By Lim Yong Teck/Red Sports

ActiveSG March Holiday Programme (Inline Skating)

Instructor Edwin Lim helps the participants find the right pair of skates. (Photo 1 © Lim Yong Teck/Red Sports)

vision 2030 live better through sports

Clementi Sports Hall, Friday, March 21, 2014 — A group of 11 youths aged 6 to 14 got a chance to learn inline skating at an ActiveSG programme during the March school holidays.

ActiveSG aims to provide affordable sports programmes for Singaporeans of all ages and levels. It is one of the recommendations of Vision 2030.

“I think the programme benefits the youths a lot,” said 51-year-old Edwin Lim, the chief instructor. Edwin has been teaching inline skating on a regular basis for 37 years. “Without these programmes, they may be idling at home, sitting in front of the computer or the television screen. The programme allows them to come outside and be more active.”

The youths underwent a series of basic warm-up drills and were taught how to break their falls before they were allowed to don the inline skates. After putting on the inline skates, the youths practiced standing, sitting and the v-walk. The instructors also set up different stations to cater to the different skill levels of the participants. The instructors also gave one-on-one guidance to those who found it difficult to execute specific drills.

Mrs Lam, a full-time mother who signed up her child for the programme, commented, “I frequent the gym here about three times per week and I found out about the programme. I think the programme is good and it helps to build up the child’s self-confidence level. Such programmes allow children to learn something that they are interested in.”

One of the participants was Justin Tan, 14. The Chua Chu Kang Secondary student was all praise for the programme. “My mother told me about the programme and she asked me to consider. Skating has been my hobby since young. The instructors are friendly and they make things easy to understand.”

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