ACJC Canoeing and Dragonboat Alumni

ACJC Canoeing and Dragonboat Alumni Let me just make an observation. It seems some of us many have had the misconception that this team is run on nothing but fear and regimentation. I think the lines between regimentation and discipline have been blurred at times. Firstly, before you think that regimentation was made a dirty word, regimentation does not mean being like an NCC team... it simply means the implementation of some discipline. it does not mean we have to enforce pushups and situps and whatever. So if regimentation means getting to training areas on time, starting on the dot, having a fixed time to complete training and do all that we are supposed to accomplished in a disciplined, focussed manner, doesn't that sound advantageous? I think the problem is not the actual implementation of regimen. I think some people just got it wrong somehow along the line. As the coach, I only expect the essentials: when training must be focussed; must train with total heart and will put it into getting better. Failing short of this mark, I will take the errant rower one side to tell him he did not do well. Of course, regimen does not mean shouting at the kids. that would be the last action we should take. I am making it a point this hols to tell the up-coming j2's that when the j1's come in they must treat them with respect and dignity but still expect them to push. I think the batch that graduated this year got it a little wrong this at the start of the year- but yes it does help filter some kinds of unwanted people from here. I want to assure you guys that the regimen will stay as I try to remove the unwanted elements that the regimentation brings. This being said, there must be consequences that must be enforced when we try to implement a regimen, therefore the so-called 'regimentation' of pushups, situps and punishments when they do something wrong. Hey, its a reminder of what is expected, good behaviour that is desired in the team, and thats all it is- a set of reminders. I think I do not want to consider the team with not a single set of regimen- it may mean it would be VERY diffucult to get rid of people who are not keen on training every day, and not interested to push, who are careless with equipment and have no drive to push themselves. Please note that when I say get rid I also mean groom out those unwanted behaviour not force them to quit. Being practical, I shall state that I cannot afford to chase after people who have no discipline to come for training every training. Those who go down on their own pleasure will make this team a recreational team, and I have no time for them (will ask them to leave, as a last resort). However, assuming that the system of regimentation is in place, such things should not be bothering me when I take the nov-dec hol trainings. Unfortunately, it still bothers me. So there was a great tradeoff when regimentation was not enforced stringently at the start of this year (they did not know exactly how, and who can blame them) once the team are past the need to look over their shoulders to see if they done something wrong to warrant a corrective measure, i mean, once they are so groomed into that role that they perform as expected naturally, the threat of pushups, what are they man- it would be unthinkable that a well trained ACdragon would need that punishment- like glenn said, since they are past that stage, but do not expect me to hold back before then. as for traditions, I believe a team's training culture contains not only the stupid, unnecessary parts which people do for fun and sadistic pleasure (like making j1's shave heads before dboat comp), but more importantly, holds the blueprint for a system of attitudes and knowledge passed down and refined over the years- a template for new batches to follow and if possible change and improve upon. So traditions to me, and to the team, are very important. In any organisational structure, its culture is both the strong and maybe weak point of it, but one thing we can never do is change it drastically- you will then start from scratch and risk a collapse. (It has happened to the team already, so what we have been trying to do is recollect and re inject the proper training culture to the team and hopefully, j2's will do good with it and pass it on year after year.) It has been working for the 4 of us so far, and we are getting there. I don't think we should shun (all) traditions, after all it's what makes the ACDragons ACdragons! Nicholas

ACJC Canoeing and Dragonboat Alumni

Friday, November 07, 2003

Team 2004

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