A word from the editor: Teo Ser Luck, Senior Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports, is a politician, Ironman triathlete, and successful businessman. With a passion for sports and a heart for youth sports in particular, Ser Luck is on a quest to strengthen Singapore’s sports culture. We at Red Sports welcome him to our community as he engages us on the issues close to his heart.
Recently, the IOC President Jacques Rogge and his delegation were in town. One of the members of the delegation read the article in our papers about two schools making sports fun and doing away with competition and medals. The intent was to increase participation and let the young boys and girls appreciate the fun and value of sports. He was very much aligned in that direction and mentioned that it is the practice in some parts of Europe for sports competitions to begin only at 15.
Do you think this can be applied in Singapore where ranking and competition seem to be part of everything we do? Would it help in promoting sports?
I look forward to hearing from you.
Ser Luck
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Feel free to take part in the REDpoll put together by Red Sports for those who just like to register their views through a quick poll. You are not restricted to just one answer. If you have a thought-provoking or heartfelt comment to make, please do so in the comments section below.
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Money and funding isn’t the only way to boost up the local sporting scene. Take a look at the gymnastics scene (artistic). We have over the past years coming from nowhere to winning medals in the SEA games. No foreign talents, not much of funding from the ministry. The whole gymnastics team comprised of purely local girls and funding mainly by the parents of these girls. The time, money and devotion shown by these girls proved results can still be achieved.
The determination of the athletes, the support of private clubs and parents has to be given credits in this instance.
Of course with extra funding and a little more support from the ministry will definitly bring it up another level. If we can bring in the media coverage for such local scenes, it will bring in more participants in the sport. Notice that immediately after events like World Cup soccer and Olympics, bookings for soccer fields and badminton courts are harder to book. Media coverage does perk up interests.
Hi Mr. Teo
As much as winning could be very important to any coach or CCA teacher, especially when efforts are often driven by profit-motives, I staunchly stand for the coaches and teachers who mete out so much effort and dedication just to groom their young student athletes into better personalities.
Though everyone wants to be the champion, and there can only be one champion, everyone can have the mindset of a champion. I guess, after all the hussle and tussle, the grit and grime, this sporting mentality imbibed into our budding sportsmen would no doubt be useful after all. That in years to come when faced with a predicament of similar sort, one would know the right approach to handling it. Medals would merely turn into metals which hold no much significance in 10 years time, but sporting lessons and values will last forever.
After all, given that there’s other priorities that need to be balanced with while trying to achieve sporting glory, institutions that impose a restrictive and rigid sport training regime will fall out pretty fast. This is probably so as no much meaning can be derived from coaching sport in manner that is purely driven to achieve medals but not focusing on other important values. While it may give someone a living (coach, teacher), it invokes no passion in anyone, henceforth defeating the purpose of sport in the first place.
Sport is indubitably a rich avenue for character development especially among youths, who have impressionable minds. Getting involved in a sport allows one to lead a balanced lifestyle that transcends physical benefits – but mental, social and emotional too.
Long live school sports!
Hi Mr. Teo,
Is there a way to participate in BMX when im 18? Thanks for reading this comment.
Hi Mr. Teo,
As to your questions to me on “What sports would you be referring to ? What support in specific ?”, it won’t be difficult to know as it’s in the papers these few days.
Instead of grooming local talents, we pay $$$ to FTs and these are the backlashes we get from their political power struggle. Nice.
Like I mentioned before, there are willing supporting parents whose child are talented. It’s only how the government will reciprocate to such. Or will it continue to follow the “book” and unwilling to take risk even there’s disclaimer.
Regards.
[…] may also wish to take part in the REDpoll. The poll allows you a choice of multiple answers. Read Teo Ser Luck’s responses to readers’ comments in previous […]
What sports would you be referring to ? What support in specific ?
Talents must be given a chance and platform to excel. However, in my view, i am not sure if pushing a child from a tender young age towards specialization in sports is good. Yes, the ex-USSR and countries nearby might have done that. But are going into sports for medal pursuit only ? It is for the same reason we would have to be careful of becoming a ‘factory’. I would say, provide opportunities for the masses so we can discover a few sparks. When we discover them, they would be groomed.
Hi Mr. Teo,
I would like to know the government stand point on what support can or will be given to local kids who really want to excel in their sporting arena. Knowing the setting up of sports school is 1, are there any more given (support, chances, etc…) to talented kids even when they are younger like probably 8 or 9?
Do note that the success of sporting “factories” like the ex-soviet & the current powerhouse china started their sports manufacturing process at an even younger tender age.
Knowing that the current believe of parents of most kids are “paper more important". But are there any supports for those kids whose families who really give their heart and soul to truly believing in developing local born bred sporting talents?
Just take a good look some sporting associations in Singapore. The introduction of prizes award shifted other objectives away except for winning medals to gain more funds but at the expense of local talents.
Taking the big picture away, heavy (and I really mean heavy) politics are in play to sometime deter or even deprive the development of local talents. I do urge the need to speak or hear from, not only from management, but also from the ground up or even to parents who really want their child to do the country proud.
[…] and how supportive the people around the athletes are. That is what makes the difference. Read Teo Ser Luck’s responses to readers’ comments in previous posts. ____________ Editor’s note: Feel free to share […]
I used to participate in a lot of inter-class, inter-house sports competition. It was really about participation. We could play any sports we wanted. Thats where I realized I could play Chinese chess well(got third). Ok, I got distracted, chess is a mind sport. You should know what I mean. We just need to provide the platform, ignite the interest and there could be new discoveries
Resources would always be limited. But we can always learn to use it wisely and effectively. I think realizing sports vision and mission can only be possible with inter-ministry and people-public-private partnership approach. We are taking that step and we should continue this journey with aligned objective and the will and intent. NSAs, clubs, companies in sports can play a part. Schools could work with them and the teachers’ workload could be reduced and activities could increase. Hope more schools are willing. With increase participation, we build a larger base for talent that would enhance the chance of winning in sports. But to start on this journey, the mindset should accept that it is not just about another medal in the tally and glory in the rankings that we are doing this but about character building for the students through sports. Afterall, it is about education.
Mr Teo,
You are spot on about teaching the kids the right values of winning and losing. It is not just about the competition formats but also the teachers and coaches involved. They are the potters molding our future and they need to be properly equipped with the right mentality as well. This will inevitably take time to change.
With Regards to mass participation in sports, what we do not need now is a new rule or regulation that will be enforced.I believe sports like soccer do enjoy mass participation at a intra school level. People will play sports that they are passionate about regardless if there was a competition or proper structure. Playing in the void decks around my school allowed us not only to play against others of similar abilities but even those of higher abilities.
That being said, one positive example would be the Bowling Community. Besides the regular school divisional tournaments, they have developed competitions for Novices and Beginners. This allows beginners to compete on an even field and gain competitive experience in a fun and safe environment. This would be similar to what matt has suggested. However, cost and time are definitely factors that will decide the outcome. To plan for more competition would not only mean more money but time invested as well.If teachers are to be involved, this would be mean more work on top of their existing work load. If we are to make this happen, will people volunteer to do so?
Mass participation and competition do not necessarily preclude one another. Competition is important, because it gives participation a tangible objective. The problem with schools is that resources are limited, so competition means that the less talented are not given the opportunity to participate meaningfully.
The simple solution is for the MOE to devote more funds to running school competitions and to schools for the express purpose of not only setting up more sports, but to allow schools to field multiple teams in competition. In many schools sports like football are very popular, but many are excluded by the fact that only 11 can be on the pitch at any one time. Allowing schools to field multiple teams, in a multi-division, league-style setting, where each team is not only guaranteed a certain number of games, but that they play against others of similar ability.
Thank you very much for all your responses. I can actually feel the passion in your messages. 🙂 Glad to know there are so many of you who share these thoughts. I agree that every child should be given a chance to learn, appreciate and benefit from sports. They may not need to be in the school team to play a sport and there should always be sufficient opportunity, space and time for them to engage in a sport that they like. This may seem ideal but it is definitely possible. The rules should also be customized and the games should be fun. I agreed some competition could be good. That would get them going and focused. But it is important to remember that it is not about winning and losing but learning how to win and lose. We want these children to learn the values of life through sports and sportsmanship. Please keep your feedback coming. I would certainly take back some of the ideas and develop them further where possible. Thank you.
Yup, I agree with Mr Gomez.
I knew of this KidzNet program for young, primary school netballers in Singapore. A very significant difference between KidzNet and a real netball game is the goal post (KidzNet has a shorter goal post). Its a great effort put in by these NSAs (such as Singpore Hockey and Netball Singapore) to come up with such programs for the younger ones. It gives them a brief idea of healthy competition and when they move on to secondary school and so on, they are exposed to more sophisticated rules of the particular game and pick up the true meaning of sportsmanship, team work, commitment and discipline.
I feel that to get the correct sporting development of our kids we need to change the format of competition rather than get rid of competition. Small sided games like Fun Hockey promoted by Singapore Hockey is an example. Mini games like Fun Hockey, provide for maximum participation and give the kids a platform to develop at their age ability. The full-sided game is too complex for kids in primary school. Modified equipment are also essential to proper development of our kids. Adult equipment will affect the development of technical skills. The Canadian Athlete Development Model is great. We should look at it as a base to work on.
Cheers
Hector Gomez
Chairperson,
Youth Development
Singapore Hockey.
There is no reason in the world why you can’t have sports for fun and sports for competition. You can’t and shouldn’t separate them. Competition is part of the fun, and having fun is a vital ingredient of success. How many victorious athletes have you heard explain their success by saying “I just decided to go out an enjoy it” I have heard many winning athletes say this – people and teams. Many sporting greats found their unique talent in the backyard and the street, and competed with their friends while they did it. So I guess the point of the question is not to ask whether we should have one or the other – of course you can have both, its just the balance that you need to find. You do need to include the participatory aspect in the school’s focus. If this takes some resources away from the competitive side, so be it – it is worth it, especially at the younger age. Kids with more desire will get on and train hard anyway – if you give them the time and space. And another thing you need is role models who can help the students enjoy competition for the fun of it. So the answer is not to hide competition, but to teach a healthy approach towards competition. In fact this might help in getting young people to enjoy a sport in the long term, rather than burning out and turning away from it because of the pressure, even if they have been successful.
I must admit I don’t know much about the school sports scene (I worked at a JC during inter-school sports season and enjoyed the hype and spirit) but I have heard some concerning stories about students at schools, and even at sports clubs, having to try out for a sport and only get in ‘if they are good enough’. To me this goes against the grain of what school sports and community sports are all about. In NZ where I am from, there were as many teams as there were people who wanted to play. If there were too many, well then the reserves bench was large thats all, and we students accepted that and played half a game to let everyone get some game time. A full game was a reward for good performance. It sounds difficult to manage but in reality you will only ever get a few teams – not everyone wants to do the same thing. And we had A teams and B and C teams and so on, with the better coach and more time going to the A team naturally. We had practice once a week which we got as much out of as we wanted to put in, and we played every saturday or friday night depending on the sport. For basketball in our later school years we even organised our own school teams and entered in the inter-school social grades, we just and organised ourselves. In our junior years – up until about 12, most sport was club-based, and I think establishing a relationship with club sports helped students remain in sport after their school years as they already had a connection with community clubs from their younger days.
The only other thing I would just say is how important I think it is to give kids time and space to organise their own sports. Sport doesn’t have to be ‘organised’. I love sport, and at school I played cricket, rugby, basketball or softball, most days, it was a big part of my life. And probably only 5-10% of that was in an organised situation. This is probably because I was not at all good at it, I just really enjoyed it. Without that time and space, that 5-10% might have been the only sport I played, it might even have been less.
There is a serious problem with competitive sport in schools, with all the focus on results and achievement. Our children (including leaders, teachers, coaches and parents) are seeing sports as a mean to achieve status and success in life. Where is the fun and values? I am happy to hear that the two schools are doing away with the traditional sport day where only the top performers are been rewarded. Rather than just focusing on the 5% of the top athletes, the other 95% of the students are involved and had fun in participation. This may create interest among the 95% of the students and they may take up sport seriously after a few year.
I agree that doing away with competition will not solve the problem. We should focus on promoting passion in sport and desire to excel in whatever they do. Be it sport or study.
I agree with the above 2. The competitive nature is something innately human. Even when playing a friendly game of tennis, we do have the desire to win the game. Doing away with competitive sports will not solve any problems. The key would be to teach and nurture the right competitive spirits within the student. Also, for the younger ones to control their exposure at the right levels.
We should in fact enhance sports with more dedicated media coverage on all school events; these must be for all levels and all schools; media channels like Suria and Kid central are two excellent channel that should be dedicated for schools sports event; parent can also participate at home; consequently, we are surely promoting a healthier Singaporean life styles.
i agree with crosstheline.
without competition i guess most people will start to give up sports. goodness knows it’s hard enough to develop a viable sporting culture here, with parents always stressing their kids to ‘study hard, or else no job’.
but then making sports non-competitive may also work out. if the european example is implemented, then children in primary school will be able to try a wide variety of sports, and maybe choose the one they enjoy best to compete in when they reach 15.
just my thoughts, anyway.
cheers.
Schools can always set up leisure sports and competitive sports… Its hard to do away with competition ‘cos its from there we all grow up learning about team spirit, team work, discipline and commitment. Competition can bring out the worst in us and it can also bring out the best in us.