By Sarah Yeo Su Ting (19S03Q), Girls’ Captain

Contrary to popular belief, mad arm strength isn’t a requirement for good bowlers. Instead, technique, your knowledge of your personalised equipment, and your ability to be agile and flexible in adjusting according to the lane conditions (oiling etc) are the more important factors that contribute to good and consistent shots.

This year’s A Div was an eye-opener for many of us, as the amazing teamwork that we experienced was more valuable than any of our individual achievements. Typically, there are three separate events in the national interschools – Singles, Doubles and Team (made up of 4 bowlers per team), as well as the all-events placing. What remains a constant throughout the tournament is the team spirit and support that you can expect to get from all your teammates.

The loud cheer that we always do at the start of every event not only motivates us to do our very best, but also gives us the assurance that we are not alone on this journey, that there will be someone standing behind us for every shot we take, and that every cheer we do after a strike or a spare will be reciprocated. One​ ​of​ ​the​ ​key​ ​aspects​ ​of​ the ​teamwork​ ​that​ ​bowling​ ​requires​ ​is​ ​to maintain​ ​high​ ​team​ ​synergy,​ ​giving​ ​each​ ​bowler​ ​the​ ​zeal​ ​to​ ​push​ ​through​ ​even​ ​the​ ​most stressful​ ​and​ ​wearing​ ​tournaments. This is the team spirit that Raffles Bowling has had, and will continue to have many years down the road.

We are proud to say that our achievements in A Div ’18 were attained as a team, and that none of them would have been possible without such supportive teammates.

During​ ​competition​ ​season,​ ​which​ ​we​ ​start​ ​training​ ​for​ ​from​ ​November​ ​the​ ​previous​ ​year​ ​to April,​ ​trainings​ ​are​ ​three​ ​times​ ​a​ ​week.​ ​Held​ ​on​ ​Mondays​ ​and​ ​Fridays​ ​from​ ​6​ ​to​ ​8pm​ ​and Wednesdays​ ​from​ ​3​ ​to​ ​5pm​ ​(subject​ ​to​ ​change​ ​according​ ​to​ ​our​ ​timetables),​ ​trainings​ ​are usually​ ​held​ ​at​ ​Orchid​ ​Country​ ​Club.

After some simple stretching exercises and jumping jacks on the lanes, we start training with some interesting and sometimes seemingly dubious drills. ​From​ ​placing​ ​our​ ​shoes​ ​(NMDs​ ​or​ ​not) on​ ​the​ ​lanes​ ​and​ ​avoiding​ ​ramming​ ​our​ ​balls​ ​into​ ​them​ ​to​ ​throwing​ ​our​ ​balls​ ​to​ ​our​ ​teammates instead​ ​of​ ​the​ ​pins,​ ​these​ ​exercises​ ​will​ ​help​ ​us​ ​to​ ​hone​ ​various​ ​skills​ ​vital​ ​for​ ​bowling​ ​such​ ​as increasing our accuracy and relaxing our swing. These​ ​are​ ​only​ ​a​ ​few​ ​of​ ​the​ ​many​ ​different​ fun yet strenuous ​exercises we​ ​do​ ​during​ ​training.

These training sessions not only helped us improve as bowlers, but also contributed to the overall team spirit. As such, we achieved good results in the National Inter-Schools competition in 2018, with the Girls Team coming in 2nd and the Boys Team coming in 4th, together with other individual achievements.

Apart from the eventful trainings and the annual National Inter-Schools competition, some of our highlights of the year include the March Holiday Camp, Post A-Div Party, and Y6 farewell.

The March Holiday Camp primarily focuses on promoting inter and intra-batch bonding, ensuring a smooth transition for new bowlers into the team. The camp includes various games and sports such as Fitness Monopoly and United Badminton, among others, to foster a close-knit family before the national interschools.

Regardless​ ​of​ ​the results​ ​at​ ​A-Div,​ ​the​ ​post​ ​A-Div​ ​party celebrates the team’s hard work and efforts, as well as to thank the seniors for their guidance and support throughout the year as we wish them all the best for their Prelims and A levels.

If you’re up for a challenging mental game, wish to test your tenacity when​ ​faced​ ​with​ ​ten​ ​pins 60​ ​feet​ ​away,​ ​and​ ​want​ ​to​ ​be​ ​part​ ​of​ ​a​ ​fun​, ​loving​, and supportive family​ ​of​ ​bowlers,​ ​we​ ​look forward​ ​to seeing​ ​you​ ​at​ ​trials​!