This is happening as more Singaporeans start swimming as a hobby.
Swimming is one of the top five activities that people play, according to Sport Singapore’s annual National Sport Participation Survey, and its statistics have been steadily rising.
Mark Chay, the president of Singapore Aquatics, stated that the programs are a good way to boost community trust and that there are young athletes in each of the five liquid sports that make up the governing body.
Underwater players have been open to the change, he continued.
” It’s for their own security.” To create a healthy environment not only for them but also for upcoming generations of runners, they want to commit to this and to be responsible as well, he said.
AWARENESS CAMPAIGN TO RISE
Water polo player Mounisha Devi Manivannan, diver Ardi Zulhilmi Azman, musical swimmer Vivien Tai, diving Max Lee, and para diver Yip Pin Xiu are among the national athletes supporting the plan.
According to Ms. Tai, secure activity should be encouraged from a young age so that parents, coaches, and athletes are aware of what is appropriate behavior and inappropriate behavior.
She continued,” Because instructors may come from different locations with varying backgrounds and cultures, it helps to have a program in place to provide an model on what constitutes an suitable training setting in Singapore.”
According to her, the initiative might stimulate some victims who might find it challenging to speak up about their experiences with unethical behavior.
With this strategy, we hope that athletes may be better able to communicate inappropriate behavior with their colleagues or bring it up with the association in order to address the issue, according to Ms. Tai.
Ardi Azman, a regional freestyle swimmer, stated that psychological abuse must also be addressed.
” Not just the physical aspect, but also the psychological aspect ,” says the author. Body shaming or disparaging remarks, for instance, can ( unfavorably affect the athletes ), he said.
Instructors ‘ MANDATORY SAFE Activity COURSE
Experts claim that due to the nature of the game, it can be difficult to distinguish between appropriate and inappropriate behavior, particularly between coaches and their costs.
Local sporting authorities are starting with tutors to make underwater activities safer for everyone.
Their accreditation is only valid for three years at a time, and those who want to maintain it must now enroll in an obligatory protected sport course and follow the Safe Sport Unified Code’s rules.
In the best interests of the players, the program will teach how to speak in non-aggressive ways and offer suggestions for maintaining a healthy atmosphere in the lake.
As educators interact strongly with athletes who look to them with respect and for guidance, Mr. Chay said it is crucial for them to do themselves properly and responsibly.
” Some of our aggressive athletes work with their instructors for four to five hours each day. Their conversation goes beyond a simple teacher-student bond. The educators also take on some parenting advice, the morals and ethics part, as well as a friendship component ,” he added.
According to Mr. Chay, all educators who practice in public swimming pools, clubs, and public schools will be required to take the course.
” We’re talking about anti-discrimination, abuse, physical abuse, neglect, etc.” To ensure that the environment is conducive for the players to explore the various underwater fields and realize their full potential, all mentors must go through these parts, he continued.
He remarked that parents can be more significant and perceptive when evaluating the coaching credentials and choosing a coach for their children because they are conscious of the protected sport element in the Singapore Aquatics coaching program.
According to Mr. Chay,” Singapore Aquatics’ goal is to make Singapore a world-class swimming region.”
” To accomplish that, we must create a setting where young children can pursue their dreams in safety, where kids are at ease allowing their kids to play sports, and where educators are certain that what they are doing is in the best interests of their sportsmen.”