By Iman Azmi (18S06O), Girls’ Captain and Caleb Ang (18S06F), Boys’ Captain
Sticks clashing, turf shoes sliding on the wet pitch. You wrestle for the ball, tackling it from the opponent and jinking the ball over the opponent’s stick before going for the hard sweep. Game on.
Hockey is not for the faint-hearted; it requires both the drive to excel and the hunger for success. It calls for passion, drive, and dedication. Hockey is more than a sport; it lays down the foundation of what teamwork is and demonstrates how pain, anguish, and joy is truly shared amongst the very people you call your teammates. No man is left behind in this sport.
Strength, stamina, speed, skill… While important, these attributes can only bring us so far. Team spirit and the trust placed on one another has helped us face the toughest of opponents. Hockey has taught us the importance of discipline, both on and off the pitch.
In Raffles Hockey, our boys are given the opportunity to play in the National Inter-school Games and other weekend leagues such as the U19 National Junior League. After putting in long hours and under the guidance of their coach Mr Ali, we are proud to have achieved success in both tournaments. For our female hockey players who start out with little to no experience, the National Inter-School Games are the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to prove ourselves. It’s All Out or Nothing At All, and we are willing to go the extra mile to make the dream work.
Our teams are truly like family to us, providing us with comfort, love and sanctuary when the times get rough. If you’re looking for a CCA that offers encouragement and a harmonious support system both on and off pitch, then hockey may be the CCA for you.
Trainings are typically held on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5–8pm, locations varying from the school hockey turf to the full sized pitches at Delta and Sengkang. We begin with simple warm-ups consisting of laps around the Rugby pitch, followed by basic stickwork, drills, and finally long-awaited gameplays. Each training ends satisfyingly, with more experience gained and better ball control to boast.
Interested in joining hockey? Come down for our CCA trials next year! We all started somewhere and we welcome everyone who is willing to try – regardless of prior experience. This journey will not be an easy one. But it will be the best one yet, an unforgettable experience amidst one’s turbulent, unrelenting and restless JC journey. Come and discover your passion for this sport. After all, you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.
