CESAFI to adapt new rules

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. will be adapting new rules particularly on age limit and residency when it kicks off its 16th season with the centerpiece basketball event on July 30 at the Cebu Coliseum.

League commissioner Felix "Boy" O. Tiukinhoy, Jr. said the revisions were already cleared and agreed in principle during a series of meetings with the athletic directors, but all of these will still be presented to the CESAFI Board for final approval.

Instead of two years, a one-year residency is now required for student-athletes transferring from one CESAFI school to another. This is for college to college or high school to high school transfers.

However, high school student-athletes who finish Grade 10 in one school and opt to transfer to another school for Grade 11 is not required to serve a one-year residency period.

With the establishment of Senior High School by the Department of Education, the league recognizes that Grade 10 students have the option to choose a senior high school which offers the academic track or strand of their choice. Thus, high school graduates can enroll in any school without serving residency.

As for the age limit in college, a student-athlete must be 25 years old or younger in the present calendar year of the current season. That means he is ineligible to play if he turns 26 by December 31 of the current school year. The previous rule is not more than 24 years old on June 30 of the current season.

 For high school, an athlete must be 18 years or younger in the present calendar year of the current season. Thus, he is disqualified to see action if he will be 19 years old by December 31. The previous rule stipulates not more than 17 years old on June 30 of the current season.

To maximize all sports and minimize conflicts in schedules, the CESAFI calendar of events will now be spread from July 30 to December 2016.  The old format was to finish all events by end of October.

Regarding the academic load for college players, P.E. units are now included in the counting of units in order to be eligible. The minimum load is 15 units.

The league also plans to introduce Grade School basketball this season, still subject for the CESAFI Board's nod. (FREEMAN)