The National Youth Training Programme is Back!!

Hello Ultimate Frisbee Players!

Have you heard?! The National Youth Training Programme (NYTP) for Ultimate Frisbee is back! After a hiatus of 3 years, NYTP is back to recruit and train young and prospective talents to represent Singapore! (eventually)

History of the National Youth Training Programme

A bit more information about the programme! It was started in 2010 by Robin Goh. The main purpose of the programme was to develop young talents in Ultimate Frisbee to prepare them for the eventual particpation into the national team for Ultimate Frisbee. This national team would represent Singapore in participating in prolific global tournaments such as the Worlds Ultimate Championship.

Under the programme, players are trained to develop a common team identity and. This would allow easier transfer of skills and tactics when these players are inducted into the national team.

The programme has produced many skilful and fine lads ever since its inception in 2010. Here are some of them:

Credits: Tino Tran Photography, Eric S C Lim

Why is this important?

As I have previously mentioned before (check out the post here), the global scene is full of players that have immense physical abilities and experience. Here's a sneak peek of how strong they are, in the junior global ultimate scene!

Hence, in order to be compete on a level playing field, players have to start from young in order to have mastery over skills critical in Ultimate Frisbee. Moreover, a lot of exposure is also required to supplement this set of skills. Mastery will not mean anything if it is not actualised in a game of Ultimate Frisbee.

This is where NTYP comes in. It allows players to start from young, as they take in the necessary amount of training (10,000 hour rule) and exposure to adequately prepare themselves for the global ultimate scene. It also came in at a very adequate timing as well, riding on the momentum from WUCC 2014!

However, not everyone can get into the National Youth Training Programme. There are limited slots and trials would definitely be strict and rigorous to ensure the best of the best are recruited into the programme.

However, for those who do not make it into the progamme, do not give up!!! Being young players, there are infinite possibilites for you to build up your ultimate skills and exposure, even without the Programme itself. There are many players who have worked hard and eventually represented Singapore in many ways, such as the recent Worlds Ultimate Club Championship 2014 and regional tournaments around Southeast Asia! Work hard and play alongside your fellow NTYP peers!

With that, I am very excited for the Youth trials ahead! Are you excited as well? For those young players (I'm grossly overage:( ) , mark the date January 31 on your calendars! That is when the NTYP trails are going to happen! Prepare well and good luck!