SP ORTS
Hockey
Convenor: Subhas Nathan | Article by: Kanan Packrisamy
CB, PHASE 2, RTH, WFH, TOP, SKO – JARGON FOR STRANGE TIMES Since the Circuit Breaker (CB) was introduced, hockey has taken a back seat in many people’s lives. However, the Hockey Section has undertaken many initiatives to keep people connected and engaged. Not all our activities during the CB was hockey related as we embarked on an exhilarating fitness journey for the entire Section to follow with our coach Kanan planning out a detailed month-long training program which can be customised to suit all Section Members. The program included a suggested meal guide and routine recommendation to keep the entire Section ticking on the fitness front. The month that followed included another modified fitness plan, this time leading to more flexibility as people got used to working out regularly. A whopping over 150 Section Members were on the fitness journey and perhaps many more joined in but did not shout about it. The Section also organised a very successful Quiz Night and continue to carry out its administrative affairs via zoom meetings (we have already conducted two such meetings to date). With the arrival of Phase 2 of the recovery from CB, hockey was placed back on the cards! Return to Hockey (RTH) OMG! Really? People were excited, but the restrictions were a dampener on first reading. Rules and restriction on training in groups of five with 2m distance between players and groups not mixing were strictly laid. However there was a live line in the SportSG advisory in the form of relaxation of rules for contact sports. This meant that a group of five could train game situations and perhaps even play 1v1, 2v1, 2v2 or 2v3 types of games. With many on Work From Home (WFH) status the island over, the Section booked the Padang when it was available and invited Section Members to train from 5.30 till 7pm on a number of occasions. Training on Padang (TOP). The maximum we have had was 15 in three groups of five. The coach had to position himself 3m from everyone and run the sessions. As challenging as it was, we made it work. The sheer beauty of the location with the evening sun drizzling down on the hallowed Padang, training in groups of only five was suddenly not so bad. As the Phase 2 is slowing taking root and these strange times has also devoured a General Election and not to mention thrown a very wet blanket on the Singapore F1, the hockey front has seen some encouraging news. Our beloved Sengkang Hockey Stadium has opened. Yes Sengkang Opens! (SKO). With SKO for booking,
our vigilant sports staff made bookings for us already and in the month of August SCC started strutting its stuff on the newly laid turf at Sengkang every Fridays from 6.15pm to 7.45pm. Only being able to accommodate 20 Members during one session, the response has been relatively good for people to make it out to Sengkang for a 6.15pm start just as the weekend starts but under these circumstances we take what we can get. Our coaching team has already designed the training to be as fun and challenging as it can be after consulting with national coaches and our Club’s national team trainees. Asaph Heng, our goalkeeper and current National team trainee, is looking forward to training with the Club and is excited about getting bullet-like shots at him.
From top: Chee Seng attends when he can; Kieran socially distant but always close to SCC.
Although the times are demanding, our Section has bonded well and many have met up (albeit in groups of 5) at the Club for some lovely SCC F&B servings. The 4th XI had a small meet up on Friday, i.e. Hari Raya Haji and caught up on the wonderful 2019 the Masters had and are planning 60th birthday parties as they await Phase 3 where competitive hockey can really start, as does the rest of the Section!
From left: Gurveer and Steve tussle for the ball (most work he has done on the hockey pitch for a while), while Benneth takes in one last session before returning to Germany.
SEP / OCT 2020 THE PADANG
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