By Santokh Singh

THERE is a fine line between training and punishment in sports.

Just as there is a fine line between 'something said in jest' or 'given as a serious instruction'.

Having played sports from primary school days, trained under some excellent coaches and then gone on to coach school teams, I can tell you that humiliation is where you draw that line.

If the person on the receiving end feels humiliated, the coach has crossed that line.

As long as the trainee or student is left with either a physical or mental scar, then that particular method of training is not right.

I do sympathise with coaches on our highly competitive school sports scene.

It is not easy motivating their charges, who are, more often than not, told they are wasting their time in sports by their parents or the academic subject teachers. That sports in Singapore is not going to provide them with the five Cs.

I had to contend with such challenges and it did get frustrating at times, especially when the school had a winning tradition.

I used to push my hockey boys very hard, three times a week during off season and almost daily during the season.

And there were many who were 'punished' by me - for missing out on training, for coming late, slacking during training or making some silly mistakes in a match.

'Punishment' for me had to help the student become a better player, and more importantly, a better person.

So it would include more physical training - extra laps, more push-ups or staying back for additional shooting practice, all of which helped the players get fitter, stronger or more skilful.

At the worst, it would include 'sitting out of matches', even at crucial games, so that a player would realise that it did not help to behave like a prima donna.

And it did include being suspended from the sport, not unlike the suspensions that professional sportsmen receive.

But I did not believe in humiliating the players - making them water-boys for their friends, insulting their intelligence or physically abusing them in front of their peers.

Definitely no 'cages' or crawling, even if said in jest.

Sports, especially in schools, has to be about physical and character development. It has to be about values - winning with humility and losing with grace - as much as about trophies and titles.

But, most importantly, it has to be dignified and fun enough for the child to want to play it for a lifetime.

PS: Happy Coach's Day, celebrated in Singapore last Friday.

This article was first published in The New Paper on September 16, 2008.