Are we pushing our young athletes too far?
The recent buzz in the media and within Singapore’s relatively small sporting community is over the proposed sports hub, and how that will seemingly spur our sporting performance and ‘create’ a sporting nation.
Much like everything else in Singapore, the relevant authorities seem to merely be doing the official ‘cut and paste’ job in creating something. Namely, taking in various successful approaches from overseas and transplanting it to our sunny island and proclaiming that we have ‘adapted’ them to fit our environment.
Well I am sorry wise government heads, but I have to disagree on that point. One can’t just create a sporting nation, or a sporting industry just by building steel and glass structures and be confident that everything else will sprout from there. A pre existing culture of sports has to be cultivated, from seed to sapling to deep rooted tree. I know that most of the trees and plants in our island nation are grown from fast growing saplings which need minimal maturing time, but unfortunately not all things can be transplanted and grown as well as our flora.
A sporting culture is one that is cultivated outside the need to gain CCA points, outside the need to win gold, outside the need of cash incentives. These are merely by products of having a sporting culture. What really motivates a sporting nation? Is it the drive to ‘bring glory to the land’ via the wins and accumulation of golds? That is merely a by product of having a true sporting culture. Having a nation of people that truly enjoy sports, and embrace the true passion of sports. When you have that, the excellence will come, and the gold medals will come in.
Take a look at Australia. In comparison to the other major sporting nations, they have a much smaller population based to call upon. And yet, in the last 10 years, we have seen the emergence of the ‘Aussies’ as championship contenders in a wide range or sports. Their soccer players are scattered around the world and are rated among the best, their basketball team is in the top 5, they have top rated tennis players, and not too long ago the ‘thropedo’ was causing havoc in pools across the globe. One might argue that they are not world champions in any particular sport. That is true. But look at this in another way – they have teams that are consistently in the top 5 across a wide array of sports.
Scan any open field in any town or city down under on a Saturday morning and there will be scores of children and adults alike participating in some form of team sport at any one time. Children start basic motor skill training at the tender age of 2. Everyone knows a little bit about sport. Everyone knows what it is, and the passion that goes along with it.
This is one of the problems here with the Singapore system, especially at the youth level. Sport is predominately organized and identified by the school colors one wears. From age 10 to 18 the athlete is solely focused on winning for his or her school. Not everyone is an elite athlete. PE lessons are now changing to focus on teaching ‘concept skills’. But what about mass participation? There is simply no resources to run 10 soccer teams a week, to cater to everyone who likes to play.
So how then is the next question?
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Sckoolboy 7s
Managed to catch the Singapore Cricket Club Schools and Colleges 7s tournament on the weekend, and it was a rather disappointing sight. It has been awhile since I have set foot at a school’s rugby event, but it must be said that the standard was not as I expected. The worse thing was to only have 5 schools participating in the colleges tournament – imagine that : Only 5 teams competing for the Sittawalla Trophy in 2007, compared to 20 odd participants in the early 90s.
The reason for this was something about exams, and having to place the tournament a week after its usual date due to field availability. Whatever the reason, the organizers should have a long hard look at how they run the tournament. Such a prestigious 7s tournament being reduced to an afterthought is such a shame.
The other shame of the day was to see ACS (I) play all their IB boys in the under 17 competition. For the uninitiated, ACS has converted to a through train system and now offers the international A level to its students. What this means is that you got 17 year olds playing in the under 17 competition as a legal team. This would be perfectly fine for ACS if those who played in the 7s have actually been representing the school at the under 17 level at the on going police cup. From what I hear, ACS did not put in their boys who are playing in the police cup for this year. Preferring to send in their 17 year old boys who will be playing in the Police Cup u20 competition later on in the year.
Some might say its ok, its about the team having the right resources to chose who they want for the tournament at hand, and being able to win it at the same time. I say where is your pride? Where is that sportsman spirit?
On the bright side, a few teams were extremely good. Pioneer Secondary school has a team of talented, natural athletes. Fast runners, agile sidesteps and great ball handling skills make this team one to watch. With some guidance , these guys will be great players in the future.
The Saints did not make the Finals, losing to UWC in the final due to some extremely questionable refereeing decisions. But refereeing decisions will always be questionable so lets put the ref aside. The saints looked extremely tired towards the end of the semi finals, and one has to ask if it was a result of a long tournament or a long season for them.
In the colleges tournament, UWC looked like a bunch of seasoned professionals, having the guidance of a national coach on their side did not hurt as well. SAJC lacked the personnel to carry them through, and looked extremely disjointed. ACJC won the tournament against UWC in the finals, with a bunch of unknowns. Who says that AC is dead?
When the sun set, I was burnt, but at least I had my fix of local schools rugby. It was a pity though that the SCC can organize a great men’s tournament , but seem to not give the schoolboys enough thought.
The reason for this was something about exams, and having to place the tournament a week after its usual date due to field availability. Whatever the reason, the organizers should have a long hard look at how they run the tournament. Such a prestigious 7s tournament being reduced to an afterthought is such a shame.
The other shame of the day was to see ACS (I) play all their IB boys in the under 17 competition. For the uninitiated, ACS has converted to a through train system and now offers the international A level to its students. What this means is that you got 17 year olds playing in the under 17 competition as a legal team. This would be perfectly fine for ACS if those who played in the 7s have actually been representing the school at the under 17 level at the on going police cup. From what I hear, ACS did not put in their boys who are playing in the police cup for this year. Preferring to send in their 17 year old boys who will be playing in the Police Cup u20 competition later on in the year.
Some might say its ok, its about the team having the right resources to chose who they want for the tournament at hand, and being able to win it at the same time. I say where is your pride? Where is that sportsman spirit?
On the bright side, a few teams were extremely good. Pioneer Secondary school has a team of talented, natural athletes. Fast runners, agile sidesteps and great ball handling skills make this team one to watch. With some guidance , these guys will be great players in the future.
The Saints did not make the Finals, losing to UWC in the final due to some extremely questionable refereeing decisions. But refereeing decisions will always be questionable so lets put the ref aside. The saints looked extremely tired towards the end of the semi finals, and one has to ask if it was a result of a long tournament or a long season for them.
In the colleges tournament, UWC looked like a bunch of seasoned professionals, having the guidance of a national coach on their side did not hurt as well. SAJC lacked the personnel to carry them through, and looked extremely disjointed. ACJC won the tournament against UWC in the finals, with a bunch of unknowns. Who says that AC is dead?
When the sun set, I was burnt, but at least I had my fix of local schools rugby. It was a pity though that the SCC can organize a great men’s tournament , but seem to not give the schoolboys enough thought.
An Intro!
I’ve finally done it! I’ve finally decided to set up a blog that will hopefully give more depths to local sports, and some of my views on how things are done overseas too. I’m just an avid sportsman who has spent substantial time working with athletes as a trainer, coach, and player. So sit back, put that ice bag on your sore shoulder and a charging we go!
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