suggestions for coming National and the sport

[Ken Chew]

I had just played in the Danish league which was concluded last weekend. Here are some suggestions which I had picked up for the National next year.

I hope this will open up alot of discussion which is good compared to the usual case of discussing just weeks prior to the actual competition.

1. standardise kayak colour.
I put this top because this is the greatest disparity I noticed.
Over the years we had (with some resistance) imposed standardisation of team colours and I feel it is time we extend to this last item that has not been included till now.

Here, all team have same colour kayak. The player is responsible to cover his/her kayak with colour film. (Those that have been to competition where this is done know what I mean.)

2. have a junior category
How do we continuous get players for the sport? The answer from a lot of other sports suggests that it is a junior/youth development program.

With more younger players playing, it is time to slowly phase in the junior category over the next few years.


3. have qualifying rounds leading to the national
One problem faced each year is scheduling the ever increasing number of teams in the championship.

The way out of this is to have qulifying rounds. This make sure that it is not a logistic nightmare and also let teams have chance to play all round the year.

Part of the solution to the Nationals scheduling problem could also be to take out the IVP category.

I know this is a problematic area to discuss.
The right place to start is probably a stated definition of the goals and objectives of the National and canoepolo development overall. This way whatever is done can be measuring against the objectives.

Also the overall development of the sport cannot just be be discussed with intensity every year just prior to the National.

I know many people had taken a shot at this problem, including me years ago. Maybe someone who is close to the decision making body can provide some insights.

[chickenontherun]

the problem with the junior category part is that the participation will be very low because currently there are really very little knowledge about it in sec schs and junior colleges. scf has to do sth about this, else even having a junior category will not ensure the continuous succession of cp players.

[fiReL]

agree wif chickenontherun..ur nick veri long leh..
canoe polo muz oso be recognised by moe first..e national canoe plo champs we entered was not even recognised by moe..besides few sec schs noe abt canoe polo..in jc too..onli vjc, hcjc, rjc onli noe abt canoe polo..e rest of singapore dunno abt tiz sport..we nid publicity n advertisement n recognition..onli then will pple start coming in n there will be a ready supply of junior players..juz my :twocents: worth of comments..

[chickenontherun]

yar, schools very "ting hua" one. if MOE and SCF says promote this sport, schools will surely follow one! then the fun begins when you get a lot of young players to join in the fun! recognition is also important to spur schools to explore into this area

[Tigr@ine]

just wondering... is this year the first year there is U19 category? if it is, i'm jus thinking how come it wasn't like in the previous years? i mean, canoe polo has been ard for some time right? how issit tt jcs and sec schs din noe like some time b4 alreadi? just some questions... would :welcome: any answers or comments... :bgrinhat:

[chickenontherun]

yar, quite puzzling too. how is it that polys and uni have such a good start in canoe polo but not jcs?

[fiReL]

maybe becoz polys n unis got e available equipment like kayaks n pools? i oso dunno..coz cp has been ard 4 a few years liao..but jc haf not heard abt cp..i tink becoz it is not promoted..e.g not much advertisement for e national champs..or else if it is a sport..everyone will noe abt it..e.g.primary schools noe abt e cca npcc although there is no npcc cca in primary school.. :D

[chickenontherun]

a few years and polys could get such organised squads in competitive arenas. really hope that jcs can also have such features!

[Ken Chew]

Had been away for awhile doing some travelling.

From what I gathered.

There was an U19 category this year. Pardon me for my un-updatedness about this year's competition while I was away.
This is a great start!

No one discussing here seem to be able to give an idea of where the sport is heading on the the official (ie. SCF) agenda.

What is the plan? Even a broad one if anyone know.

I remembered that 2 years ago, Cheng did wrote a nice proposal and plan regarding the development. I wonder what has happened to it.

Frankly, discussions and speculations on this forum and outside it cannot be of must use if none of them are actionable.

Just curious, are the monthly canoepolo comm. meeting still going on?
Who attends?
Who are the members?
What are the meeting agenda?

There are alot of energies from people in this forum but they are not channelled and directed. If people know what is happening at the "higher" level, then energies can be directed at specifics.

[chickenontherun]

whoa, i really din know that there is so much happening!

btw, besides just having a U19 category, is it possible to canoe polo workshops be held sometime before the nationals for JCs? i remember that my teacher mentioned that NUS came down to HCJC to demonstrate once. I think i would be helpful if such workshops can be held for other JCs or even secondary schools before the nationals to stir up their interest and spur them to participate in this sport. :twocents: worth, altho it may sound a little dumb :withstp:

[waternut]

so how r things in europe? mus be fantastic to be able to play canoepolo there... always my dream... perhaps one day i will get such an opportunity too...

anyway, it has been a long long time since i wrote anything on this forum... it is interesting to watch this forum growing since some time last year when i mooted this forum to TheMasterG... well, the power of internet!

i have been blardy busy.. well, but that's an understatement of the year for those who have been working closely with me... anyway, things are growing indeed in the local canoepolo scene... i am glad to see raffles jc, hwachong and now victoria growing their own pool of self-funded enthusiasts... i do think we have come along some way thought there's still so much so much more to achieve...

well, i did write a proposal to scf long time ago but i suppose nothing happened becos it grew a little frustrating to be pushing for things to happen with limited financial support... therein came the idea of paddle culture... which subsidises canoepolo activities incredibly heavily... (our core revenue source being from normal kayak programmes).. no matter, it has been a great feeling building something with almost nothing with a good friend of mine -junbin- and paddle culture has become the platform which later for some of these crazee canoepolo kids... like cheryl, andee, yeeyen, ben, caifong and the whole cute gang from rj and enthusiastic hwachongians like pei geok and mr chickenontherun .... ha... interesting name! has it got something to do with what we usually do during the "survival camp" in pulau ubin??? do u guys still break off the chicken neck and watch the chicken run nowadays??? interesting! i always did remember my experience when i was in hwachong oac...

many thanks to these cute bunch and this forum has become a livelier place indeed.

looking back, i think my greatest regret was to stop my own training as a player and stopped my involvement with the national team... but one thing gives for another i suppose. perhaps i couldnt do a lot of things which i did if i had continued to train competitively...

well, anyway, hopefully, in six more months time, paddle culture can FINALLY realise its dream of building 1 or 2 full size polo court and things will grow to an even grander level at secondary sch level .... hopefully la...

well, like many of you guys out here, i wish things can move faster... but the team (thanks to people like andrew ng and pretty michelle) at paddleculture are already breaking their own necks making some things happen when it shouldn't...

Not too bad for 10 months of operations in Paddle Culture (being officially operational in Jan 2003 in a "GRAND & luxurious" office.. hahahaha)

life is interesting when one chases his/her dreams... even if i fail, i fail with no regrets... well, enjoy your european canoepolo experience and see you back when you are back!

Many More Good Years to Singapore Canoe Polo,
-lc cheng
Paddle Culture

[Ken Chew]

Cheng, Nice to see that things are go well on your side.

It's certainly great to play at different countries and see how people deal with their challenges.
Indeed challenges are commonplace, in Singapore, in europe and in HK (places that I experienced). What makes the difference is how people deal with it.

Imagine cycling in the cold to train in freezing water, then coming out of water in freezing wind and carrying all the gears 500m back to the store. Make the nice little trip to Kallang almost a joy. Anyway that's another thread ...

I'm with you on this point. You need money for the sport and you can't just wait for the meagre allocation each year. The best way to generate that money is of course through business enterprise.
I believe that business enterprise and sport can indeed go hand in hand despite what the sport purists want to believe.
Well I think you did a much better job than me in creating a business out of canoepolo. I hope to witness your pool soon.

[hanne]

Hi Singapore
I'm playing at the club in Denmark, where Ken has been joining our mens team the last 5 months.

Here in Denmark we've been doing some seminars for juniors and women : invited all clubs to join for a weekend, were the participents gets to do a lot of playing as well as getting to know members of the other clubs and get inputs to training out of water, learn about rules etc.
This started 2-3 years ago with 12-14 women, but this month 30 women & 43 juniors have participated in the seminars.
Also the knowledge of the other players gives us the oppertunity to do joint-venture teams for some of the turnaments in Germany, where the "local" club might not be able to play.

This makes a very good basis for the future - still not good enough, but it's a huge step of the way. What I think is that it is important to get a social side into the sport as well, meaning that you got to ex: invite people to play Bingo at christmas, make summer-excursions for the members with boy- or girlfriends, play bridge on rainy days etc.
My point is if you can create a strong social relation, is't a lot easier to get new members AND keep them, because a lot of people are not into heavy competition at first, but when they get to know their fellowmembers, they might want to join in on the fun together with the rest of us !!!!

So chin upp and keep smiling !
Hanne

[jacob11]

Hello Singapore :wavey:

I’m playing on the famous team that Ken played on in Copenhagen.

Hanne, the rest of the board and I have done a lot to achieve our goals for the club.
But still there is far to go, we still need more youth players and better players for our 1. team.

It is true that creating a great social environment is the best way too keep members, but to gain new ones you have people notice the club. Try to get press coverage( it’s hard but not impossible!)
Get flyers and post them at schools, other canoeing clubs, etc..
It seems there are a lot of people in Singapore who are eager to get canoepolo on landmark… and I think you will make it…. For sure!

Good luck

Jacob

PS: next time I get to Singapore I will remember my paddle…
It has been a real pleasure playing with Ken, and I thought it might be fun to train with his team :)


:smilehat: oh and Merry christmas too you all in Singapore :frosty:

[Raymond Liow]

Hi Hanne and Jacob,

We welcome you to join us at Red Tide's training any time! Though we don't play as often as we would like to, you can bet your last dollar that our training is always fun-filled!

Do hope to see Danish players in Singapore soon :)