Eligibility+Guidelines



(Updated during the 2009 Palarong Pambansa Post Conference August 10-14, 2009 at Ecotech, Cebu City)
 * REVISED PALARONG PAMBANSA ELIGIBILITY RULES & GUIDELINES**


 * A.** **The National Screening & Accreditation Committee (NSAC)**

1.1 The National Screening and Accreditation Committee shall consist of seven (7) members from the DepED Central Office chosen by the Secretary, three (3) from the Legal Division, two (2) physicians, two (2) dentists and one (1) authorized regional representative from each region.
 * 1.** **Composition**

2.1 Shall be the Chairman or Co-Chairman of the Regional Screening Committee during the regional meet preceding the current Palarong Pambansa.
 * 2.** **Qualification of Regional Representative**

3.1 Evaluate**,** verify the authenticity of the athletes’**,** coaches’ and chaperons’ documents before and during personal interview. 3.2 Accredit qualified athletes, coaches and chaperons to the Palarong Pambansa. 3.3 Issue masterlist of accredited athletes/coaches/chaperons and Palaro Identification Cards before the opening of the Palarong Pambansa on soft and hard copies. The NSAC shall submit the original copy of the masterlist to the Secretary of Education (Chairman of the Palaro Board) thru Undersecretary for Regional Operations (Vice Chairman of the Palaro Board and Secretary-General of the Palarong Pambansa Technical Management and Administration). Certified true copies shall be furnished to the Heads of Regional Delegations. 3.4 Consider replacement for disqualified athletes during the period of screening. 3.5 Formulate ground rules not covered by the guidelines on eligibility. 3.6 Issue athletes photo galleries to Tournament Managers. 3.7 Re-check and monitor with the Tournament Managers the fielding of athletes during actual competition based on the photo gallery. 3.8 Monitor the fielding of athletes during actual competition. 3.9 Investigate and render decision(s) on cases of protest/complaints on eligibility and inform the Tournament Manager on the decision(s) made. All decisions shall be approved by the majority of the members of the NSAC. 3.10 Submit all updated records of athletes to the Task Force on School Sports (TFSS) for centralized filing and safekeeping.
 * 3.** **Duties and Functions of the NSAC**


 * B. Rules on Participation**

1.1 Participants in the Palarong Pambansa are elementary and secondary athletes from public and private schools who have participated in the lower meets (Division and Regional).
 * 1.** **Participants**

2.1 Must be Filipino Citizen. 2.2 Must be enrolled in a recognized school at the beginning of the current school year. 2.3 Must have attended and finished the curriculum year. 2.4 Should have participated in the preliminary meets. 2.5 Elementary athletes shall be born in 1997 or later, and secondary athletes in 1992 or later. Thereafter, add one (1) year to the cut-off date for the succeeding year. 2.6 Pupil/student-athletes that transferred from one region to another are allowed to participate, provided their transfer was done at the beginning of the school year. Transferees from one division to another within the region are allowed to participate, provided, they have participated in the lower meets. 2.7 Elementary athletes shall play in the elementary division, and secondary athletes shall play in the secondary division. However, Grade 7 pupils of private schools born in 1997 are allowed to play in the elementary level, while Grade 7 pupils of private schools born before 1997 are allowed to play in the secondary.
 * 2.** **__Eligibility of Athletes__**

3.1 Over-aged. 3.2 Failing grades in more than two (2) core subjects in the second grading period. 3.3 Being a member of the National Team, National Training Pool and Development Pool receiving monthly stipend / allowances from the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC). 3.4 Failure to submit the required documents or failure to submit oneself for personal interview on the specified time. 3.5 Banned during the previous Palaros.
 * 3.** **__Grounds for Disqualification__**

4.1 Athlete's Record signed by the athlete**,** coach**,** and PESS Division Supervisor. 4.2 Original and photocopy of Birth Certificate issued by the National Statistics Office (NSO). Late registration may be accepted, provided, it was issued one (1) year prior to current Palarong Pambansa. 4.2.1. In the case of foreign born Filipino athlete, in lieu of NSO Birth Certificate, the Original Birth Certificate issued by the country of his/her birth and a valid passport showing his/her nationality, date and place of birth. 4.3 Form 137, certified true copy from original or computer printed, duly prepared and signed by the teacher-adviser, with fresh signatures of the registrar/principal/school heads, and by the Division PESS Supervisor. 4.3.1 In case the grades for the second grading period are not indicated in the Form-137 of the athlete, the Form – 138 (Report Card) shall be attached thereof. 4.4 Certification of Enrolment and Certificate of Completion duly signed by the school registrar or the school head. 4.5 Parent’s or guardian's consent verified by the teacher-adviser and the Principal. 4.6 Medical Certificate signed by a physician that the athlete is physically fit and within the age limit required with a validity of six (6) months from the date of issue. (The complete name of the signing physician shall clearly appear on this document, with the license number and date of examination.) 4.7 Dental Certificate with a universal entry, duly signed by a dentist over his/her clearly printed name and license number, and with the date of examination not later than six (6) months from date of the opening of the Palarong Pambansa. 4.8 Four (4) passport size 1 ½ x 1 ½ identical pictures with name tag (surname, first name and middle initial) and grade/year level for Athlete's Record, medical/dental certificate, gallery and Palarong Pambansa ID card. 4.9 List of athletes indicating the date of birth, division, school and name of coach duly signed by the Regional Director, on soft (diskette, USB or any other media) and hard copy. 4.10 Affidavit of the coach attesting the authenticity, validity and correctness of the entries on the above-mentioned documents submitted.
 * 4**. **__Required Documents to be Submitted During Screening__**

5.1 Coaches and chaperons must be school or DepED personnel. Coaches and chaperons from **__private schools__** must have been in the service for at least six (6) months. 5.2 Documents to be submitted: 5.2.1 Certificate of Employment (certified true copy of the original document duly notarized) 5.2.2 Form 212 with three (3) pieces ID pictures 5.2.3 Medical Certificate
 * 5.** **__Eligibility of Coaches and Chaperons__**


 * C. Screening of Athletes**

1.1 The NSAC shall: 1.1.1 Receive and examine all athletes’ documents at least one week before the start of the Palarong Pambansa. 1.1.2 Interview athletes based on the documents submitted. It shall start on specified schedule date and shall end two days before the opening of the Palarong Pambansa. 1.1.3 Refer immediately to the medical/dental team for further medical and dental examination on doubtful findings regarding the age and physical appearance of the athlete. The finding(s) of the NSAC Medical Team shall be binding and legal. 1.1.4 Write down all findings/comments notes on the front cover of the folder of the concerned athlete/team properly signed by the interviewer. 1.2 The NSAC shall interview and receive the documents in the following order: 1.2.1 The coach will be interviewed first, and shall submit the Certificate of Employment, duly sworn Affidavit, Medical Certificate, Personal Data Sheet and a picture with name tag. 1.2.2 The chaperon shall submit the Medical Certificate and personal Data Sheet with picture with name tag. 1.2.3 The athlete shall submit the AR-1, NSO (photo copy), Form 137, Certificate of Enrolment, Certificate of Completion, Parent’s Consent, Medical Certificate and Dental Certificate.
 * 1.** **The Screening Procedures**

2.1 In case where there is a discrepancy on the entry in the NSO and Form 137, the following documents shall be presented: 2.1.1 Joint Affidavit of two (2) disinterested persons certifying on the true date of birth; 2.1.2 Resolution signed by the Head of the Regional Delegation; 2.1.3 Local Civil Registry (LCR) issued Birth Certificate; 2.2 In cases where there is a discrepancy on the entry of name in the NSO and Form 137, the entry in the NSO shall prevail, but must be supported by a resolution from the Head of the Regional Delegation for change of entry or correction of name. 2.3 In cases where the first or last name is not found at the top portion of the NSO but at the box below, the following shall be submitted; 2.3.1 Live Birth Certificate issued by the LCR 2.3.2 Copy of the application/petition duly received by the LCR (supplemental report to the LCR/Court). 2.3.3 Resolution signed by the Head of the Regional Delegation. 2.3.4 Affidavit of the parents. 2.3.5 Affidavit of two (2) disinterested persons. 2.4 When an illegitimate athlete uses the surname of his/her father, he/she shall submit an acknowledgement (2nd page of the NSO issued Birth Certificate) or a duly notarized acknowledgement by the father, and an annotation on the NSO (subsequent marriage of the parents) 2.5 When the gender can not be categorically determined, an affidavit of two (2) disinterested persons shall be submitted. The NSAC medical team shall conduct a physical examination. The finding(s) opinion of the NSAC medical team shall be binding (for purposes of Palarong Pambansa records only) 2.6 Unreadable entries shall be supported by the original Live Birth Certificate from the LCR, and affidavits of the parents and two (2) disinterested persons. Typographical errors shall be supported by a resolution signed by the Head of the Regional Delegation (for purposes of Palarong Pambansa records only).
 * 2.** **__Special Cases__**

1. Replacement of athletes may be allowed only before the final deliberation of athletes, upon the written request signed by the Head of the Regional Delegation, on the following grounds: 1.1 Medical/Health reasons 1.2 Original athlete is not screened or interviewed 1.3 None or incomplete set of required documents on the date set the NSAC 1.4 Original athlete is not eligible to play- over aged, impersonation, etc.
 * D. Replacement of Athletes Prior to the Issuance of the** **Masterlist of Accredited Athletes**

1. Protest shall be in writing and duly signed by the coach and the Head of the Delegation or his / her official representative and shall be filed before the start of the second game of the concerned team with the Chair of the NSAC. Protest filed by other person shall be automatically dismissed without prejudice of refiling the same upon compliance of the abovementioned requirement. The NSAC may MOTU PROPIO conduct investigation if there is an obvious truth or merits of the allegation questioning the eligibility of the athlete. 2. Protest shall be accompanied by affidavit, witnesses and / or evidences to support thereof. 3. The protest shall be acted immediately by the NSAC upon receipt thereof. Decision of the NSAC shall be appealable only to the Secretary of Education or, on his behalf, the Vice-Chairman of the Palarong Pambansa Board. 4. The protestant shall have the burden of proof and shall provide necessary evidences (documentary / testimonials), otherwise, the protest will be dismissed "MOTU PROPIO". 5. The NSAC may also conduct investigation on complaint/s of misrepresentation, impersonation and violations of similar nature, for purposes of determining the eligibility of the athlete without prejudice of filing administrative and criminal action. 6. The NSAC, by authority of the Secretary of Education, shall act on information on violations of athletes even after the Palarong Pambansa. It shall determine the existence of a prima facie case.
 * E. Protest on Eligibility**

1. When a violation on eligibility rules is proven in team competitions, the games in which the individual has taken part shall be declared forfeited in favor of the opposing team. The individual performance, in case of individual events, shall be nullified. 2. Any violation of the rules on eligibility is punishable by lifetime ban from participating in school sports competitions without prejudice to the filing of appropriate administrative and criminal charges against erring officials and athletes.
 * F. Sanctions**

Prepared by:

The 2009 Palarong Pambansa National Screening and Accreditation Committee (NSAC)