While Singaporeans are concentrated on to achievements in individual sports such as badminton and table tennis, Taekwondo lessons in community clubs and different kinds of marshal arts in numerous centers, running marathons and even challenging for triathlons, expats are tend to bring their home games to Singapore and found mini-clubs, playing their favorite sports, just for fun and leisure.
If we will play the game of associations, we will certainly name cricket for British, football for Germans, Italians, Spanish, rugby for Newzealanders etc., etc. But surprisingly, for US Americans, neither basketball nor American football work in our story, because US American families in Singapore are enjoying lacrosse. I haven't even heard about this game, until my friend introduces it to me. Sticks, lots of running, goals, balls, after trying to understand the game from explanations, I watched couple of Youtube videos, so can you do. Apparently, lacrosse is popular in US and even one of the sports in schools. Clubs have national cups and people are following their teams. And male teams even have their own designed helmets as part of outfit. Wow, that was like whole new world for me.
And here comes my chance to watch the game life... On beautiful sunny hot Sunday afternoon, on the 20th of April 2013, First time ever Singapore was hosting international Lacrosse match against team from
Hong-Kong, and, moreover, at the heart of Singapore, at Padang field,
Singapore Cricket Club Ground, with the stunning view to
Marina Bay Sands Hotel, City Business District highskapers.
Playing at home ground, Singapore teams had huge advantage with fans, friends, followers and whole families supporting them, shouting at the field edge, feeding during the breaks, giving water and even massage for cramped muscles. That's what's called real team spirit, when not only players run their energy for success, but whole team is contributing for first place. And it was great uniting moment for families, when dad and sons were running for a ball, mothers were shouting to support daughters' play and even run to catch the pass themselves. Their efforts were rewarded, as Singapore guys overtook Hong-Kong team 15-10, but it wasn't an easy game, as tropical hot sun was working hard to make players sweat and males game had a lot of water breaks and players were falling down in the middle of ball fight because of dehydration followed by muscles cramps. Water and endless bananas supply was first aid in this case. Take a note, that male lacrosse is quite aggressive and contact sport, that's why players are equipped with helmets, gloves, sleeve protectors, because sticks, hands, body check and contact is allowed. This also reminds of rugby, and requires massive players, especially for defense.
For those, who has no idea about the game, you can watch videos in Internet, but basically players have a sticks with the net, that's how the catch and carry the tennis size ball around the field in order to get the goal. Goalkeeper has bigger size hoop, whereas 4 players of the team can have longer sticks. Usually they are given to defense with allowance to one player to run whole field... The strange thing for me there was, that you can easily run with the ball in your net observing the field and players moving. To me it was kind of slowing down the game and loosing it's unpredictable turns, but from the other hand any player had a chance to go all the way from one side to another and make a goal. I also like the facedown moment, when two players are fighting for a ball.
Female game was faster and more dynamic, as the sun was down and the temperature dropped. Girls rules are also gentler, no body check or contact is allowed, therefore there are less breaks and penalties. Women are also less equipped - no helmets and protection, so they can move faster, get tired less and have less rest during the game. Despite it sounds less dramatic, but female game gathered more crowd of supporters, who were also shouting twice hard helping their favorite players.
After all, it was more, than 5 hours of perfect Sunday afternoon with workouts and real skills examining game time for players, great leisure and entertaining time at the grass with beer for supporters, family members and friends.
After that, everybody just continued to socialize with beer and nibbles at the
Brewerkz, who is official sponsor of
Singapore Lacrosse Association from it's foundation in October 2012. Teams exchanged t-shirts, emblems and memorable signs about the match. The President of SLA Ed Burnam thanked all, who contributed to make event happen. Team captains walked away with prizes. Dozens pictures were taken, buckles of beer were drunk and tones of french fries, chicken wings were eaten, Hong-Kong and Singaporean teams blended together and ended up with great chats and cheers, sharing tables and stories. Game united not only families and friends, but also expats living in different countries.
On an aside note, SLA gathering team not only from US Americans, but from anybody, who is willing to train and play lacrosse. Ed Burnam started regular trainings in 2011 and also runs Academy for beginners. Singapore and Hong-Kong teams will meet again, joining other Asian teams for ASPAC 2013, the regional lacrosse championship in Beijing this Summer. Hurry up! You still can qualify for a team. Trainings are usually held every Sunday from 5 pm. For more information and to stay tuned, check and like
SLA Facebook Fanpage.
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| Stunning view to CBD, Lacrosse, Singapore Hong-Kong Male match, Padang, 20 April 2013 |
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| Battle for a ball - hard contact, Lacrosse, Singapore Hong-Kong Male match, Padang, 20 April 2013 |
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| Battle for a ball - hard contact, Lacrosse, Singapore Hong-Kong Male match, Padang, 20 April 2013 |
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| Lacrosse, Singapore Hong-Kong Male match, Padang, 20 April 2013 |
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| Stunning view to MBS and teams moment - Lacrosse, Singapore Hong-Kong match, Padang, 20 April 2013 |
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| Girls warm up before Singapore Hong-Kong Lacrosse match, Padang, 20 April 2013 |
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| Girls warm up before Singapore Hong-Kong Lacrosse match, Padang, 20 April 2013 |
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| Women goalkeeper uniform is outstanding, but protects whole body from hard ball |
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| Hong-Hong team attack - Singapore Hong-Kong Lacrosse match, Padang, 20 April 2013 |
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| Fighting for a ball - Singapore Hong-Kong Lacrosse match, Padang, 20 April 2013 |
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| Facedown for female Lacrosse game |
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| Ed Burnam, President, Lacrosse, Singapore Hong-Kong match, 20 April 2013, Brewerkz @ Clark Quay |
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| Trophies, Lacrosse, Singapore Hong-Kong match, 20 April 2013, Brewerkz @ Clark Quay |
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| Trophies, Lacrosse, Singapore Hong-Kong match, 20 April 2013, Brewerkz @ Clark Quay |
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Hong-Kong female team captain gets trophy from SLA President Ed Burnam for overtaking
Singapore host 14-04 in match, 20 April 2013 |
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Singapore female team captain gets trophy from SLA President Ed Burnam
for playing against Hong-Kong team |
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| Warm atmosphere of Brewerkz @ Clark Quay for Lacrosse Singapore Hong-Kong teams after match, 20 April 2013 |
