By Ray Ng (22SO6Q), Boys’ Captain and Nicole Tan (22SO3Q), Girls’ Captain
Bowling is a very versatile activity. It can range from a relaxing social gathering to a fierce competition. At its essence, bowling is a simple game – your aim is to knock down all 10 pins. However, there is more than what meets the eye, especially regarding different conditions, targets, and ball tracks. By joining our bowling family, you will be able to learn more about these strategies and develop a more consistent stroke, greatly increasing your score. The wonderful feeling and sound of knocking all 10 pins are unmatched!
What can I learn during this journey?
There are many things that you will learn when you train with us! These range from learning how to read different lane oiling patterns, to practicing the different strokes involved in each shot, to values such as teamwork and perseverance.
Of course, there is much more than what meets the eye. Just by taking a slight peek into the sport, you will realise there are many factors involved during a single shot, from prepping your mental game, to your physical state. Each bowling ball is unique and they each serve a different purpose to meet the needs of the lanes. Lanes are oiled with different oiling patterns, dependent on the thickness and length of the oil. Bowlers will learn how to adapt to the different situations they face, for example, their standing position, their target area, etc.
Who are we?
Our goal is to foster a close-knitted and supportive team. The team will motivate each other to push on when training and competitions get tough, cheer each other on and be there for one another. This has made our achievements during our biggest annual competition, the A divisions, possible.
A little more about the A Divs: there are 3 events – Singles, Doubles, and Team (consisting of 4 bowlers per team). The scores from the events across three days will be tallied to the final all-events placing. An overall school category will also be present, in which the school with the best placings will win a huge trophy to keep!
What are competitions like?
Though the competition formats are different in 2021 due to Covid-19, we are still thankful to have been given the opportunity to compete, achieving second overall for both the Boys’ team and the Girls’ team.
A Divs take place in April, and training usually begins around November of the previous year. Training is mainly held at Orchid Country Club (OCC) or Temasek Club and takes place 3 times a week: Mondays and Fridays from 6 pm to 8 pm, and Wednesday from 3 pm to 5 pm (depending on our schedules). This is to train as if we were competing to familiarise ourselves with the competition environment.
During training, we start off with warm-up exercises and afterwards, proceed to drills where each drill targets different aspects, in order to develop our consistency and overall skills. We also have simulated competitions, in which we play actual games during training and the scores will be tabulated.
What else can I look forward to?
Other than looking forward to the annual A-Divs and training sessions, some events to look forward to include the March Holiday Camp, Post A-Div party, and Year 6 Farewell. However, due to Covid-19, these events have unfortunately been canceled.
The March Holiday Camp seeks to encourage inter-batch bonding and provide new members an introduction to the CCA. We will play fun games like floorball and football to help build our mental and physical game for the upcoming A Divs and strengthen our teamwork.
The Post A-Div party is a chance for the team to celebrate each and every bowler’s efforts throughout the process, regardless of the results. We will also take this time to express our gratitude and best wishes to graduating seniors who have made all these possible.
Join Us!
If you are interested or curious about this sport, please do not hesitate to sign up for the trials to experience what our training sessions are like. We welcome everyone (no prior experience needed) with an open mind and positive attitude who wants to be part of this fun and inclusive team. We look forward to having you as part of the Bowling family. See you at trials!
*Cover image taken in accordance with SMMs during the prior phase of Covid-19 measures.
