STORIES
The 19 June 2004 event took place at SMK Tinggi Klang with teachers representing the Klang and Ulu Klang districts of Selangor. This time around the event made the Star ( http://metro.thestar.com.my/news/2004/7/8311021.html )
Much like each of the preceeding Ultimate Teaining Events, the Klang event which took place at SMK Tinggi Klang brought together teachers representing the secondary schools in their district. Every school in Klang and Ulu Klang was invited to participate.
The teachers present were provided with an introduction to the games rules, lesson plans to teach the game to their students, and discs to use in their own courses. The event was made possible because of a sponsorship with Sun Microsystem. If you would like information on becoming a sponsor for future events contact Doug Ladner at Global Sports Partners at ( ultimatemalaysia@gmail.com )
It was a day full of all the necessary ingredients: Sunshine, enthusiasm, space, people, time, and discs. I woke up excited to get going knowing what was ahead. I love to play ultimate and I love to see people having a good time while trying something new. This was a day I would get both of those things. The only thing getting in my way was traffic. I try to avoid traffic at all times but for the sake of the game I had to endure morning rush hour in KL.
Once I finally arrived at Sekolah Sri Garden where one teacher decided to set up this golden opportunity it was all worth it. We gathered the 60 or so students into a classroom and went over 10 simple rules. Just to make sure they got it we showed them a video from the US club championships. Their reaction to the plays made in that game indicated they had gotten a glimpse of what the game could be like. Now it was off to the field.
It was a beautiful soft green pitch. And it was all ours. No footballers or rugby players to get in our way. After the students began learning the throws and acquiring the basic skills, we began to set them up into matches. It was clear the students were enjoying the game since they continued to play despite the many calls that class was over.
If you are interested in bringing Ultimate to your school please contact Global Sports Partners at ultimatemalaysia@gmail.com . For more contact information try here.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A partnership between Sun Microsystems and Global Sports Partners (GSP) was backed by support of the Ministry of Education as “Ultimate Training Events,” a new sports initiative among secondary schools in Mealaysia, began last week. On 8 May, 2004 38 Physical Education teachers convened at SMK Seksyen 11 Shah Alam for the first of many such training events and they left motivated and eager to use their new skills and experiences in the school setting. The partnership with Sun Microsystems underwrites the cost of the event for the schools.
Ultimate is a fast paced game using a flying disc that incorporates elements from netball, football, basketball, volleyball, and rugby. At the start of the 3 hour training the teachers were completely unaware of the sport which is played in over 40 countries around the world. Not surprisingly they began the day wondering what they had gotten themselves into. After seeing a short video and learning the 10 simple rules of Ultimate, they were eager to get out on the field and try it for themselves. After all, if Singapore , Indonesia , Thailand , and so many other nearby countries can play, why not Malaysia .
Before the event began Doug Ladner, director of GSP, said that he expected most teachers would at least try the sport when they returned to their school. After all, the partnership with Sun allows the teachers to return with 10 free discs, a video, and lesson plans for their classes. What he and the other representatives of GSP did not expect was how high the level of enthusiasm was for Ultimate. Almost every teacher present indicated that they believed their students would like to play the game. Additionaly 1/3 of the teachers left with plans of forming a club when they returned and some of the teachers have already begun making plans for a tournament between their schools. Geoff Nadeau, the course instructor, is convinced that the excitement level will grow even higher once the students begin to play.
If you are interested in trying Ultimate on your own there is a game open to the public every Saturday beginning at 9AM at Varsity Green (Padang Varsiti) in University of Malaya (UM) located near the University Putra LRT station. If your company would like to partner with GSP in these Events you can email ultimatemalaysia@gmail.com .
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
After months of work, MyDisc™ is finally rolling of the press. Malaysian
designed and made, this disc meets the rigorous standards of Ultimate and
made right here in our own corner of the world. It not only looks and flies
great, it is very affordable too. GSP decided to manufacture discs here because
it will help ensure that discs are available to players all around the country.
I don’t know if anyone has tried to find discs. I have tried and was
forced to order from the USA. That proved to be quite costly. Last month
I found an Adidas disc at a Jusco in Wangsa Maju. I personally am not a fan
of the Adidas disc as it is a bit thin at the edges and the plastic seems
a bit hard. The combination makes it difficult to play when the sweat starts
dripping. Still, even at 20 bucks it seems a bit high. From what I hear,
MyDisc™ is slated to have a retail price of Rm 10. That’s cheap!
Interested in MyDisc™, check out section on this site.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Several months ago INTI College in Nilai hosted an introductory event and
from that one afternoon a passion for the game has emerged that is strong
enough file for club status on their campus. While school is in session
the club is playing twice a week and reports are that they are doing
quite well. In fact, one of the biggest issues is how to deal with so
many people while they only have limited space to play. As it turns out,
the club is forced to at the end of the field while the soccer players
are there. The growing pains of a new club can be fun. I can see that
this is an issue that many will have to deal with as knowledge of the
game is still only just now on the rise. So in the mean time please allow
me to make this plea for them: Let them use the whole field already!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2004-05-08 marks the date of a new initiative. Global Sports Partners forged
a relationship with the Ministry of Education to provide training to
PE teachers one district at a time. This Saturday is the first event
with over 60 schools scheduled to be represented. The benefits to the
schools are many:
