Monday, March 19, 2007

Lower Sec PE Theory Lessons




Lesson materials and worksheets for Lower Sec PE Theory Lessons have been uploaded to the SPRINT@VS website.

Students can download the Powerpoint e-lessons and relevant worksheets (which you should have already received in class) Pls look under the MEDIA tab.

Click here to access the SPRINT@VS website (http://sprint.vs.moe.edu.sg)

Sunday, March 18, 2007

My Mar Holidays - Training in Udon Thani

It's been a hectic first term and I decided to take a much needed break and 'disappear' and get a chance to rest, recharge and reflect. So immediately on Sat 10th Mar at 3am, I left for our Budget Terminal to board the 6am flight off to Udon Thani.

Where is Udon Thani and what's there?- some of you might ask.
Well Udon Thani is a kinda sleepy country town in the Northern part of Thailand near the Lao boarder. I went up there to do some personal training with one the regional trainers in edged weapons training, Randy Hodges (ain't it cool, we both have the same name! His is spelt Randall, mine is Randell)
Over the course of the next few days, I had intense 1 to 1 sessions with Randy. Randy had also arranged for his wife, Nok, to assist in the training. Nok was patient and helped me with many of the flow drills and exercises. Between mothering me with lots of food and drink (the grilled fish was fantastic, Nok!), she was always trying to ambush me with sneaky attacks.
Randy was also a generous trainer and shared openly and unreservedly with me. Every morning and evening, he'd show up on his Honda motorbike and pick me from the hotel and we'd be off for the next 2 1/2 hours sparring, training and drilling.
In the afternoons, I took the chance to rest, catch up on my reading, watch the many training DVDs I'd promised myself to watch. And catch a much needed nap before the evening training session with Randy. The slow pace of life in Udon allowed me time to unwind, catch up on training and reflect.
We travelled everywhere by bike or Tuk Tuk: check out my first Tuk Tuk ride when we brought Randy's Alsatian, Chao Ying to the vet for her bath.

The cool thing about training with Randy and Nok was that it was an intense session but not formalised; rather it was like catching up with family after a long absence.
Lazing in the house after training with Randy, Nok, Janny (their adorable daughter) and Chao Ying (the mischievous Alsatian) was a reminder and affirmation that working hard and enjoying the company of good people are the simplest yet most crucial pleasures in life. Here's a clip of one lazy afternoon after a hard morning training session:


Thank you Randy, Nok, Little Janny and yes, Ying too for the wonderful time in Udon Thani. I'm sure we'll be seeing each other soon!

Thursday, March 8, 2007

East Zone B-Div Soccer Finals: VS versus St Pats



On Wed evening, our boys played a hard-fought game with St Pat's. It has been 16 years since St Pat's has reached the Zone Finals and there was alot at stake for both schools.

St Pat's drew first blood with an early goal in the first half. Our boys staged a courageous comeback but superb goal keeping on St Pat's part and ill-luck with the cross-bar denied us the equaliser. No matter how hard we fought, we just couldn't seem to equalise and at full time, it was St Pat's that walked away with the winner's trophy.

I was impressed by the fighting spirit in both teams and I can see that there is a new found respect between the players of both schools- when VS first shifted to Siglap, there was the unavoidable sense of rivalry when ever our players encountered each other. But yesterday, the St Pat's boys really impressed me with the way they handled themselves under pressure, even when our striker collided with their goal keeper while going for the ball. The way the boys reorganised themselves, kept their cool, encouraged each other rather than start a ruckus showed that they are mature, seasoned players who take the match with VS very seriously and professionally.
There is much we can learn here.
Our boys also impressed me with our trade-mark 'Never say Die' attitude. In my opinion, Man of the Match should go to Dilip Thapa. Every challenge for the ball, every run to intercept loose ball, every header to vie for possession, you could see him there.

So here's a little tribute to our Victorian heroes!

3 cheers to our opponents St Pat's- thank you for that hard fought match, it brought out the best in both of us.
Let us push forward for the Nationals! Yeah!

Sec 1 Track & Field Lessons- High Jump

Having gone through the basic techniques of approach and take-off, we see Sec 1E here trying out at the actual High Jump pit.

Must say that 1E has quite a number of potential jumpers!

Check out clip below: