For most of us, the mention of sports likely conjures up memories of football, basketball, or perhaps badminton. But step into Tembusu, and you will discover a different landscape: one where novel sports have become more than a mere pastime. Instead, it is a rite of passage into a community that thrives on the unconventional. Tembusu’s identity as a Home of Possibilities is rightfully embodied in its sports culture, where students from all backgrounds embrace the spirit of exploration and growth.
‘Novel’ Sports?
How does one define ‘novel sports’? Novel sports are lesser-known and less accessible, while traditional sports are more well-known and more accessible. Rather than imposing a universal categorisation of what constitutes novel and traditional, I will be using these terms based on my personal experiences and observations in pre-university co-curricular activities (CCAs) and in Singapore’s sport scene. Some examples of novel sports include tchoukball and dodgeball, which are not available in National School Games’ ‘A’ and ‘B’ Division competitions. On the other hand, sports like football and basketball can be found in most, if not all, secondary schools and junior colleges, and can thus be considered as traditional sports.
Rise of Novel Sports in Tembusu
To determine the most popular and most participated sports interest groups (IGs), I sent out two 48-hour Telegram polls to get the views from Tembusians on the ground. I categorised badminton, basketball, football, and running as traditional sports, and dodgeball, tchoukball, touch rugby, and ultimate frisbee as novel sports.
Figure 1: Popularity of Sports IGs in Tembusu
As seen from the poll to determine the most popular sports IGs in Tembusu (Figure 1), the proportion of Tembusians that deemed novel sports as most popular made up almost three quarters of responses. In particular, 27% and 27% of Tembusu respondents picked dodgeball and tchoukball respectively, making these the top two most popular sports IGs. Conversely, only 1% and less than 1% of Tembusians chose football and running respectively as the most popular sports IGs, highlighting the stark difference between the popularity of most novel and traditional sports.
From dodgeball to tchoukball, Tembusians increasingly regard novel sports as popular. Reflecting on my time in Tembusu, the notable shift from traditional to novel sports reveals more than evolving tastes; it speaks to a culture unique to Tembusu. Although these novel sports are gaining traction globally, they remain niche in Singapore. Within Tembusu, however, they have become mainstream, solidifying their spot as an integral part of the college’s sport scene. Even at 11pm in the middle of the week, it is not uncommon to hear the sounds of the tchoukball interest group still at full swing.
So, why have these novel sports gained such popularity here? What about them resonates so strongly with Tembusians?
Barrier as a Gateway
A primary reason is the barrier of entry. Traditional sports often come with an unspoken expectation of prior experience, particularly since these are commonly played in pre-university co-curricular activities (CCAs) and in public spaces. Take basketball, for instance. Public courts can be found in nearly every HDB estate, community center, and school. In contrast, fewer pre-university institutions offer a novel sport like tchoukball, and not many would consider the sport a part of their childhood. This disparity means that some students tend to come into university with more experience in traditional sports, while novel sports offer a fresh slate and a more level-playing field.
“Novel sports typically do a better job at attracting Tembusians because everyone starts as a beginner, making them very inclusive,” Shuowang, who serves on the Executive Committee (EXCO) of Tembusu’s basketball and dodgeball IGs, highlighted. As someone who heads both IGs without prior experience in them, he is testament to the beginner-friendly atmosphere that creates a welcoming environment for those new to the sport (or sports in general) by reducing the intimidation of skill gaps. In this manner, novel sports become much more accessible and inclusive to a wider audience.
In contrast, traditional sports sometimes struggle to attract beginners due to their seemingly higher barriers to entry. From my experience as the head of both football and basketball IGs, many of my peers who are hesitant to try these sports describe their fear of lagging behind those who have extensive experience as their primary concern.
Embracing New Experiences
Another appeal of novel sports is the enthusiasm of trying something new. University is frequently viewed as a time of exploration. Sandwiched between the more rigid pre-university life and adulthood, university provides the opportunity to break out of routines, explore new disciplines, make new friends, try residential life, and dive into fresh experiences. For Tembusians who tend to be open-minded and adventurous, novel sports are the avenue to do just that.
“Most people join Tembusu with the thought of trying something new,” observed Shuowang. “They could either be completely new to sports, or if they were athletes beforehand, they [may be] looking for a fresh start in a different sport.”
Cheryl participating in Basketball Inter-College Games (ICG) in 2023. In Tembusu, traditional sports such as Basketball have seen lower participation rates than novel sports such as Tchoukball.
Building a Community
In addition, the strong community that these sports cultivate is a major draw. Tembusu’s tchoukball IG, for example, has fostered a tight-knit network where alumni regularly return to play with current students. Because novel sports are less commonly played outside Tembusu, it is more difficult to find others to play such sports with. Hence, the smaller community creates a sense of camaraderie and close bonds among those who do participate.
Beyond Tembusu
To see how these trends compare to that of other RCs, I sent out two similar 48-hour polls to another RC, which I will refer to as xRC.
Figure 2: Popularity of Sports IGs in Tembusu and xRC
As shown in Figure 2, there remains a strong perception that novel sports are more popular in both RCs, although to a lesser extent in xRC compared to Tembusu. xRC’s most popular sports IGs were also badminton and dodgeball, with 17% and 16% of respondents picking them as among the most popular sports IGs respectively. While dodgeball is likewise perceived as highly popular outside of Tembusu, some other novel sports like tchoukball do not rank as highly in perceived popularity.
Figure 3: Participation of Sports IGs in Tembusu and xRC
Interestingly, the least popular sports IGs in both RCs were traditional sports, and this was consistent across polls for popularity and participation. In Tembusu, football and running ranked the lowest, while xRC’s least popular sports IGs were touch rugby and running (Figures 2 and 3).
That said, it is interesting to note that there exists a stronger perception in Tembusu that novel sports are more popular. Yet, the participation data collected in another survey across the two RCs was quite similar in its split between novel and traditional sports.
From the data above, two key insights come to mind. Firstly, novel sports seem to have been gaining more traction than traditional sports, not just in Tembusu but also in xRC. However, the extent to which novel sports are more popular than traditional ones is more evident in Tembusu compared to xRC.
A Reflection of Tembusu’s Values
“As long as you’re eager to try, any sport, regardless of their ‘novelty’, will be fun for you!”
– Shuowang, a key EXCO member of Tembusu’s Basketball and Dodgeball Interest Groups
The aforementioned trends and observations regarding the high popularity of novel sports in Tembusu College are a testament to Tembusu as a Home of Possibilities, where novel sports illustrate the spirit of exploration. In Tembusu, sports are not only about the pursuit of victory; they are environments where students feel empowered to try new things and discover their potential. Whether it is the allure of playing new sports, the inclusive nature of IGs, or the rich communities formed through these sports, Tembusians find countless reasons to step out of their comfort zones, taking heart in the fact that they are supported by a community that thrives on the same openness to possibilities.
Yet, it is important to recognise the fluidity of novelty. What is considered novel today may become tradition tomorrow, when sports that were once considered niche find their footing and grow into an enduring, important aspect of Tembusu’s culture. As novelty transitions into tradition, one thing remains constant: Tembusians’ willingness to embrace the unfamiliar.
So, take the leap! Step into the court, join a beginner’s session, try your hand at something you have only viewed from the sidelines, and you will uncover not only the sport, but a community and a myriad of experiences waiting for you.
About the Author:
Cheryl is a Year 3 Sociology and Communications & New Media student with a keen interest in uncovering narratives about people and society. She’s hopelessly attached to her e-book and believes that kopi peng is the solution to most of life’s problems.