The Singapore Taekwondo Federation (STF) is in the process of planning its calendar of events for 2008.
All affiliated club officials and members are invited to provide suggestions on the types of activities that they want the STF to organize for them.
In order to avoid any clash of events, the STF would also appreciate it if dates could be given by clubs which have plans to organize STF-sanctioned tournaments.
Club officials and members may provide their feedback to Jolene or Theresa at 6345 1491 or by fax at 6345 1452.
The feedback will be invaluable for the STF to serve its affiliates better.
Brown 1 to Poom belt candidates will be graded be on Saturday 5 January 2008 at Toa Payoh Sports Hall.
As this is the first time all of them will be graded under a panel of three examiners at a centralized location, we expect some teething problems. We believe that some of which can be alleviated with the cooperation of the coaches.
Coaches can also make it easier for their students to perform at their best if they guide and support them by being present at the grading and making sure that their students
are well-prepared for the grading,
know the reporting time,
have their grading cards and
have suitable sparring partners arranged for them.
To better prepare your students for the grading, you should encourage them to attend the grading preparation workshop which will be held on 9 December 2007 at 9 am at the National Training Centre.
For more information on the grading preparation workshop, please read the website entry on ‘Grading Preparation Workshop’ under Courses.
1. Submission for the Grading can only be at the STF office during office hours.
2. Please ensure that ALL grading cards are properly completed and duly endorsed. A recent photograph of the candidate must be attached.
3. For ALL candidates who are going for Brown 1 & above , please have the following documents during submission:
a. Candidate’s grading card
b. 1 photocopy of the candidate’s Identity Card (front & back) / Birth Certificate (for candidate below age of 12)
c. 2 recent IC / passport photographs of the candidate
d. Form B (duly completed)
Submission will not be accepted if any of the documents is not available or, for Form B, partially completed.
4. Submission will not be accepted if candidate fails to produce any of the documents mentioned above.
5. The last day of submission is on 17 DECEMBER 2007 (MONDAY) . Any submission after this date will be considered as LATE SUBMISSION.
6. Late submissions for candidates taking Brown 1 & above are to be done within two (2) weeks from 18 Dec 2007 (Tuesday). Submission beyond the grace period of two (2) weeks WILL NOT be accepted. An administrative fee will be charged accordingly for late submission. The charges are as follows:
PERIOD OF LATE SUBMISSION
Administrative Fee Chargeable
1st subsequent week from last day of submission ( 18 Dec 2007 – 24 Dec 2007 )
SGD 10.00
2nd subsequent week from last day of submission ( 26 Dec 2007 – 31 Dec 2007 )
50% of the grading fee payable by candidates for their respective grades.
7. An administrative fee of SGD 5.00 will be charged for late submission of candidates taking all other grades except Brown 1 & above.
8. A roll call will be taken at 1.30pm for Brown 1 (Senior), 1st Poom & higher candidates, and at 2.30pm for 1st dan & higher candidates. Brown 1 (Junior) candidates will be given staggered reporting times through their instructors. Those who miss the roll call will be considered as ABSENT or LATECOMERS. Latecomers will not be graded.
9. Candidates are to turn up in proper dress code (as stipulated by the STF) for the grading. Candidates who fail to comply with the dress code will not be allowed to take the grading.
10. Supplementary Grading can only be conducted two (2) weeks before or after the Centralised Grading and will be subjected to the approval of the Grading Department.
11. Candidates will be taking the grading at their own risk and therefore will not hold the Federation, the Grading Department or anyone so concerned, responsible for any injuries, accidents or mishaps that may befall on them during the course of the grading.
12. For any enquiries, please contact the STF Secretariat Office or the Grading Department.
80 participants spent 10 hours on Sunday 11 November 2007 at the National Training Centre to learn the art of coaching. And they have another 10 hours to go before they can qualify for the tests.
The participants will earn their coach qualification only after they have passed the tests and completed 3 months (twice a week) and 6 months (once a week) attachment.
The course which covers, among other things, coaching fundamentals, competition rules and mental preparation saw some participants enthusiastically taking down notes and asking numerous questions. Their interest in the lectures was matched only by the concern shown by the members of Management for the success of the course.
Mr Milan Kwee, President STF, rushed back from a overseas trip to observe the conduct of the course, encourage the participants and wish them the very best in endeavour to obtain their coaching qualification.
STF Vice-Presidents, Steven Soh and RA Jeyaraman, were also present to lend morale support to the course conductors and participants.
The participants surely required all the support they could garner especially after they received their manual which was 141-page thick. There was certainly a lot for them to learn.
Said Coaching Chairman Wong Liang Ming: “There was nothing for them to worry. If they pay attention to the lectures, they should have not problem tackling the theory questions.”
Both coach briefing sessions conducted on 27 and 28 October were attended by almost 200 coaches. By their presence, they demonstrated their interest in keeping abreast with the latest development and wanting to improve themselves further.
Participants on 27 October 2007
After all, the aims of the sessions were to update them on the effort of the Singapore Taekwondo Federation (STF) to enhance their status and professionalism and inform them of their rights and responsibilities as coaches.
Lim Teong Chin briefing coaches on 28 October 2007
Among other things, they were reminded to always act in the best interest of taekwondo participants, act responsibly and act with integrity.
Said Lim Teong Chin who briefed the coaches: “Only coaches who undertook to observe the code of conduct will be issued a tournament coach pass. The pass will reflect the holder’s professionalism, rectitude and compassion.”
He added: “The STF wishes to produce the best coaches – coaches whose primary aspiration is only to help develop better human beings. The participants deserve them and no less.
“From the responses of the coaches at the briefings, I am confident that the target is achievable.”
To help coaches develop better players, the STF took the opportunity to encourage them to recommend their better trainees to join the national training squad. If they had any fear that they would lose their students, it was effectively allayed as they were assured that the players would be allowed to remain in the squad only if they continued to be members of their clubs.
Ten instructors led by Demonstration Chairman Tan Cheng Hui conducted a taekwondo enrichment programme on 25 October 2007 at Fuchun Secondary School. It was a six-hour course commencing at 7.30 am and ending at 1.30 pm.
For the theory session, the participants watched a short introductory video on taekwondo. It was followed by question and answer session. After a short break, the more than 300 students were taught various techniques and their applications.
Said Cheng Hui: “It was quite challenging handling the students. Although most of them were keen to learn, there were a couple of students who were not serious enough.
“Anyway, our appointed discipline master Robin Chow did a good job in controlling some students who had the tendency to seek attention.”
The instructors were pleased that the course was successfully conducted and the objective of providing the students with some knowledge of self-defence was achieved.
Said Robin: “I believe that the students had a positive experience of taekwondo.”
Despite sending a depleted team, we returned with 16 medals in the 8th Asean Taekwondo Championships held on 12 and 13 October 2007 in Ba Ria Vung Tau, Vietnam. Although none of the medals were in the colour we wanted, we were satisfied with the collection considering the reduced strength of our team and the level of competition.
The breakdown of our medal haul is as follows: one silver and five bronze medals in the kyorugi events and three silver (individual), two silver (team), four bronze (individual) and one bronze (pair) medals in the poomsae competitions.
Team with Mr Kris Wiluan (President, ATF) and Mr Milan Kwee (President, STF)
Two of our better players, Jason Ong and Joyce Lim, who had been slated for the SEA Games in December 2007, had to stay home because of school commitment and injury respectively. Another SEA Games player, Lanetar Quek, was nursing a knee injury which put her at a disadvantage but not out of contention. Charlotte Tang was also suffering the same fate as Lanetar.
Said Singapore Team Manager Ng Lee Noi: “We were proud that the players gave their all at the competition. Not only that, they were sporting enough to participate in the poomsae competition although they were not really prepared for it.”
Singapore did not intend to field a team for the poomsae competition. At the last-minute request of the organizers, Singapore obliged and did well. Even the Team Manager jumped into the fray and won 2 medals.
Mr Milan Kwee, President of the Singapore Taekwondo Federation, was at the event to attend the Asean Taekwondo Federation meeting and give our team the much-needed morale support.
In order to help grade 1 (senior and junior) and higher candidates prepare for the grading, the STF will be organizing a grading preparation workshop.
The details of the workshop are as follows.
Date : Sunday 9 December 2007
Time : 9am to 12noon
Place : National Training Centre (NTC)
Dress Code : ‘Dobok’
Certification : Certificate of Participation
Fee : $30
Closing Date: Monday 26 November 2007
The registration form is attached.
The programme includes mock grading and talks on candidates’ responsibilities and examiners’ expectations.
The activity, which will be run by senior examiners, will be beneficial to members who want to know what they must do to achieve success in the grading. For candidates who wish to find out in detail why they fail, the workshop is a good place for them to get the answers.
Please note that parking is free at the NTC on Sunday.
Currently, Grade 1 (senior) and higher and 1st poom and higher candidates are centrally graded on Saturday under a panel of three examiners while Grade 1 (junior) – that is those going for poom belt – are graded together with the other colour belts.
With effect from January 2008 grading, all grade 1 candidates (junior) are also required to be centrally graded under a panel of three examiners. This is necessary because the Singapore Taekwondo Federation (STF) wants to ensure a more consistent standard for 1st poom.
For more information, please check with the Secretariat at 63451491.
To accommodate numerous requests from affiliates, the Singapore Taekwondo Federation has decided to organize another session to brief coaches on the introduction of the tournament coach passes and the other tournament matters.
The options for coaches are as follows.
Saturday 27 October 2007 (from 6pm to 8pm at the National Training Centre)
Sunday 28 October 2007 (from 9am to 11am at the National Training Centre)
For more information on the briefing, please read the posting under ‘Tournament’ on 11 September 2007.
Coaches who wish to attend the briefing are required to register by calling either Jolene or Theresa at 63451491.
We will appreciate your cooperation in this matter because logistics is required for the organisation of the event.
