Hitting the Floor to Score
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Floorball is a fast-paced battle for a whiffle ball.
It's no mean feat to score an entry in the Guinness World Records. But students at Pasir Ris Primary School have achieved this - not just once, but twice!
They sealed their place in the record books by slugging it out in two of the longest floorball matches ever played worldwide. But it's not just about endurance, for come October, the school team will enter the lion's den in Sweden to pit their skills and speed against players from the heartland of floorball.
From Sweden to Singapore
What's floorball? Think of it as indoor hockey, with modified rules and gear. Teams of six battle it out with short 'hockey sticks' and win points when they smash a whiffle ball through the opponents' goalposts. Invented in Sweden, the fast-paced, highly intense sport is wildly popular across Scandinavia.
Not many in Singapore know about floorball, but Pasir Ris Primary School hopes to change that. Floorball made its debut at the school in 1999 when its Head of Department for Physical Education, Shahizan Ahmad, introduced the game as part of the school's Trim and Fit programme.
The girls rough it out during rigorous training sessions.
To his surprise and delight, the pupils took to the game like ducks to water. Mr Shahizan then included floorball in all PE sessions, and as the school coach, formed and trained a team to take part in interschool tournaments.
As one of the pioneering schools in Singapore in the sport, Pasir Ris Primary School dominates the local under-12 floorball scene. The school also organises floorball workshops and clinics for teachers and pupils from all over the island. "People are now starting to get curious about the game, so we decided to host other teachers to show them how students play at national levels," says Mr Shahizan.
A sport with positive impact
For many pupils, their introduction to floorball left a real impact.
"The first time I went home after floorball, I had many bruises," recalls I'zaaz-Funuri Binte Abdullah from 5 Grace. "My mom nagged a lot!"
More than a sport: floorball's a passion for these boys.
But as floorball's level of physical contact is more akin to soccer than ice hockey, the crashes and falls leave no marks worse than an afternoon of hard knocks.
I'zaaz-Funuri, who stares down opposing teams as goalkeeper, loves playing the niche sport, despite the rigorous training. At first glance, a floorball looks like any normal training bout, with physical drills, tactical play and a noisy flurry of clashing sticks.
But why are the boys and girls of all levels playing against each other in the same rink? Even the teachers join in, lending their size and strength to the physical equation.
According to Mr Shahizan, this training may be tough but it makes the students, especially the girls, more garang (daring) by pitting them against strong opponents.
Speed and determination gets the goal.
It's certainly a challenge welcomed by one of the youngest players. Nine-year-old Ryan Tham Junkun from 3 Aspiration is no pushover when he's up against his seniors. "I joined soccer at first, but in the end I like floorball better because it's more tough," says the centre-position player. Ryan has been playing floorball since Pri 1, and if all goes well, he might join the school's 16-strong team to Sweden.
The week-long competition in October will see the students facing off top under-12 Scandinavian teams. They will also get to train with the other teams, and even join in Swedish school sessions.
"My goal is for the students to learn the culture of floorball, and see how the champions play," states Mr Shahizan.
I'zaaz-Funuri shares his sentiments and harbours high hopes for her team. "Our girls' team hasn't won first place lately," the 11-year-old quips. "I want to go to Sweden to learn more tricks that might help my team next year!"