Ultimate Job, Ultimate Sport – Beyond PE to Frisbee

Be the best teacher you can be.

I love physical activities. But my fast food usually wins. Not surprising, I was an overweight child. I love to play soccer during recess. I hardly kicked the ball because I usually take the ball out between the goal posts. When I trialled for basketball for my Primary School CCA, my mother withdrew me, worried that I get winded and heat exertion during drills. 

I trialled for badminton CCA too. Pestered my father to buy me a ‘luxury’ racket, something the family can ill-afford. After failing to return several serves, I was cut from the school team. Remember, celebrate with winners, but empathise those who didn't make the cut too. 

CCA and after-school activities are my most memorable moments in school. I joined the National Cadet Corp (NCC) and made the international chess club. Despite being overweight in secondary school, I could complete the 2.4-kilometre run in 10 minutes. My PE teacher encouraged me to join the cross-country team. Although, I did not make the school team, my teacher’s support made a positive impact on me. I made a lot of friends which boosted my confidence and ignite the passion in sports. These experiences, convinced me that I too, could make a difference and do good through sports. Your expectations of your students determine how high and far they can go.

What do you value?

A healthy man wants a thousand things. A sick man only wants one. 

I hope to continue leading an active and healthy lifestyle and encourage people around me to do likewise. To change a habit, consider your identity. For me, I am a PE teacher and an Ultimate Frisbee Player. What is yours? Instead of drastically changing your lifestyle or habits which is unsustainable, consider adding small habits to replace current ones. Ditch sugary drinks for water, reduce salt intake, that's a win!

Why did you become a PE Teacher?

Physical Education is every child’s favourite subject! 

This is a profession where I can share my passion and make a difference. In 2008, as HOD PE/CCA, I started Mass CCA. It seeks to provide more opportunities for all students to engage in a wide variety of novel activities, beyond the prescribed curriculum. Today, it has evolved into Programme for Active Learning (PAL) fully implemented in all schools for all lower primary students. 

Another proud moment for me recently was to participate in an Ultimate Frisbee tournament with 2 former students. I taught one of them in 2004 and the other picked up the sport during Modular CCA in 2018, when I was teaching Ultimate Frisbee as a Vice-Principal. 

I am happy to see that PE has risen in professional standing, status and standard over the years. If you have friends or students who are passionate about making a difference in the students through PE, encourage them to join the profession!

How did you start Frisbee?

I picked up this sport in PESS under the International Games module. 

What was Ultimate Frisbee like in Singapore when you started?

Ultimate was largely recreational and played by expatriates.  In 2005, I founded Shiok!, an Ultimate Frisbee Club. Shiok’s first breakthrough was in 2006 when we were given the bid to participate in the Worlds Ultimate Frisbee Club Championships in Perth. 

I believe every player is a leader on and off the field. The hardest is leading yourself. 

The Ultimate Frisbee journey has shaped my leadership and perspectives in life. 

• Be the best teacher I can be, whether I am a player or coach. Lead, Care and Inspire to bring out the best in the players. 

• Manage the polarities and seek balance when faced with dilemmas.

• Build the players’ identity. We are volunteers pursing a passion. Understand the purpose, mission and meaning of why we are doing what we are doing. Give the players the autonomy. 

• Provide a safe training environment, both physically and psychologically. Challenge the team sufficiently. We strive to train within the Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD). 

• Value the process of growing the team and individual players progressively. Develop the players to be confident and competent. Strengthen relationships amongst the players. Reduce the power distance and hierarchy The whole is larger than the sum of its parts.

• Focus on what we can control. We cannot control how strong the opponents or the weather. The results are the feedback on our effort and commitment relative to others. 

What was a memorable lesson in Ultimate Frisbee?

What are your hopes for Shiok?

What is your dream for Ultimate as a sport in Singapore? 

As an association, be player-centric. Focus on building the sport. Build the grassroots. Grow the best national team for all age-groups. Get the results and sponsors.

As a team, enjoy the game, enjoy the competition, and enjoy the bonds developed.

As a player, value the other players and your safety. Return to your families, safe and sound.

You participated in a Masters tournament in December 2023. Tell us more. What got you there? What are your success and struggles?

• Play each game like it’s your last. Learn like you have a lifetime. 

• When you are young, you lead, role model, learn from the experiences and do your best. 

• When you are older, learn from the young, support and mentor them, make a difference to the team and player.

• If you have one eye on the results, you only have one eye left on the disc. Do your best, but don’t be obsessed with the results. 

• Setbacks are set-ups for success. 

If you have an opportunity to contribute to sports beyond schools, step forward and serve. Beyond our individual sports, we are doing our part towards developing healthy resilient people and strong untied communities. 

Our former DGE, Mr Wong Siew Hoong reminded me that regardless of the roles we play in MOE, strive to be the best teacher you can be. We lead how we teach. 

Contributed by: 

Mr Quek Swee Nee is currently the Deputy Director, Physical, Sports & Outdoor Education (PSOEB), Outdoor Adventure Learning Centre (OALC).

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