Hooray for Hockey at Northland Secondary School

You could say hockey is one of the sports that Northland Secondary School takes pride in. Not only has the school produced many sterling players who made it to the national hockey team, the CCA is also the largest in school, with more than 100 members. Even students who do not take up hockey as a CCA have the chance to try the sport during PE, so that every student who graduates from this school has some familiarity with it.

The hockey CCA was first started at Northland Secondary School in 1996, and the Ministry of Education gave the school niche status in 2005. Since then, the passion students and teachers have for hockey has never abated. The hockey programme is seen as a platform for developing values such as responsibility, respect, and resoluteness – which are also the school’s values. Hockey is not viewed as only a game or sport; the hockey programme is deliberately planned to help the students develop in body, soul and mind.

“It’s not about winning,” explains Mr Brian Lui, the Head of Department for Character Development. “Even if our teams don’t win, it is important that they train hard. Their performances at matches are announced during assembly. This recognises their efforts.” He adds, “It’s really nice to see our teachers and students cheering together during matches!”

Giving their best, on and off the pitch

Secondary 3 student Normegawati Bte Zainal Abidin shares on how being part of the hockey team helped her to develop a sense of resoluteness. “I have to wake up really early to make it on time for training. I am not a morning person at all, so it is very difficult! However, thinking of my objective to learn and practise new hockey skills helps me get out of bed each time.”, Sec 3 team captain Naqiba Bte Azlin reiterates that the sport I required them to develop “mental strength”. Her teammate Elisa Paik, also in Sec 3, agrees. “It’s tiring training under the hot sun, but we persist.”

As hockey is the most popular CCA, every class has at least one hockey team member, who is expected to be a role model for his or her classmates and peers. Hockey members are also expected to lead the younger students in the CCA. Says Sec 3 team captain Keiji Watanabe, “We need to be role models for our juniors by being responsible about our own training, and encouraging them to do their best.”

Besides training and competing in matches, the hockey players are taught to coach younger students and organise matches and events for their CCA members and for other schools. As a niche school for hockey, Northland Secondary School helps other schools with their hockey programmes and conducts training sessions for them.

The support of the teachers

At the same time, the hockey players’ academic priorities are not neglected. The teachers go the extra mile to make sure that the students do not fall behind in their studies. Sec 3 student Muhammad Zaid bin Syed Hussain says, “We bond after training too, by doing our homework together. Our teachers are also very caring. After school, they help us in the subjects that we are weak in.” The well-supported hockey team currently has eight teachers-in-charge who teach different subjects. Besides mentoring the students, the teachers also coach the team members in their academic subjects when needed.

Normegawati reflects gratefully, “Without our teachers’ help, support, and understanding, our hockey team would not be as it is. They put in extra and special effort for us, even though we can be rebellious sometimes.” Their principal’s affirmation was also appreciated. As Elisa recalls, “During tournaments, our principal is present to show his support. He knows how hard we train.”

As with all relationships, the appreciation and respect is mutual. To help the teachers-in-charge be more effective in their roles, a one-day “Hockey 101” programme was organised for them to learn various aspects of the sport. Mr Lui says, “During the session, the teachers told me that they feel inspired by the students.”

While the students are trained to excel in the game and prepare them to take on matches, the hockey CCA also has a bigger role of helping students to develop strong character and become responsible and self-disciplined team members who are also leaders and role models, without neglecting their academic growth.

Given the school’s passion for the sport, Mr Lui aptly describes it as “a source of school pride, a point of celebration.” Or as Naqiba sums it up, “Hockey helps us to be physically conditioned, become closer to our team mates, do well academically and develop a sense of belonging.”