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LEARNING CURVE

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"Sportassociations,the NationalSports Counciland universitiesmust worktogether forwhat is best forsports withoutcompromisingthe athletes'responsibilitiesas students.",

Mohamad Fa/thaI Hasson,UMSports Centresenior lecturer

+NOVEMBER 20, 2016

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LEARNING CURVENEW SUNDAY TIMES

Be a good sportSTUDENT ATHLETES: Sports centres at universitieshelp thern to juggle the demands of bothsports and studies

ZULITA MUSTAFAzulita@)nst.com.my

OLYMPIANS Dr Brian JayhanSiva and Dr Calvin Fernandezwere Malaysian hockey legends

in the 1990s. They are proof that it ispossible to achieve excellence in edu-cation while competing at the highestlevel. Brian is a kidney specialist andresides in Perth, Australia while Calvinis a medical doctor. \

But it is generally not easy for stu-dent athletes to juggle both sports andstudies. In a worst-case scenario, thismay mean failing at university, sportsor both. .

Sohowdo they manage the demandsof sports and studies?

National bowler Nora Lyana Nasta-sia Norkarnal, 19, who is pursuing adegree course in sports science at Uni-versity of Malaya (UM),saidshe has toprepare for examinations in the midstof tournaments at times.

"Time management is important.Sometimes it's hard to make a choice.But at the end of the day, my passion forsports rules - studies can be deferredbut not opportunities," said Nora Lyana,'who has competed in the MalaysianOpen (2014 and 2015), Asian YouthChampionship (2015)and World YouthChampionship (2016).

Support from her lecturers, coachesand peers makes it easy for her to juggleclasses, assignments and training.

"The coaches and lecturers try tounderstand my situation as much asthey can. They offer advice and encour-agement. My coursemates and friendshelp me with my assignments and pro-jects," she added.

Coursemate Savinder Kaur JogindrSingh, 19, a middle-distance runner,also faces challenges.

"I stay at Majlis Sukan Negara Casa 1hostel for athletes in Bukit Jalil. Everyweekday, I commute between BukitJaliland UM for training and classes," shesaid.

Savinder takes a leave of absencefrom some classes when she competesin international tournaments.

"Although I miss classes, it is notan obstacle for me to learn. I refer to .my lecturers to catch up on lessons. Ialso complete my assignments beforeI attend competitions," said Savinderwho has competed in the SEAYouthGames, Asian Youth Games, AseanSchool Games, Sukma Sarawak andKazakhstan Open aswellas Perak Open,Pahang Open, Selangor Open and KLOpen.

"Mylecturers guide me in my weakareas. My peers help mewith noteswhenever Imiss classes due to training."

FINDING A BALANCEMost universities in the country havetheir own sports centres which provideassistance in the form of programmeplanning and timetabling, extensions

on assessments, deferred exams, alter-nate exam sittings and mentoring.

Such. support is critical for studentathletes dealing with the pressures oftertiary studies while training up to 30hours a week.

To realise the vision of the univer-sity and country to achieve excellencein sports, Universiti Putra Malaysia'sSports Centre was established to sup-port UPM's goals to nurture qualityand competitive students by upgradingsoft skills through sports programmes,, without compromising on their aca-demic achievements.

UPM has more than 100 nationalathletes studying various fields underthe National Sports Council and.Higher Education Ministry sports pro-grammes.

The international athletes amongits students include Olympian diverCheongJun Hoong, shooter JohnathanWong and sprinter Zaidatul HusniahZulkifli.

Sports Centre director Dr HanafiahAyub said: "We are focused on man-aging tournaments at the university,national and international levels. Weprepare athletes for competitions, andplan and implement sports develop-ment programmes and training.

"In addition, certified coachesprepare athletes for high sports per-formance. We also do administrativework, manage finances and look afterthe facilities and sports equipment."

Various sections ofthe centre includ-ingthe sports development departmenttake care of the students' welfare toensure that they-are on track, be it instudies or sports.

"We ensure 'there is no overlappingof academic and sports programmes,especially when athletes represent thecountry overseas.

"We hold discussions with the uni-versity management to coordinate pro: 'grammes and activities in the academiccalendar," he added.

UM Sports Centre senior lecturerDrMohamad Faithal Hassan said timemanagement is the most common chal-lenge faced by student athletes.

Most athletes face difficulties in

dividing time between training, com-petition, classes and studies.

Moreover, it is beyond student ath-letes' control as sports associations .determine the competitions and train-ing programmes.

"Therefore, the sport associations,National Sports Council and universi-ties must work together forwhat is bestfor sports without compromising theathletes' responsibilities as students,"said Mohamad Faithal.

Student athletes at Universiti. Teknologi MARA(UiTM)pursue cours-es at its Faculty of Sports Science andRecreation and its sports centte direc-torMustaza Ahmad said they have toachieve results set by the sport associa-tions and do well academically too.

Moharnad Faithal added: "In UM,we have designed a special programmefor student athletes in order for them toparticipate in competitions or overseastraining stints and keep their studies ontrack at the same time.

"Notes are uploaded online. Eventhough the mode ofstudy is slightly dif--ferent from other students, the assess-

Ahmad luth Hamiza

ment is the same. Student athletes arerequired to complete their projects andassignments and make presentations.

"They sit special tests if they missthe examinations." '

.Pandelela Rinong Pamg (right) dan Cheong Jun Hoang shaw off their medals at the recent Olympics. Pandelela is pursuing a degree in sports science at UMwhile Cheong isstudYing communications at UPM. .' .

my lecturers to discuss lessons."Muhammad Siddiq Amir Jalil, 23, a

fifth-year process and food engineeringstudent at UPM, said it was a bumpy .road throughout his tertiary studies ashe has to juggle classes and play 'rugby,

"I am a risk taker. I rarely plan myschedule and just go with the flow. Isolve problems as they arise.

"Myfamily members especially mymother and brother-in-law are my big-gest supporters. My dad became more .receptive of me playing rugby after Ibecame a national player. .

"Wedon't have a professional leagueyet in the country. But next year wewillhave a semi-pro league, so that's a good .start for me to go further.

"It is more important to have anacademic qualification. Playing rugbymakes mewant to become aknowledge-able athlete:' he said.

Fellow UPM student Ahmad LuthHamizan, 24, who is in his final year of

FLEXIBLELEARNINGNational netball team player NurulAdha Abu Bakar, 23, finds being botha student and-an athlete demanding,not only physically but also mentally.

"I am in my final year of a computerscience degree course at UPM. In anormal scenario, I complete 12 to 15credit hours per semester, but if! haveto compete in a major tournament, thefaculty advises me to take only three tosix credit hours per semester.

"This flexible learning helps me tocope with my studies and Ican concen-trate when I am training," she said.

Her daily routine begins with train-Ing'from 7am to 9am. Then she attendsclasses and trains again from 4pm to6pm.

"During my spare time, I reviewlessons I have missed and at times mycoursemates help me to revise. I meet

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BEd (Physical Education), said he andmost student athletes are focusing onthe SEAGames in Kuala Lumpur nextyear.

"Since this is my final year, I don'tfeel the burden of classes, assignmentsand training so much as I am doingmy practical teaching in school," saidAhmad Luth, a3,000m runner, who hascompeted in the AsiaUniversity Gamesas well as Malaysia Games.

He loves competing locally andinternationally but wants to make surethat he has paper qualifications too. Heplans to pursue the master's in educa-tion programme and become a lecturerone day.

"I want to gain as much knowledgeas possible and give back to my studentsand the community."

PROMOTE STUDENTATHLETE LEADERSHIPThe nature of sports, which includesgiving and receiving instructions,time management and self-discipline,exposes student athletes to leadership.

"Sports nurture leadership quali-ties," said Mohamad Faithal.

UPM Sports Centre offers a sportsmanagement course for students tolearn to organise tournaments at itsresidential colleges and at universitylevel.

"Residential college sports clubs area good platform to acquire leadershiptraits for students especially those whoplay team sports such as rugby," saidHanafiah.

At UiTM, Mustaza said the sportscentre offers students the chance tolead the university sports team in cer-taln tournaments and encourages themto be volunteers at sports events. Playing rugby ma~es Muhammad Siddiq Amir want to become a knowledgeable athlete.

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