booters, Green and Lady Tennisters have emerged as legitimate championship contenders. Many of the aforementioned teams’ players have performed well both in their sport and their academics.
Office of Sports Development (OSD) Staff Alex Depante described the quality performance of the Booters despite having training sessions off campus. He added, “The other teams practicing outside the campus are overachieving in a sense that they do not have the luxury of convenience. For example, [the] football [teams], they practice in Zobel during Tuesdays and Thursdays. On Mondays and Wednesdays they practice somewhere near.”
Keeping up
Problems concerning the athlete’s condition and schedule, however, have started to materialize. With their training venue away from campus, many have found it hard to balance their studies and athletics due to time management challenges.
DLSU Trackster Bernisse Chua furthered, “[It is] super hassle, [sa] ULTRA kasi kami so ang layo ng lugar tapos minsan walang transportation pabalik. Kailangan magtaxi para mabilis kung hindi late kami then 6:30 am ang training so we have to get up earlier than usual since the place is farther. Sometimes we start at 6 am so that we can get [back] on school on time.”
Lady Booters Team Captain Miel Ampil added, “I think the absence of the football field in the school affects us a lot. People get curious of who are those people training in the morning. Although they don’t know who you are, but they hear Coach Hans [Smit] screaming, they get curious. When you don’t see teams at all, you don’t care. It is a hint of curiosity when you see your student athletes train.”
Future plans
The campus’ limited space has given rise to queries on La Salle’s future sports programs.
Depante ended, “Right now, we’re just making the necessary adjustments on what we have. If we transfer to [De La Salle] Canlubang, perhaps there is more room for training there. If you have athletes [inside] their [campus], [but it is a] hassle.”
