NYAA Recreation Entries 3 (Soccer)

Date: 8th October 2010
Duration: 2.5 hours

Today, we started off by practicing our passes, which served as a warm up. Most of us were inaccurate in passing and would often end up passing to the wrong person. However, after several tries, we improved in our passing. From there, we moved on to play a soccer match in the field. The game had ended with a score of 2-1. Then, the game was interrupted by heavy downpour. Everyone proceeded to the indoor sports hall, where we continued the game. Throughout the game, there were few injuries but the rest of the game continued smoothly. The match finally ended with a score of 5-3.

Date: 15th October 2010
Duration: 2.5 hours

Today, we started with our practice of dribbling in the field. Everyone was given a chance to practice their dribbling skills. Then, we went on to play 2 soccer matches. Everyone was actively involved in the game. Both teams focused more on passing rather than shooting as we wanted to develop teamwork amongst the teammates, as well as to further improve in our passing accuracy. The game came to a halt with a final score of 5-3. After the first game, the teams were reselected. This time, the match was more exhausting as it was longer and required more running. Fortunately, there were no injuries this week. The game ended with a final score of 5-4.

Date: 22nd October 2010
Duration: 2.5 hours

Today, we went straight into the soccer match. By now, most of us had improved in our playing and are able to dribble the ball without much trouble. As usual, we played 2 soccer games. Most of us had performed quite well in terms of our passing and dribbling. Our overall passing accuracy had been much better as compared to our first soccer session, and our teamwork had significantly improved. That was shown through our communication with teammates on the pitch. The 2 soccer matches ended with scores of 5-3 and 7-2 respectively.

Date: 29th October 2010
Duration: 2.5 hours

Today, we practiced our crossing skills as we were rather weak in this segment. At the beginning, most of us could not cross properly and our passes were often off target. Despite all this, we were more motivated to master the way to deliver a proper cross. After several tries, we finally grasped the way to deliver a proper cross. Then, we decided to further improve on our crossing in the match itself. The first game ended with a score of 4-4. We then proceeded on to our second game, which ended with a score of 3-1. By the end of this soccer session, we had improved in our crossing.

Date: 6th November 2010
Duration: 2.5 hours

Today, we started with a practice on penalty kicks. Everyone took turns to become goal keepers and the penalty taker. The aim of being a penalty taker was to to improve on our accuracy, whereas being a goalkeeper would train us to be confident in ourselves. Soon, most of us were quite good in our penalty kicks and we proceeded to our usual routine of soccer matches. The first game ended with a score of 3-3, while the second game ended with 4-2.

Date: 12th November 2010
Duration: 2.5 hours

Today, we began with a practice of free kicks. Everyone took turns to take a free kick and then switched role to become goalkeeper. Taking a free kick is a difficult feat which requires much practice. Despite all the practices, not everyone was able to take a free kick successfully. However, as a whole, we managed to finish our practice of free kicks. Thereafter, we proceeded on to the soccer matches. By now, we had practiced most of the stuff required in soccer. Throughout the 2 soccer matches, everyone was actively involved and were quite confident in their own playing. The soccer matches ended with the scores of 5-4 and 5-3 respectively.

Date: 19th November 2010
Duration: 2.5 hours

Today, we had our second last NYAA soccer session. We wasted no time in splitting ourselves into 2 teams. Before long, we were already playing. Over the past few weeks of soccer, we have improved our skills. We were more agile, more accurate and more bonded after all these soccer sessions. Many goals were scored in a short period of time. However the losing team did not feel discouraged and instead encouraged each other to try harder. In the end, their effort paid off as they scored many goals in the second half and emerged victorious. Their never-say-die spirit is very admirable and we should all learn from them.

Date: 26th November 2010
Duration: 2.5 hours

We had our last session of soccer today. We were split into groups again within our squad, and had a ball of a time. After this whole NYAA soccer session, we had a few takeaways.Playing a game we liked together as a squad, we managed to bond more, and enjoy the process as well. Instead of bonding over strenuous activities like drills, we got to sweat it out in the field and bond together, over a ball. Also, we learnt that teamwork was very important in everything we do, as a squad. Despite different playing styles on the field, we managed to get the ball into the goals, scoring for our teams. This is alike to working together as a squad to plan trainings and such. We all have different working styles, and have to learn to compromise and complement each other such that we will achieve our goals in the end.