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SCHOOL SPORTS: Blame it on teachers

I CANNOT help but respond to V.L. of Klang ("A case of too much too soon" -- NST, Jan 23) about his comment on sports in schools.

As far as I know, there is no directive given to schools to hold all sports meetings before the first-term holidays.

The usual deadlines for athletics and other games are laid down early in the year by the Malaysian School Sports Council and divided into two "seasons". The first season would be the first break and the second the second break.

This has being going on for as long as I have been involved in sports in schools, which is close to 20 years.

My point is that any coach worth his salt knows that there is no such thing as last-minute preparation for a meet or tournament. Training begins in the off season (the latter half of the previous year). So I really don't see what V.L. is upset about.
Athletes who pull out of the competition are, in my opinion, useless athletes, if they haven't prepared themselves. Their coaches or teachers are just as liable.

So if anybody has to answer, it is the teachers who are training V.L.'s charges or the parents themselves who feel that training should not be carried out in the off season.

By : C.L., Taiping

NST

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