SDBF Tecnical Matters

[wassuprai]

SDBA will be imposing an administrative fine on teams that withdraw from the Semi FinLs onwards. The composition will be SGD$500 and carries a 1-year debarment from participating in any SDBA organized race.

In the past, it was common practice to have teams that withdrew from the Semi Finals as they weight their options and strategize accordingly. By doing such, they are actually denying other teams the possibility of genuine chance at qualifying.

There have been many feedback regarding this issue and SDBA agreed that these are unfair tactics. The onus must be on teams to plan their goals and targets feasibly and responsibly. SDBA only aim in this issue is to provide for a fair race with genuine chances for all.

So people, please plan wisely.   

[watchman]

Don't know where to post this. Want to start new thread but 'paiseh'...newbie to forum mah. Yesterday at the SDBF 2010 Team Manager Briefing there was an interesting sideshow to the lane draw. More specific, the lane draw for the PM Cup. I stayed behind to see my alma mata, NUS.

The NUS Rep accused SDBA of not conducting a fair lane draw for the PM-Cup!!!

He said there was a trend in the computer system and that the lane draw for this year was the same for last year. He pissed alot of people saying that. I was full of pride, someone bold enough to stand up and make a statement. That was untill I check last year line-up. It was not the same! Worse! Later when I discuss with my fiance, she is in IT, she told me that a system like the one SDBA uses is made of a mathematical model that cycles trends. So what NUS said was correct, there is a trend but, there are many, many trends as long as the number or numbers can be recycled. It is the same for 4D or Toto. Hence why some winning numbers could be repeated.

So in hindsight, the system SDBA used was okay, it did not deliberately cause the result to be such. Furthermore, the line up was not the same as last year. So the dam thing actually worked!

Now I think NUS was rather foolish to have done what they did. Sure make enemies one. And because they piss off SDBA, I bet you sure got repurcussion one. Personally, I feel very paiseh about the accusation now, even though I grad 6 years ago. Anyway, this year PM Cup sure be interesting. 

[jiakkantang]

Don't know where to post this. Want to start new thread but 'paiseh'...newbie to forum mah. Yesterday at the SDBF 2010 Team Manager Briefing there was an interesting sideshow to the lane draw. More specific, the lane draw for the PM Cup. I stayed behind to see my alma mata, NUS.

The NUS Rep accused SDBA of not conducting a fair lane draw for the PM-Cup!!!

He said there was a trend in the computer system and that the lane draw for this year was the same for last year. He pissed alot of people saying that. I was full of pride, someone bold enough to stand up and make a statement. That was untill I check last year line-up. It was not the same! Worse! Later when I discuss with my fiance, she is in IT, she told me that a system like the one SDBA uses is made of a mathematical model that cycles trends. So what NUS said was correct, there is a trend but, there are many, many trends as long as the number or numbers can be recycled. It is the same for 4D or Toto. Hence why some winning numbers could be repeated.

So in hindsight, the system SDBA used was okay, it did not deliberately cause the result to be such. Furthermore, the line up was not the same as last year. So the dam thing actually worked!

Now I think NUS was rather foolish to have done what they did. Sure make enemies one. And because they piss off SDBA, I bet you sure got repurcussion one. Personally, I feel very paiseh about the accusation now, even though I grad 6 years ago. Anyway, this year PM Cup sure be interesting. 

Wah exciting drama!! Then did the other 3 university representatives say anything? So did SDBA resolve the matter?

[wassuprai]

Guys, let the matter rest. SDBA was stunned with the accusation no doubt but in the end the results speaks for itself. It is sad that our local teams have absolutely no trust and faith in our own NSA for dragon boating. We have to work on that. Perhaps that same trust & faith was lost in the past but what is more important is the future.
Yesterday SDBA mentioned the sport is on the brink of major recognition or disaster that will throw the sport into the dark ages. The Asian Games is a big deal to the sport. You all think SSC and MCYS cares about how many teams took part in local events or which team won? It's what the N-Team does in SSC-sanctioned international competitions that brings in the recognition and money.
So to raise the standards of the N-Team, the standards of our local teams must go up first. SDBA has committed to do that to ministry and will take at least 5 years to do so. So for the good of the sport, we all should set aside our differences and help each other.
We all do this because we like it. But the plug can still be pulled if there is no heading and
 direction. Hence we must do it together.
It's not easy fir SDBA to organize a 8,000 participant event with 1 permanent staff and a host of volunteers. The volunteers changes each year leading to no continuity or evolution in the process. Hence why there are still cock-ups even after so many years of doing it. It is hard but that is life. We just have to adapt and move on.
Bottom line, let us start by bringing back the faith and trust in one another.       

[whack it hard]

The NUS Rep accused SDBA of not conducting a fair lane draw for the PM-Cup!!!

next thing, NUS will accused SDBA of fixing up the most heaviest boat to which NUS was drawn to.

And also the heaviest drum fixed to it.

[titatita]

I think there are many things SDBA is still pretty behind IDBF standards...
to make an effort to make it a fair race.

its not about organising a race, most people can organise a race. just funding problems. its about creating a fair race, not has a race.

instead of relying on a program, pls make an effort to be fair to everything by arranging some sort of fair drawing system. just like 4D, they don't use a program as its designed and if its designed, it be can calculated.

instead of just using whatever flights of boats that you have, pls use a weighing machine to check on the weight of each boat to be sure that all boats are of the same weight.

sdba is still 2 foots behind.....jia you..!!

[TheMachine]

The SDBA as the national association for dragon boating does have a lot to improve on. For example, not one SDBA race is a standard IDBF distance. 800m for Festival and 280-300m for Regatta. What's the point in that? Either do 200m, 500m, 1000m or 2000m. Don't do anything in between. With 4 major races through out the year, the local teams need as much practice at IDBF standards as possible to effectively compete overseas.

Also why are there non-standard IDBF categories in the premier events? 20 Crew MEN and not 20 Crew Open and 10 Crew Women and not 20 Crew Women. Again, preparation and exposure is required on the local scene to help crews compete overseas.

I did speak to SDBA about the womens category and it was down to there not being enough women to form 20 crew teams. Thats a shame, but hopefully can be addressed in the future.

What the SDBA does do very effectively is cater for the corporations. This is a great way of building recognition amongst companies and the corps can act as feeder clubs to the bigger teams.

[wassuprai]

Interesting feedback and suggestions. Keep them coming. Many of you are perhaps not aware that the SDBF and SRR are traditional races with history stretching back to pre-IDBF time. SDBF used to be a sea venue event, done at either Marine Parade or Sentosa before it found a home in the old Marina Bay. SRR was the river equivalent. Back in those pre-IDBF days, the two were according to the prevalent standards then. The SDBF also used to be part of an Asian racing circuit that covered Hong Kong, Singapore and Penang with racing distances of 300m, 500m, 800m and 1,000m. So the SDBF and SRR holds historical sentimentality. Even when the other venues had embraced the IDBF standards fully, we still strongly hold onto ours. SDBA knows to keep up with the rest of the world they need to follow suit. But they are seriously handicapped by economics and availability of manpower.

Economics have direct impact on the type and quality of things SDBA can do. In a way this set SDBA back, crippling it that it cannot do what it wanted. Rather it can only do what it could. The SDBA racing boats are almost plus minus 10 years old and all 40 nos should be replaced. But SDBA lacked the financial means to do so now. In Malaysia, China and Macau, businesses and government bodies cooperate to build up the sport for economical and political gains. No such thing here and SDBA have to be careful not to run afoul of funds handling ala NKF. With better funding sure SDBA can do much. If they get the same funds ad table tennis and badminton, etc, I believe no problem to match Macau.

But the reality is that we cannot. And what we have is an old system that is growing older and severe restrictions to kickstart the new ones. Hence why the Asian Games is very imortant to SDBA. Should N-Team do well there, SDBA will be in a better position to ask for funding to renew itself or run the programs it always wanted. Any abject failure and the sport will go into the dark ages with minimal funds and support. That is the reality of any sports in Singapore. SDBA is changing and evolving but only at the pace it's excess baggages dictated. All I can say is, change is coming but slowly. Just be abit patient.  
  

[long-pull]

its all about $$$,  SDBA maybe can start collecting the same or more for Entrance fee.
Just like SAVA.  charge by per head.

These people now are paying peanut and asking so much.

[wassuprai]

Fairness in a race is actually a fair request. It's just that people need to know and understand that SDBA can only do what it's funding allows it to do. There are laws governing how SDBA secures it's funding and how it can be used.

We want to become world class but unfortunately we can only do so by walking in shoes that we can afford. We'll still get there but at the pace we can afford. Changes takes time to happen.