Written by: Benjamin Khoo
Edited by: Chen Kexin and Lydia Ong
Photos by: EusoffWorks
You see an object slicing through the air in the distance at incredible speeds and you think…that’s superman, no, a UFO or just a bird – you’re wrong – it’s a frisbee. Ultimate frisbee is a non-contact, self-refereed team sport played by two 7-person teams competing on a playing field about the same length as a football field, but narrower. At the end of each playing field is an end zone which each team must defend. Points are scored by passing the disc to a teammate in the opposing end zone. Basic rules include not taking steps while holding the disc, interceptions, incomplete passes and passes out of bounds which will result in a turnover. Unfavorable weather such as rain or wind can make for a testing match with rapid turnovers, heightening the pressure of play.
Ultimate frisbee is by no means an easy sport. While it is a contest of physical prowess in terms of speed, dexterity and endurance, the true test lies in the ability to process the information gathered from reading the field to make actionable decisions in split seconds. Furthermore, the sport gives a great amount of freedom and informality implicit in the rules due to it being self-refereed. Primary among these is the spirit of sportsmanship which enables the honour system to be effective. Such a technical game requires fitness and ingenuity but more so to be grounded in principle and character. Introducing one such man is our captain for this year - Hao Ting.
With close to 5 years of experience under his belt, Hao Ting has developed an intense love for the sport. When asked why he decided to pick up frisbee, he said that he felt that frisbee was somewhat of a combination between football and basketball and MUCH more than just a dog sport. Unbeknownst to many, Hao Ting actually enjoys cue sports such as snooker and pool a lot more as compared to other conventional sports.
Hao Ting starts off his trainings with standard warmups and throwing drills before moving on to scrimmages(mini-games) to help the players figure out what to do in specific scenarios that they may encounter in a game, with the focus more on thoughtful problem solving rather than competition. When asked for a moment which he remembers while playing frisbee, he mentioned a time when he saw someone spiking(throwing the disc on the ground) the disc out of happiness to celebrate a score after a beautiful play, but little did he know that he wasn’t actually in the scoring zone when he caught the disc, so the celebration resulted in a change of possession. Moments like these not only serve as learning points but also helps to lighten the mood during training sessions. An advice that he wishes to give for the newer players who intend to pick up frisbee as a sport is to just shut-up and play.
Armed with an arsenal of trusted and experienced seniors, Hao Ting has also been blessed with an influx of talented fresh blood, with the spotlight on our very own superstar, Thea. She may seem mild-mannered at first glance but her innate ability to read her matchup keeps her opponents constantly on their toes, so do keep a lookout for her if you hope to catch some sensational plays. With such sporting geniuses on our side of the field, it is evident why Hao Ting has high hopes for the team come IHG season.
Aside from leading the charge towards the championship title, his goals for the team are pretty straightforward – namely to enjoy the process and for the team to get to know one another beyond the teammate label. With a team that plays as a single entity in the capable hands of Hao Ting, we are sure that they will soar to greater heights this IHG season. Let us cheer them on and give them our fullest support in the upcoming Inter-Hall Games.
“Stand tall, stand proud. Play every game as if it’s your last. Most importantly, trust the process and have fun!”
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