At last, my book "Disc In" is out!

What a feeling. I never thought publishing a book is going to be so tough. The writing process is just the beginning of the journey. Nowadays, publishers want to see your manuscript before considering whether your project is worth supporting. On the author's part, you are afraid that your hard work will be kept safety in the thumb drive if no publisher ever want to publish your book. I guess I just took the first step and plunge my head into the ground and hope for the best.

I have never been rejected so many times in my life. Not even in courtship. Sorry dear... "Sorry, there is no market in Ultimate Frisbee". " Sorry, this topic is not relevant to our company". What better excuse can they give?

As I tried to source for a publisher, I also need to look for a sponsor. The cost of publishing cost $3000, the minimum amount required for printing a decent book.

I am really grateful for all the people who share their ideas and suggestions with me. All of them are mentioned in the book. I am also very grateful for the Singapore Physical Education Association (SPEA) for sponsoring this book and Icon Book for agreeing to publish my book. Special mention to Dr Michael Koh, SPEA president and Mr Melvin Yo, Icon Books and Multimedia Pte Ltd.

During the process of sourcing for a sponsor and publisher, I need to continuously carry out my research and complete the manuscript. I set myself a target to complete the manuscript in one year and every night, I will spend one hour to write something. Just something. Anything.

I keep asking myself. How can this book value add to people, especially Ultimate players,coaches and PE teachers? Ultimate Players and coaches need information to improve their skills. PE teachers? They need LESSON PLANS! So I decided to do a series of lesson plans that PE teachers can use immediately in their PE lessons. The lesson plans ensure that their pupils are equipped with the fundamental skills and concepts in Ultimate. The lesson plans also ensure that through Games Concept Approach (GCA), pupils understand territorial games concept better.

One of my forte is to be able to synthesize complicated issues into simple diagrams and flowchart. So I thought to myself, why not start with a framework for skills development in Ultimate? At least if I start something, someone in future will be able to use this framework and improve on it. I believe this can definitely value-add to this emerging sport!

Fast forward to one year later, the book is published and launched. Through this process, I have learnt several important aspects of life.

1. Life is like a disc, if you never release it, you will never know where it will fly. If I did not start writing the manuscript, I will never know where it can bring me.

2. Life is like playing Ultimate. It does not matter which disc you use, which club you play for, or which country you represent. Focus on the important aspect of your life. Not on the distractions. If you really want to play Ultimate, just do it. Tap in disc and shout, "Disc In!"

Personally, as I am writing this book, there are many distractions. People keep telling me that there is no market in Ultimate. There will not be anyone who is sane enough to support me. Even if I did publish my book, it will not sell. I do not care. The important part of this process is the writing and researching. The outcome is not as important. If the manuscript is going to be a white elephant, so be it. What is important is while I am researching my content for my book, I have also enhanced my coaching skills. While I am coaching Shiok, I am able to convince my players that what I am trying to impart to them makes sense. I sound credible and I am able to answer their questions with conviction. I have also developed a 'sixth' sense to correct my player's throwing stance and calling for strategies before the play. These can only be achieved if the leader constantly upgrades himself or herself.

3. Life is like Ultimate. You need everyone in the team to work together to achieve success. You can play on the O line or D line. But if you are on the 'side' lines, you can also play an important part to the team's success. Never underestimate your contribution to the team's success.

Ultimate has really transformed me as a person. There are many lessons you can learn in this game and the process. I have made many friends through this sport and I cannot imagine what my life will be without Ultimate.

Cheers!

7 reasons why Ultimate is the Coolest Game

1) Self-Officiating

You call your own fouls and players resolve issues between themselves on the field without external help! If players are unable to come to an agreement, disc will go back to the thrower and play 'restarts' again (contested foul).

2) Character Development

This encourages an environment for character development, which is important to young children as they are encouraged to be fair in the game.

2) Intense, fun and exciting

At casual pick ups, newbies and experience players come together to have a leisure game. Pick up information can be found at UPA(S) website on the right. (You can often find me at NUS Wednesday pick ups!) It is usually fun as its less competitive, yet at the same time, providing a good opportunity and stress-free environment for newbies to learn from the 'elders'. For higher level of play, you may wish to consider signing up for leagues! It provides a platform for players who wish to start playing more competitively as compared to pick up level. Leagues will see all players (experience, average and new) mixed up and teams are formed to make sure that each team has a healthy mixture of players. It usually lasts for about 8 weeks or more, with a finals and a party at the end of it. League will let you understand Ultimate better and is a great way to know more people as each week will see you playing a different team. UPA(S) holds league twice a year and the format may be mixed gender or single gender league.

4) Emerging players start on equal playing field

For pick ups and leagues, newbies are not separated from the experience players. Instead, they are encouraged to join in the fun! Every league will begin with a clinic for new players who has never play Ultimate before. Subsequently, their team mates will share their knowledge with them as they go along in the game. Thus players all ages and sizes come together to enjoy themselves on and off field!

5) Great for cross-training

As Ultimate requires skills like running and cutting, it is quite similar to a few other sports such as soccer and netball. Thus it is a great way for players to cross train and benefit from Ultimate.

6) Keep Fit

In Ultimate, we believe players keep fit to play Ultimate, not play Ultimate to keep fit.

7)Entertaining

You get to meet people from all walks of life, pick up a new hobby, get in shape, etc. Plus we get free beer time to time!!!!

Introduction to Ultimate

For those who has just been introduced to Ultimate, I hope you enjoyed it so far. This blog is an outlet for me to share this passion and love for this sport with more people and hopefully, get more people to join us.

The sport originated in the 1960’s on the frontlawns of Yale University, USA, played by students killing time between lectures, passing a plastic discbetween them. Ultimate has been in Singapore for a while but it has only become truly organised and popular among Singaporeans in the last six years.
The number of players in Singapore has increased significantly from a pool of 20 players to over 300
players. The Singapore Ultimate Players Association (UPA) organises pick-up (casual) games and a twice-yearly league while clubs practise year-round to compete in local and international tournaments. Currently the Singapore UPA is trying to promote the sport by introducing it to the schools through the sports development programme.

If you will like to know more, you may wish to click on the links on the right hand side. Tentatively, I have just published a book also name, 'Disc In'. It has information on the game and also lesson plans for teachers who will like to introduce this new sport to their children. You may wish to contact me at Discin@gmail.com if you will like to get more information on Ultimate or on the book.