SIT Ultimate co-founders Muhd Irfaan, Sharon Sim and Nicholas Yeo, second-year BSc Hotel Administration students with the University of Nevada, Las Vegas

It is often said that sport not only builds character, but also reveals one’s true self.

On a sunny Friday afternoon in June this year, a group of SIT students shared their passion for Ultimate Frisbee with the youths at the Singapore Boys’ Hostel, an institution which caters to young male probationers below 16 years of age.

Organised by SIT Ultimate, the event began with a round of ice-breaker games and breakdance demonstrations. The organisers hoped to impart the values underlying the game of Ultimate Frisbee to juvenile offenders under rehabilitation.

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How it all came about
The three founders of SIT Ultimate, Sharon Sim, Nicholas Yeo, and Muhd Irfaan, wanted to promote the sport of Ultimate Frisbee, while giving back to the community. Irfaan, who has been volunteering with the youth organisation Trybe since he was in secondary school, worked closely with Trybe and the Singapore Boys’ Hostel to organise the event.

Character-building through sports
Nicholas Yeo, one of the founders of SIT Ultimate and a final year UNLV student, explained that Ultimate Frisbee was a game of integrity, especially since there were no referees to ensure that the players followed the rules.

“As Ultimate players, we believe there are numerous valuable lessons in the sport of Ultimate Frisbee,” Irfaan added. “In our training, we have learnt the lessons of teamwork, discipline, integrity…motivation, as well as inspiration, which [was] the essence of what we wanted to share with as many people or boys in this case as possible.”

Nicholas also took the opportunity to observe how the youths from the boys’ hostel played the game after being taught the rules. He said that it was refreshing to see them play well without the presence of referees.

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Looking Back
Recounting the experience, Nicholas felt an immense sense of satisfaction. He was encouraged “to see that all [the] efforts paid off as everyone pulled together ... the laughter and joy and friendship.”

Irfaan found it to be a humbling experience. He said that the experience reminded him “to be grateful for whatever I have and that there is always something new for one to learn.” The volunteers and the boys may have started out as strangers, but as the day came to a close, Irfaan said that he could see “beautiful bonds" being formed.​

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“It was heart-warming to see the boys smiling with such fond memories of SIT students etched in their hearts,” Irfaan mused. “Even until today, when I drop by personally [at] the Boys’ Hostel, the boys actually remember me and they have been requesting for us to visit them again.”

“As Ultimate players, we believe there are numerous valuable lessons in the sport of Ultimate Frisbee [such as] the lessons of team-work, discipline, integrity, the art of motivation as well as inspiration.”

​​​Muhd Irfaan, SIT Ultimate co-founder​​​​​​​