Coach is a Winner!

Congrats, Coach, for winning the POSB Everyday Champions for Sports Award 2010 - Coaches Category!

The POSB Everyday Champions for Sports Award is a special award for the unsung heroes around us who have inspired others through sports. This prestigious award is an initiative by the Singapore Sports Council and POSB to recognise the efforts of everyday Singaporeans and organisations that strive to make a difference in the lives of others by championing sports and an active lifestyle.

Enjoy the videos (with cameo appearances from our members!) -

http://www.singaporesports.sg/posbchampions/home.aspx

http://www.singaporesports.sg/Video/VideoInfo/tabid/65/VideoId/199/POSB-Everyday-Champions-For-Sports-2010-Coaches.aspx

http://www.singaporesports.sg/Video/VideoInfo/tabid/65/VideoId/197/POSB-Everyday-Champions-For-Sports-2010.aspx

PLK ♥ Coach!

Thank you for inspiring and guiding us in dragonboat and life!

Benefits of Team Sports

Team sports like dragonboat have many benefits - physical, psychological, social, and emotional. Here are some things that dragonboat teaches individuals that go well beyond paddling and winning.

TEAM COOPERATION
Entering into a new season in sports, one might only know a few of the players on the team (if any at all). Some of the players may actually be people you are not that fond of off the playing field. But when your team decides at the beginning of the season that it wants to be the team in the winner's circle, personal differences are often set aside for the common good of the team. Some players may have bigger egos than others. But that "my way or the highway" attitude will have to stay in check in a team sport because no one player is greater than the team. A good team player will put the needs of the team above oneself; and learn to be happy for other player's successes because they see how it benefits the greater team.

COMPETITION
Team work in sports offers a way for people to compete for something together. Although it is important to know that winning is not everything in sports, healthy competition can be good for people. People can translate the hard work they've put into their sport by working harder to be a better student or employee and a better person overall. Working towards a goal can teach people the value of hard work, commitment and dedication and team sports are a great way to learn these values.

CAMARADERIE AND FRIENDSHIPS
Team sports such as dragon boat are physical and often require heavy commitment and dedication from all players to be successful. By the end of the season, players who have been battered and bruised by the grind of the regular trainings and races may feel a strong connection, much like brothers (or sisters), to their teammates. The team work involved in these sports allows for people to become part of something of value and teaches people how to help someone on their team when they are struggling and offer them words of encouragement when they are performing either poorly or admirably. Team work can also give players a greater respect for one another and can build friendships that last a lifetime.

BUILDING IMPORTANT LIFE SKILLS
Team work in sports can help give participants stronger communication skills and teach them to work better with others. Many projects at work and at school often require a group to work together to put together a strong presentation to be looked at by the employer or teacher. Every member of that team must be pulling in the same direction to complete the project successfully. Additional advantages to team work in sports include learning to deal with conflict and exposure to a variety of ideas within the team.

HEALTH BENEFITS
Of course, team sports can also provide a regular and beneficial outlet for stress reduction and cardiovascular exercise. The regular activity can help mitigate the effects of long-term health conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or arthritis, and it decreases the likelihood of developing obesity or other, related health problems. Many adults have trouble sticking with a workout, but loyalty to team members may be the perfect motivation to keep them exercising.

So, what's there not to love about dragonboat?

From Fat To Fab!

Here's an inspiration to the team - our very own Fai was on Men's Health. CHEERS TO HEALTHY LIVING!

In primary school, Faisal Mohamed was the fat boy. “I wanted a lean and toned body,” he says, “like the athletic boys in school.” But thanks to what mum cooked at home; rich Malay food that’s usually fried and drenched in coconut cream, leanness was just not an option. Furthermore, his heavyset family provided no inspiration. His two older siblings are also overweight. “For years, my schoolmates teased me about my weight. They also avoided me during projects because they assumed that since I was fat, I must also be lazy.”

Four months before his National Service (NS) enlistment in 2004, he got a letter to go for his medical exam. “I was 140kg, my BMI was 37 and I suffered from high-blood pressure (a family trait) and Type-2 diabetes,” he says. “Furthermore, if I didn’t get my BMI to 35 or lower, I’d have to endure six months of Basic Military Training (BMT) instead of three. No thanks.”

The Plan
Faisal understood that there were no shortcuts for him to lose weight. “I was unfit and I had health problems,” he says. “I had to build up my fitness and adjust my diet gradually.” He held on to the vision of the lean and athletic guy he wanted to be, which helped kept him on track.

The Food
Aside from mum’s indulgent cooking, Faisal admits to eating excessively. “I can usually finish a second helping of rice at every meal,” he says. He began by cutting down the amount of food that he ate. “I got myself used to eating less at every meal,” he says. “But I’d never let myself go hungry.” Faisal eats six meals a day. “It’s easy to eat smaller portions when you know that your next meal is just two hours away,” he says.

The Fitness Regime
While waiting to enlist, Faisal began nightly walks at Bedok Reservoir Park. “I walked slowly in the beginning and I covered about 4km a day,” he says. “I also stopped taking the lift and started using the stairs to get to and from my flat.” Faisal lives on the 13th storey. This helped him reduce his BMI to 34, which qualified him for the three-month BMT programme. After NS, Faisal maintains his fitness with regular cardio training. He’s also worked with a personal trainer almost two years ago to develop his muscles.

The Reward
Faisal’s efforts have shut up the teasing masses but more importantly his health has improved. “The high-blood pressure and diabetes are gone,” he says. “I also feel more energetic and fit, which lets me pursue physical hobbies.” Faisal got in silat while he was in university and is now looking to join a dragon-boat team. (Note: Interview was done in Oct '09. Fai is now happily with PLK! =)

For full story and other weight-loss articles, visit Men's Health

Work Out And Be Happy

(Reader's Digest) April 2010

The concept of exercise-related endorphins isn't new, but it's now clear that their power is more potent than once thought.

Sweat for a moment, then bask in the good feeling for hours. That's the message of a study presented at the American College of Sports Medicine's recent annual meeting. The study suggests that the mood benefits of exercise last up to 12 times longer than previously believed.

Earlier research had found that a workout's feel-good effects last about an hour - not much longer than it takes for the sweat to dry. But in the University of Vermont research, after men and women pedalled for 20 minutes on a stationary bike, questionnaires showed their mood remain buoyed for about half a day, whether they were fitness fiends or just venturing off the couch for the first time, says researcher Jeremy Sibold.

ROWING 101

There used to be a strong belief in rowing that you have to be a big, powerful, anaerobic beast to do well. This was fuelled by the fact that most successful rowers were, indeed, of a bigger build, not unlike the Incredible Hulk. Such athletes trained extremely hard but not necessarily according to the demands of their sport. Depending on crew size, gender and, of course, ability, it is more accurate to think of rowing as a power endurance sport rather than a strength sport.

THE IMPORTANCE OF ENDURANCE...
Obviously great strength is needed to generate large force and propel the boat at high speed. But it has been shown physiologically that at least 70% of the energy requirement comes from aerobic metabolism (the metabolic process that occurs in the cells, by which the body uses oxygen to produce energy). The remainder comes from anaerobic sources. Just by looking at this physiological breakdown, it is easy to deduce that plenty of work must be done to condition the aerobic, or cardio respiratory system to guarantee optimal race performance. However large and powerful a rower or crew, if they lack sufficient endurance, they will be disadvantaged in the closing stages (i.e. Last Charge) of a race. Strength training is just as important but to compete convincingly, one must first have endurance.

THE TYPES OF ENDURANCE...
They are aerobic endurance, anaerobic endurance, speed endurance and strength endurance. A sound basis of aerobic endurance is fundamental for all events.

TO BUILD ENDURANCE...
Most experts recommend the Concept 2 Indoor Rowing Machine, regarded by many to be the ultimate indoor training weapon. Concept 2 is an endurance training system that focuses on proper body position with intensity equivalent, or exceeding, actual sports conditions. Peak power, power endurance and muscular endurance is the ultimate goal of a rowing training program.

Bottom line, the land training that is most likely to improve your dragon boat rowing performance is more rowing!

How to be a Successful Paddler: An 8-Step Guide

(1) Contribute.
Don't just sign up to be on the team. To be a successful dragonboat paddler, you must be a good team player. It is not enough to be the strongest or the best solo paddler. Your loyalty, effort and willingness to contribute to the team is more important.

(2) Always respect and love your teammates.
In diversity, there is strength. In a team, we will have team-mates with very different personalities, beliefs and value systems. Even when there are differences in opinions, we have to agree to disagree. In a positive environment filled with encouragement, respect and love, you will paddle harder, faster and stronger!

(3) Always respect your opponents.
Our opponents may be considered "enemies" during competitions but what happens on the water stays on the water. Regardless of victory or defeat, a successful paddler will always display grace and composure. The best sportsmen in the world are the ones who display good sportsmanship.

(4) Always respect and trust your Coach.
He is the one who trains and motivates you, week in and out. He is the one who believes in you when nobody else does. He is the one who takes quiet pride when you grow as a rower and as an individual. Your duty as a rower is to show him what you have learnt and to always do the best that you can; in every training, and in every race.

(5) Help one another out.
A team is like a village. We all need to work at it together to make the village a perfect place to live in. Help one another out when assistance is needed in any way. Don't be a "village idiot" by being disrespectful, selfish or unfriendly! Instead, be a good neighbour by caring and sharing with one another.

(6) Motivate.
Every once and a while, cheer on your team, even if nobody else does. It is like electricity. You can be the conductor for the "electricity" to pass through. Just shout out "Jia You" or any other words of encouragement. It's infectious! Don't ever be afraid to motivate!

(7) Train with commitment and conviction.
Training together requires commitment and effort from every member of the team. To be a successful dragonboater, you must commit to team training. You must believe in yourself and always be ready to push to your limits. Your coach and team-mates may not be able to tell if you are putting in 100% effort but you will know in your heart if you have given your all. Only if you have done your best, then will you truly be satisfied.

(8) Stay focussed.
Set personal and team goals and keep your sights on them. Be a go-getter. Do whatever is necessary to meet your targets, even if it means personal sacrifices have to be made. Don't slack off because you see others doing it. Instead, encourage your team-mates to stay on track the team goal. Being successful means doing all of the above and beyond what you are told.

PLK Mention in Malaysian Press

A news article in a Penang daily about the Penang Pesta Dragon Boat Race (courtesy of Eugene)

Group Exercise 'Boosts Happiness'

(BBC News) 23:01 GMT, Tuesday, 15 September 2009 00:01 UK



Exercising together appears to increase the level of the feel-good endorphin hormones naturally released during physical exertion, a study suggests.



A team from Oxford University carried out tests on 12 rowers after a vigorous workout in a virtual boat. Those who trained alone withstood less pain - a key measure of endorphins - than those who exercised together.



Writing in Biology Letters, the authors speculate these hormones may underpin an array of communal activities. It has long been known that physical exertion releases endorphins and that these are responsible for the sometimes euphoric sensations experienced after exercising. They have a protective effect against pain.



But researchers from Oxford University's Institute of Cognitive and Evolutionary Anthropology found this response was heightened by the synergistic effect of rowing together. After 45 minutes of either rowing separately or in a team of six, the researchers measured their pain threshold by how long they could tolerate an inflated blood pressure cuff on the arm. Exercise increased both groups' ability to tolerate pain, but the difference was significantly more pronounced among the team rowers. This, they said, was a measure of an increased endorphin release.



As well as potentially improving performance in sport, the researchers speculated that this endorphin release may be the mechanism that underpins the sense of communal belonging that emerges from activities such as religious rituals, dancing or laughing.



"The results suggest that endorphin release is significantly greater in group training than in individual training even when power output, or physical exertion, remains constant," said lead author Emma Cohen.



"The exact features of group activity that generate this effect are unknown, but this study contributes to a growing body of evidence suggesting that synchronised, coordinated physical activity may be responsible."



Carole Seheult, a sport and exercise psychologist from the British Psychological Society, said the findings were entirely credible. "Rowing is a sport which requires real team work and endorphins could well foster that process. But more generally we know from experience that exercising in groups is good for people at many levels, it's motivational, it's social. Groups sessions really do work."



Visit BBC NEWS for the full report.

CONGRATS, TEAM SINGAPORE!

The Singapore flag was flying high at the recently concluded 9th WORLD DRAGON BOAT RACING CHAMPIONSHIPS in Prague, Czech Republic.

The Junior Team won the Junior Divisional Nation Cup (overall champ).
N-Team won silver in the Premier Open 500m Minor Final.

CONGRATS TEAM SINGAPORE!

For full race results, visit http://idbfworldchamps.com/

SINGAPORE WINS WORLD JUNIOR DRAGON BOAT CHAMPIONSHIP
(by Tan Joe-Sie) Czech Republic, Saturday, August 29, 2009 – The Singapore Junior Dragon Boat Team, comprising 45 National Junior College (NJC) and 4 Hwa Chong Institution (HCI) students won 4 golds, 3 silvers and 1 bronze to clinch the World Junior Dragon Boat Champion title in the recently concluded 9th World Dragon Boat Racing Championship held at Racice, Prague, Czech Republic from 26th to 29th August.... For full report, visit http://redsports.sg/2009/09/03/world-junior-dragon-boat/

Unleash your Inner Power with your Mind!

Do you feel a tremor of desperation go through your mind when a competitor boat passes you in a race? Do you mentally give up the fight and think that it is impossible to overtake your opponent?

Believe it or not, even when you feel like you are about to die from fatigue and pain during a race, you still have the capacity to find power and energy that you do not even know you possess!

This is because your mind has the amazing capacity to release power-laden adrenalin into your system, which is a bit like a fuel injection for a car. This huge energy-source is available to you during those times when you feel like you will not be able to paddle another stroke, or when a competitor boat passes your boat and you're wondering if you will be able to keep up with them.

The first point is not to panic when a competitor passes you. Panicking will only make you try too hard, and you can lose your stroking rhythm this way. Simply relax and know you have this energy-source available to you to power up and pass them when the time is right.

Now, the next thing to do is to get your mind to release that extra boost of adrenalin into your body. This is done in two steps -

1. When someone passes you (and you need extra energy), the first thing to do is to imagine or visualize your body becoming energized with power. It doesn't matter whether you actually feel this power or not, just pretend you do. Feel this power coursing through your veins, and flowing though your body.

2. Next, imagine that you can feel this energy transferring into your strokes, which are becoming more and more powerful with each stroke, beginning to move your boat through the water faster and faster. That's the two-step plan for accessing your natural adrenalin - by firstly feeling your body energized with power, and then imagining that energy is injecting power and speed into your paddling. This process commands to your subconscious mind to release adrenalin into your body, which will provide that extra energy you didn't know you had - and this will happen very quickly once you get the hang of it.

So when you need an extra boost of power, you'll need to fire up your imagination, because the secret is to 'feel' your body becoming stronger, before it actually is! Your imagination has to be able to create a sensation that isn't even there yet! This provides the mental trigger which activates your body's adrenalin and gives you a boost of energy. This is a fact of human physiology, so don't doubt this.

Do not underestimate its ability to turn around your results. The key to being able to 'feel' energy lies in your imagination - and when you've mastered this, you'll have energy every time you need it. So how do you feel energy that isn't there yet? Practice it in training, until you have it mastered for the actual races. Once you've mastered this, your competitors will begin to feel more uneasy when they're ahead of you than they are behind you! Soon you will begin to feel like you can turn around any race. Nothing will seem impossible anymore in the competition arena, because you will be capable of things you'd not imagined before.

Eventually you might even begin to see an overtaking competitor as a welcome challenge instead of a threat. These opponents will force you to paddle an even better time than you'd have normally done without them. Turn everything into a positive. If they don't pass you, great! This means you're out in front, without a problem. And if they do pass you, even better! This will bring out the absolute best in you. Know that you and your team-mates will rise to the challenge, in times where the others would sink from view.

The key lies in your mind, and your imagination. Begin working with them today in training, and turn them into powerful allies in your sporting life.

“It is very stupid to assume your opponents are less talented.”

An Interview with Ben Tan (Red Sports - Jan 18)
by Les Tan, Dawn Yip and Jan Lin

Dr Benedict Tan, 41, is a three-time Sportsman of the Year award winner and won a gold medal at the 1994 Asian Games in Hiroshima, Japan. In 1995, he broke into the ranks of the top 50 sailors in the world, and finished 36th out of 86 competitors at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, USA.Ben is currently the Head and Senior Consultant of the Changi Sports Medicine Centre. He also sits on the board of the Singapore Sports Council and is a member of the Singapore National Olympic Council. In recent years, he has turned his focus to long-distance running, and recently finished as the third-fastest Singaporean in a personal best time of 2 hours 56 minutes 20 seconds at the 2008 Singapore Marathon.

Here is his story. [Part 4]

How was it like juggling training and school work? How often did you train?

"I’m very target-oriented. First I decide whether I want to win or not. If the answer is yes then the next question is what it takes to win. Then you do what it takes to win, so if you want to win, how many hours must you train.

But my formula for winning is very simple. Your performance is equals to your talent, how many hours you put in and how efficient your training is. So if your training is to just go down there and go through the motion and you don’t learn anything, you can spend 10 hours a day and it’s no use.

So basically there are 3 parameters and to simplify [the formula] further, you can condense to 2 parameters. Because for talent, I always assume that my opponents are more talented, or at least as talented as me. It is not a bad assumption. If he he manages to qualify for the SEA Games, he has to be talented.

So it is very stupid to assume that your opponents are less talented. I say it is very stupid, but a lot of people still make that assumption.

Why?

Because a lot of people don’t put in as much effort as their opponents, they train less hours, yet they expect to win, which is rubbish. A lot of people do that. There is no way it will happen.
That’s why I always assume that you’re equally talented and the only way to beat you is, I’ll either train more efficiently or put in more hours, or both. That’s why I work very hard because I assume and respect my opponents who are always up against me.

So then now there are only 2 parameters.

Can you get away with just doing one? That means, I’ll train more hours and be less efficient? Cannot. It is a very competitive world. Can you get away with being very efficient and training less hours? Also very difficult.

It depends on the level of competition, but if you get on top like Asian Games onwards, then forget it. The Chinese, Japanese and Europeans are all full-time.

So you will have to do both and I always make that assumption. If you train 5 hours, I’ll train 6 hours. If you train 6 hours, I’ll train 7 hours. There is no way around it.

So if you simplify things like that, when it comes to training efficiency, every hour you spend in the water, you try to get as much as you can. So before I go on the water, I already have training objectives, when I get into the water, everything I do, I think and think and analyse and capture the information in my head.

Once I come back to shore, after I go dating, go and see movie, go home and study, I’ll go back and I have a training log book and I’ll analyse what happened during my training session during the day and I summarise and write down in red ink for the next training session, what are the collective actions I’m going to take.

So the next training session, I’ll just look at the red portion before I go on the water, so my objectives are already there and in that way, I accelerate my learning process and get the most out of my training sessions.

Here’s another example of how I squeezed in so much. In a normal training session if there is a coach, who gives you a course to do and you race the course and when everyone is done and will sit down and wait for the last boat to come in, then you restart the race again. I never rest.
While they are waiting for the rest to come back, I’ll do boat changing drills, my physical fitness, or boat handling, while waiting for the rest. So I’m already tired before the next race starts, but that challenges me because I put myself at a disadvantage first and I’ll have to work harder for the next race because my overseas opponents wouldn’t be as easy as my local ones.
So I have to purposely open myself to disadvantage. Sometimes I tie plastic bags to my boat in the water to slow my boat down, to put myself at a disadvantage.

So in training situations, you make it harder than the real situations so that the real situations become easier. So I’m always challenging myself that way, and that’s why I need a lot of sparring partners because in strong winds, I’ll beat the strong winds expert and in light winds, I’ll beat the light winds expert and when I’m strong in all the departments, when I beat the experts in all the departments, then overall, nobody touches me."

Article courtesy of Red Sports

Over 3,000 Paddlers Take Part In Singapore Dragon Boat Festival 2008

More than 3,000 paddlers splashed out on Bedok Reservoir over the weekend in this year's Singapore Dragon Boat Festival. Among the races on Sunday was the 1,000-metre Prime Minister's Challenge Trophy.

Nanyang Technological University won the men's event.

The team trained extra hard for the event in memory of two members, Poh Boon San and Stephen Loh, who died in the dragon boat accident in Cambodia last year.

The university is also setting up an endowment fund in memory of the two paddlers.

Two bursaries worth S$4,000 will be given to financially needy students of the NTU Dragon Boat Team to help them complete their studies or participate in the sport.

Dragonboat Facility Launched In Aljunied

Residents at Bedok Reservoir have a new S$350,000 attraction to get their feet wet.

Foreign Minister George Yeo, who is also a Member of Parliament for the area, officiated the opening of "Aljunied Boathouse @ Bedok Reservoir" on Sunday.

It is the first dragonboat facility to be owned and run by a constituency.

It was designed by Temasek Polytechnic students and took four months to complete.

It will serve as a venue for residents and students to come together and take part in the sport.

Mr Yeo said, "Dragon boating is getting more and more popular throughout the world today. And in Asia, it has come back to life. It's an old tradition....which is refreshed, and reincarnated in the 21st century, modernised, used by corporations for team building And when MPs each rode a dragon boat two years ago, we thought wow, if we can use this to strengthen our own committee organisations in Aljunied GRC, it will be excellent."

When asked how the Boathouse would encourage Singaporeans to take part in the sport, following the the recent fatal incident where five Singapore dragon boaters perished in Cambodia, Mr Yeo said, "The circumstances (in Cambodia) were different. That was quite uncontrolled and even a little uncharted for us. Certainly they should have taken more precautions.

"But in the case of Singapore, we've been at it for some time, there may be a need for some fine-tuning, some tweaking of rules here and there. But I think by and large, it is a safe sport and one which is very enjoyable."

No Single Factor Responsible For Dragon Boat Tragedy

The dragon boat tragedy in Cambodia last November that left five Singaporeans dead, was due to, among others, the following reasons - unfamiliarity with race conditions, low safety awareness and lack of preparations.



These are the findings of a safety inquiry panel which was formed to look into the incident.

The panel revealed its findings on Friday.

The tragedy took place at the Tonle Sap River.

The Singapore Dragon Boat Team was one of 19 teams taking part in the annual Cambodian Water Festival.

Their boat capsized as they were rowing back to the docking point, after it was hit by a current.

Twenty-two team members were thrown into the waters but only 17 surfaced.

The bodies of the other five were recovered a few days later.

The Safety Inquiry Panel said the Singapore team was unfamiliar with the race conditions.

The river current was at its strongest as it was at the end of the rainy season, and it was flowing in the reverse direction.

The Singaporeans were also not used to the equipment provided by the Cambodians.

For example, the safety panel of inquiry found that the Singapore Dragon Boat team was not familiar with the traditional boat used in the race.

The one they were used to and accepted internationally has a flat bottom, while the traditional boat had a round bottom and no proper rudder - which is used to steer the boat - hence making it unstable in water.

This caused the two coxswain to steer the boat using their paddles.

The rowers also reported that the freeboard of the boat, which is the distance from the waterline to the upper deck level, was lower and this caused the boat to take water during practise session and the race.

Another finding is that the Singapore team did not have an established procedure of conducting risk assessments, such as safety briefings and drills.

For example, the Dragon Boat team did not have established safety procedures or drills for contingencies in the water.

They also did not as a habit do a risk assessment prior to the race and most rowers were not aware of a capsize drill.

In fact, most had never experienced a capsized boat before the tragedy.

Preparation for the race was also unsystematic.

The team arrived just a day earlier and had only one training session.

There was a lack of information about the event, the condition of the river and the race site.

Most of the team members, including team officials, were not prepared for the strong currents or the boat.

The panel also concluded that the Cambodian organisers had not followed International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF) Guidelines.

For example, the life jackets given out to the rowers were bulky and not designed for competitive racing.

So the rowers decided to junk them as they were told that it was "optional".

The paddles issued were also of non-standard size - some were longer than others. Overall, the rowers found the paddles heavier than usual.

Bernard Tan, Chairman, Safety Inquiry Panel, said, "I think the greater tragedy is if we allow a tragedy like that to happen again, and that's why we put forward recommendations to ensure that this events will not reoccur."

And a key suggestion is that the Singapore Dragon Boat Association (SDBA) and its affiliates only take part in races that comply with international guidelines.

In instances where the guidelines are not met, then the Association and the team manager must assess if the team should still compete.

They must also assess what measures must be adopted to mitigate the risk of participation.

The panel also wants the Association to clearly define the roles and responsibilities of key team members - including the team manager, coach, coxswain and captain.

This will help to ensure who is responsible in making a risk assessment, before a race.

The SDBA and its affiliates should also check the compliance of its teams to the IDBF Water Safety Policy and the Safety Standing Procedures for dragon boat clubs.

This includes ensuring that all dragon boat rowers are strong swimmers.

The panel also recommends that the SDBA put in place a proper system in preparation for races.

For example, for teams sports, members must be exposed to high-level competitions on a consistent basis.

The panel hopes that the recommendations will be accepted and implemented within six months.

Meanwhile, in a statement, the Singapore Sports Council (SSC) has said it will work closely with the Singapore Dragon Boat Association to ensure that the panel's recommendations are implemented quickly for the safety of everyone involved in dragon boating.

It added that it hopes this report will at least help the families affected by this incident to close a chapter on the tragic episode that has touched so many people in Singapore.

The SSC said the panel spent a significant amount of time reviewing the statements and relevant information collected from witnesses, participants and other parties in order to present a thorough and comprehensive report .

SSC believes that the panel has done a thorough job in assessing the factors that led to the accident and has made sound recommendations to prevent a similar accident from happening in future.

Meanwhile, responding to the safety inquiry report, the SDBA said it agrees with most of the recommendations made by the panel.

On the issue of life jackets, SDBA said the decision not to put them on had been jointly made by the team. And before the incident, there was indeed, no formalised risk assessment.

After the incident, the Association sent a total of 13 officials, coaches and race officials to attend the first Risk Management Course conducted by the SSC from March 17-20.

Going forward, the team manager will be given a greater say in making decisions.

But SDBA stressed that it will not be holding anyone responsible, because it was a series of factors had led to the tragedy.

Lam Pin Min, Senior Vice President, Singapore Dragon Boat Association, said, "If you look at the entire report and the sequence of events that has led to this accident, a lot of times there were no rules being broken at any point in time. A lot of the decisions that have been made that contributed to the accident were based on judgment calls.

"And on hindsight, some of the decisions that were made then were sub-optimal, as in a combination led to the misfortune happening. So looking at the entire report, we felt that it is not appropriate to pinpoint any particular persons for this accident happening."

HK Dragon Boat Teams Out In Full Force As Tuen Ng Festival Draws Near

The Tuen Ng Festival (also known as Rice Dumpling Festival) is fast approaching, but some in Hong Kong are watching their diets and building their stamina. That is because it is also the start of the season for one of the more competitive team sports in the city - dragon boat racing.


The sport is an ancient tradition born of myth and legend in China. Today, professional teams practice all year round, but some keep it less serious.

Team On & On, a group of friends who have known each other for years, has been practising since March in the run-up to the races. It is no secret that apart from stamina and form, the key factor in dragon boat racing is rhythm.

"As a team of more than 22 paddlers on board, we need to achieve a certain synchronisation, and this can only come with time," said Tina So, team leader of On & On Dragon Boat Team.

The paddlers in front set the pace, and the others follow. If the team is not synchronised, it creates an undesirable 'caterpillar-like effect' as seen from the shore.

This is team On-and-On's fifth year competing in the sport and they are hoping to improve on their minor haul of trophies.

This year's competition will be held at Deep Water Bay in Aberdeen. There are 50 teams competing in what could be described as a warm-up race for the main event scheduled on June 8.

The Deep Water Bay Regatta started back in 1999, and offers a challenging 500-metre race in various categories.

In the first leg of the race, team On-and-On managed to take third place. In the semi-finals, they managed to improve on their time by 7 seconds to come in fifth.

"We have achieved what we would like to, and the team is enjoying ourselves very much, sticking together and racing tough courses like these," said Team Leader So.

While Team On & On is not bound for glory anytime soon, there is certainly dedication to a much-loved sport that is gaining recognition the world over.

Traditional Rites Associated With Dragon Boat Racing

The ritual aspect of dragon boat racing has a deep cultural heritage and springs from religious beliefs. The colourful and traditional rites are preformed on the dragon boats before and after the races. They reflect deep reverence for the vessels despite certain degrees of variation in the procedures followed by the believers.

There are basically two important ceremonies which have to be performed for the dragon boats. They have to be blessed and "awakened" before the races and then properly induced to "repose" afterwards. Four days before the festival, the dragon boats are taken out of their storage yard and their dragon heads and dragon tails are attached to them. A benediction ritual done with great pomp and ceremony follows this and involves the burning of paper bills in front of the dragon boats, the making of offerings and chanting of prayers to heavenly gods. This ritual serves to ward off evil and to sanctify and bless the dragon boats. In addition, this action is supposed to make the dragon boats strong and fierce and therefore fit to compete in the exciting races.

When this has been done, each dragon boat is rowed out to sea, on a course perpendicular to the nearby temple and then back to the temple with the drummer beating the drum. This procedure is repeated three times. The performance of these rituals and the staging of dragon boats races show a community's dedication to its gods. In return, the members of the community will be protected from unfriendly spirits of the sea and blessed with happiness and prosperity.

"Life" is given to a newly-built dragon boat at a ceremony performed by a Taoist priest a few days before the actual festival. Holding a bell and a sword into the "Fu Zhou" (a paper bill with "magic" words) while chanting some "magic" words, he then touches the dragon head, tail and drum with the sword, following which paper money is burnt and "magic" sand is sprinkled on the dragon head. A community leader is invited to dot the eye of the dragon head and, afterwards, the dragon's eyes will be drawn in red with a brush.

When the races are over, the dragon head, tail and drum are removed from each dragon boat and stored either in the temple or in another place agreed upon by the community. Incense is burnt to thank the heavenly gods. Meanwhile, the body of a dragon boat itself is usually covered with sand along the shore near a temple or put on appropriate racks and covered with roof-shape tin foil covers. By performing these basic procedures, the dragon boats are considered to be properly induced to "repose" until the next Dragon Boat Festival when the whole cycle of ceremonial rites will be repeated.

Stay Seated or Stand Up?

Recently in China there has been quite a discussion going on about the IDBF ruling that only allows for the ´sitting´ position during racing and not kneeling or standing.

Many paddlers in Asia are not happy with this rule because they always stood up and say that this is part of the tradition of Dragon Boating, at least in some regions in China.

The discussion is perhaps nurtured by the fact that most paddlers have not read the IDBF rules or have not had the rules - and their intention, explained to them in detail.

The good thing about all this is that the paddlers are showing that they really care for their sport and are discussing decisions of their world governing body. The IDBF truly can be proud about this and very thankful for the interest shown by the paddlers.

To try and understand the issues involved, let us take a look at the actual IDBF ruling. The subject is dealt with in IDBF By-Laws under BL 3.1 (previously 3.3 introduced in 1993) which says:

Click [here] to find out more.

So What Does A Coxswain Actually Do?

Dragon Boat Racing In Singapore

The Dragon Boat Festival is one of the most spectacular traditions of ancient China. It is an exciting period for rowing competitions marked by the eating of rice dumpling called "Ma Chang". In some Chinese-speaking societies, the day is also known as the "Poets' Day".

The Legend behind the Dragon Boat Festival embodies the story of love and service for one's country. About 2300 years ago, during the Warring States period, a well-respected poet and statesmen named "Qu Yuan" lived in the Chinese Kingdom of Chu and served the government with integrity as Minister of State. He was disturbed by the corruption and by the court intrigues of many courtiers who resented his talent, popularity and sense of righteousness. One version said that other officials convinced the Emperor that Qu Yuan was corrupt, that his plea for reforms be ignored and had him banished from the Kingdom.

For years, he wandered the countryside composing poems expressing his patriotism and love for the people. Either as an act of despair or an ultimate protest against the corrupt government, Qu Yuan threw himself into the Miluo River (in today's Hunan province) on the fifth day of the fifth month in the year 278 B.C. Qu Yuan opted to commit suicide rather than lose face and honour by serving a corrupt government.

He composed two famous poems known as "Ai Ying" (Lament for Ying) and "Huai Sha" (Embracing the Sand) before jumping into the river with a large stone tied to him. Grief-stricken local fishermen who witnessed Qu Yuan's desperate act, tried to save the patriotic poet. They sailed up and down the river to look for him and desperately thrashed the water with their oars and paddles to scare off the hungry fishes which might eat his body. To commemorate the patriotic man, the fishermen and rural town folks threw cooked rice dumplings wrapped in silk or banana leaves, into the water in order to appease the spirits of the river on his death anniversary. These rice dumplings are called "Tsung Tze" or "Ma Chang".

The first Dragon Boat Races were recorded in the Tsin period. It became popular in the Tang Dynasty (618-907 A.D.) spreading throughout the Yangtze River Valley and to most of South China. One paddler traditionally stands in the boat searching for Qu Yuan's body while a drummer on board and the ferocious-looking dragon designs were added to frighten away evil water spirits. This is because Chinese people traditionally regarded the dragons as presiding over the water and having dominion over rainfall. It is also the supreme symbol of power and benevolence in the Far East. In the present day, the Dragon Boat Festival is held annually in different nations world wide. In China alone, 20 million people are active in this sport which is organised in the various cities and provinces. In a young country like Singapore, we are already celebrating 22 years of Dragon Boat activities.

Dragon Boaters Seek Approval For Night Training

Dragon boat enthusiasts are hoping to convince the authorities that night paddling is safe and will help the sport grow here.

They met officials of the Singapore Dragon Boat Association (SDBA) on Saturday to present their ideas on how night paddling can be made safer, in response to a reminder on the rule banning the sport after 7 pm.

The rule has been in place for some time, but national water agency PUB, which oversees all waterways, sent out a reminder last month to the association for all its members to continue observing the rule in Marina Reservoir, formerly known as Kallang Basin.

The reminder also came in the wake of the Nov 23rd accident in Cambodia, in which five Singapore paddlers died.

Most dragon boaters, although unhappy, have been complying with the rule, but The Straits Times understands that it has not been strictly followed, especially by teams which have their own boats.

Those who spoke to this newspaper said two to three teams are out on Marina Reservoir on any given weekday night. They do not stop at 7 pm, but are usually done by 8.30 pm.

Teams without their own boats rent them from the SDBA near the National Stadium. The association's opening hours, from 10 am to 6 pm, mean that these teams have to return the boats before dusk anyway.

Of the 120 teams affiliated with the SDBA, only 15 have their own boats. These include teams from the National University of Singapore, Ngee Ann Polytechnic, AustCham Singapore and Singapore Paddle Club.

Members of eight teams who were interviewed said they often begin training at dusk, as it is the best time for people with day jobs, and also because restricting training to weekends is insufficient for a team competing at national or international levels.

Teams with busy competition schedules said the ruling has affected them.

Mr Clement Ong of the Canadian Dragons said getting in three practices a week was ideal, with days off in between for rest.

'Clocking more hours on the water during the day on weekends doesn't make up for the shortfall. It might, in fact, be counterproductive,' he said.

The sports officer of NUS' Sports and Recreation Centre, Mr Sean Tan, pointed out that Marina Reservoir was very congested over the weekends, so putting in the time on weekdays was better.

But the PUB believes that the 7 pm rule would allow the public to enjoy the sport without compromising safety, and that poor visibility after dark makes it unsafe.

The dragon boating community, however, is convinced the sport is safe if rules are followed.

Mr Christophe Inglin, a paddler of 11 years, said: 'It's very safe with our life vests on - much safer than for a swimmer who may get a cramp in the water at night.'

While some team leaders admit to not being sticky about safety, others impose rules on themselves. Mr Tharin Walker, a member of the American team, said that besides wearing life vests, his team lights up a powerful lamp at the boat's bow and the steerer at the back has one strapped on his forehead.

All teams said they would work with the SDBA to comply with safety measures.

The SDBA has been looking into ways to make night training possible. In talks with PUB last year, the setting up of floodlights on the water was mooted.

But SDBA executive secretary Lim Wee Kok said the cost of this was 'hard to justify', with the association being non-profit and short on funds. The other factor was the association's imminent move to the new Water Sports Hub within a few years, he added.

PUB's director of catchments and waterways, Mr Tan Nguan Sen, said it would keep up its meetings with groups such as SDBA and the Singapore Canoe Federation to review water activities and safety, and patrol the waterways where water sports take place.

So far, no team has been fined or barred for training at night.