Singapore Sports: Floorball & frisbee laud new ActiveSG academies

Singapore floorball player Akmal Shaharudin (left) playing in the ActiveSG floorball 3v3 event. The fraternity is hopeful the sport will grow with its incorporation into the fold of ActiveSG academies.
Singapore floorball player Akmal Shaharudin (left) playing in the ActiveSG floorball 3v3 event. The fraternity is hopeful the sport will grow with its incorporation into the fold of ActiveSG academies. ST FILE PHOTO

The floorball and ultimate frisbee communities look set to grow, following their imminent introduction into the fold of new ActiveSG academies and clubs.

Both sports, along with badminton, hockey and martial arts, were the new entrants announced by Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Grace Fu during Thursday's budget debate.

Singapore Floorball Association (SFA) president Kenneth Ho hopes that the new academy will lead to former school players dusting off their sticks.

Currently, 95 clubs, or about 2,500 participants, are involved in the ActiveSG-SFA league.

Ho said: "Sometimes they're focused on their work and drop out of the sport. The academy will hopefully provide that bridge to come back to play the sport recreationally. And from there, they may then form a competitive team."

The announcement has also helped mend the sport's image, which took a beating last year when former chief Sani Mohamed Salim was investigated for allegedly misappropriating SFA funds.

Said Sara Lim, 29, chairman of KBFF club, which has more than 50 women playing in two teams: "It's like floorball has been given a new lease of life. With a good reputation, we're able to reach out to more residents and parents."

Through a closer partnership with ActiveSG, president of the Ultimate Players Association (Singapore) Ang Ziwei hopes there will be more activities for frisbee enthusiasts. He said: "We intend to provide recreational players with quality coaching, and offer them ample opportunity for play through regular leagues and competitions."

National frisbee player Lim Cheng Ling, 24, added: "Frisbee isn't offered as a CCA (co-curricular activity) in most of our schools. So ActiveSG is providing students with an alternative route for them to get started in the sport."


  • Additional reporting by Nicole Chia and John Pravin

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on March 11, 2017, with the headline Singapore Sports: Floorball & frisbee laud new ActiveSG academies. Subscribe