Coach Mr Loi Heng Fu keeping a keen eye on his charges as they practise manoeuvring.

Although canoe polo has been played in Singapore since the 1990s, it is largely played at the tertiary level due to logistical and financial constraints. NUS High introduced it in August 2007 as a CCA for Year 3 students (Sec 3 equivalent) and above, because the school did not offer any water sports then.

An all-consuming sport

Despite the relative youth of the sport at NUS High, two of its boys' team members - Yeo Tiong Hian and Tan Wee Chye - are so adept at the game that they have been selected for the Singapore national youth team. But this does not mean these Year 6 students are distracted from their studies. "The youth team is not participating in any overseas competition this year, so we don't have any centralised training and train with the school team," says Tiong Hian.

He switched CCAs from the chess club to canoe polo in February 2008 as he wanted to try something "different". "I like that it teaches us to be composed yet aggressive. The training has made me fitter than my peers in other CCAs too," he adds.

(From left, in black) Yeo Tiong Hian, Ong Xuan Hao and Tan Wee Chye demonstrate scoring and defending.

Wee Chye is a pioneer member of the school's canoe polo team. An avid swimmer who loves the outdoors, he especially likes the all-consuming attention required of the sport. "Total focus, ball skills, canoeing skills including balancing on the water's surface, strategy, all the hours spent on training - everything must come together for a good game, and I enjoy the multiple challenges," he says.

Canoe polo training is rigorous and intensive. When training ramps up to five times a week, that includes three sessions in water and two on land. NUS High teacher-in-charge Mr Jeryl Sim conducts the fitness training component, while Mr Loi takes charge of the game strategies and in-water training. Mr Sim also teaches ball skills to members who are new to the CCA, through games like captain's ball.

Canoe polo is about skill and stamina, not aggression and brute strength.

Being literally a young team puts NUS High at a natural disadvantage. As a secondary school, it does not qualify to participate in the Institute-Varsity-Polytechnic (IVP) Games, even though the team members' age is close to that of IVP participants. Thus they can only take part in open championships.

"The 20 or so entrants for the open championships are teams from tertiary institutions like the polytechnics and universities, and also their alumni teams - people who used to play for their schools and who continue to train for the sport," explains Mr Sim. Being older, the players are taller, stronger and possess more experience. "Our boys are competing against men who have physique advantages like better upper body strength and longer reach," says the teacher. For girls, the difference is not as significant.

Girls' team captain Tan Wan Yu hopes her two vice-captains can step up to become the "voice" the players will listen to during competitions.

Sweet success

Despite its inexperience and youth, the NUS High teams have tasted success. In 2010, the junior girls' team brought home the gold medal in the NTU 3-on-3 Canoe Polo Competition while the senior boys' team came in fourth in the "B" division. They also played in the Singapore Polytechnic Canoe Polo Open Championships, and National Canoe Polo Championships.

"Besides fitness, commitment is also very important," says boys' team captain Ong Xuan Hao. Off-season training can take up two afternoons a week, and having to travel to an off-site location and training in the scorching afternoon sun takes dedication. As a number of the pioneer team members will also be graduating this year, they are training their juniors to take over as team leaders. It is important that they can take the lead during competitions, such as by making good decisions or reacting quickly according to how a game is panning out.

Capsizing, and being able to right the canoe quickly, is part of the game.

Canoe polo offers players more than a golden tan and splashing good time. Aside from the novelty factor, Mr Sim explains that it encourages camaraderie, builds confidence and enhances resilience. "You lose the ball, you refocus and come right back into the game. It's an aggressive sport, you have to react fast."

"It is a power sport that requires sprints and skilful manoeuvres," adds Mr Loi. "There is a game plan to follow - it is a team sport that has no place for big egos or individualism."