Dear Chinthes,

Athletics has ramped up again at ISY. On the weekend our ISY footballers played in the Yangon Citywide Invitational Football Tournament. As well as that, this week we had middle school volleyball and high school football matches. Please read the below Middle and High School Athletics sections for a report on these matches. ISY likes athletics because it seems we are playing even more matches next week as the respective Yangon Athletic League sports near the end of their seasons. Please also read the Upcoming Athletic Events section for all the information on upcoming athletics at ISY.

Middle School Athletics

On Wednesday the ISY middle school girls and boys volleyball A and development teams played ILBC International School. ILBC were able to bring two girls and boys teams to play our middle school squads. 

In the A girls’ game the team started off very strong with serves going in, lots of calling “Mine” and more movement then in previous matches. ILBC came on strong the next two sets winning some exciting and close matches. ISY were not able to win this one losing 1-2.

Next was the development team, both teams swapped points back and forth through both sets with ILBC getting just a few more serves in than ISY. This was the development team’s first chance on the court this year but showed signs of skills needed to play the game. They will only get better as they progress through middle school.

The boys teams had slightly different fortunes. Again on paper the ISY boys team looks like the better team but we play the matches because things don’t always go to plan. However in this case they did. The first few points were exchanged with the scores remaining relatively even until ISY were able to edge out a lead and then extend it through the first set. Eventually winning comfortably. The second set followed the same script with ISY comfortably winning the set and the match, 2-0. 

The development team followed on from the A team. They exchanged points early on and then worked on a lead and then didn’t give it up, winning the match 2-0.

The next match is tonight against the International School Myanmar. Unfortunately ISM will not travel with a development side and this game will just be for the A sides. 

SEASAC Golf

SEASAC Information

SEASAC Golf

This week ISY has a girls and boys golf team competing at the SEASAC golf tournament. 

Day one, Wednesday, was a huge success! Students were matched up with a fellow ISY student and competed in a Texas scramble event. “They all played quite well and I can honestly say I have not seen them happier than when they arrived back at the club house. All were smiling and proclaimed how much fun they had,” said Coach Stuart. As this was a fun event the scores have not been posted. The day was topped off with a welcome dinner and a Kahoot! challenge.

Day two marked the first day of tournament play. Each ISY student was grouped with three students from different schools and counted scores individually. “There was some great play from all,” said Coach Stuart, “and I once again saw lots of smiling faces upon return to the clubhouse. Some were determined to play better tomorrow and were immediately at the range hitting balls. All admitted it was a great day despite the intense heat.” Day three kicks off early tomorrow morning and will finish up around noon with lunch and awards. 

We look forward to welcoming our golfers home this evening.

What is SEASAC?
The Southeast Asian Student Activities Conference is the athletics and activities conference that ISY belongs to outside of Myanmar. Each year ISY sends students to athletic, Model United Nations conferences and arts festivals. These events are a very valuable opportunity for our students to connect with other like minded students across Southeast Asia. This section in the Athletics and Activities blog will outline some of the important information and general happenings around SEASAC events.

SEASAC Dates:
SEASAC Golf @ Bangkok Patana School, November 22, 23, 24

YAC Football

High School Athletics

Football

It has been a very busy week for the high school football teams. From Friday to Friday the teams would have played four matches. 

Last Friday ISY traveled to South Dagon field to play ILBC International School. When matches are at South Dagon they are usually a more open and free flowing style of football.

In the girls fixture ISY was without their regular goalie. However spirits were up as they started the match. Unfortunately the girls would find themselves 0-1 down early on. But if you thought this would cause our girls to drop their heads you would be mistaken. ISY showed a lot of fight and scored the equalizer within five minutes! This brought the scores level at 1-1. The girls played really well in the open spaces. They also shut down the main threats in the opposition. But, sport can be a fickle friend, and ILBC were able to score a goal late in the second half to win the game. The scores would end at 1-2.

The boys team were also in action at the same time as the girls. They also enjoyed the open space and were able to show their class and skill. ISY played very good football, dominating most of the game. The ILBC effort was commendable and they fought hard, but ISY were better. The boys would end up winning 5-0.

Next on the schedule was Tuesday’s game versus International School Myanmar at ISM. The ISM pitch is a bit smaller than our ISY field so this brings in different tactics. This size field brings the keeper and goal kicks in as an attacking option. And in the same breath they can never relax. This would mean that for both games, the keeper’s work is never done. 

The boys played first. ISY dominated most of the game. Having several on target shots. ISY would win 4-0 at fulltime. Two of the four goals were very well constructed with lots of short passing and interplay. The other two were the exact opposite of each other, a superbly struck volley and an own goal error from a throw in.

The girls then played in an even match. The scores were locked at 0-0 for most of the game. That is, until one of the ISM players scored a goal with the best free kick that I have ever seen live. The kick curled around the wall and went in through the top left corner of the goal. Sometimes it just takes a single bit of skill to undo all your hard work. The score remained 0-1 at full time.

On Thursday ISM came to ISY for the second leg. The teams were excited to play in front of a home crowd. The girls match started the evening games off.

The girls were a bit flat in the first half but were able to hold out ISM to be 0-0 at half time. Things changed dramatically in the second half for good and bad. ISY pushed forward more in the second half and piled a lot of pressure on the ISM defensive line and goalie. Unfortunately at the other end ISM were able to take their chance on a goalmouth scramble and popped the ball in the net. No keeper would have been able to defend that goal so ISY found themselves 0-1 down. However, our ISY girls are fighters and they never give up! They pushed hard at the ISM defense time and again right through the second half. The game was not decided until right at the end when an ISM player smashes a volley shot from close to halfway to score another great goal. This was a disappointing result for ISY but there are a lot of things to take from it. 

The boys would then play next. They boys enjoy playing at home but ISM were here to spoil the party by scoring first! This would not be a sign of things to come however, as ISY started to turn possession into goals. ISY gained the lead in the first half and would not give up the pressure until the final whistle. The boys would win 5-1.

Both the girls and boys teams have another home match against ILBC on the ISY field this afternoon. The game will start at 3:30 PM.

Community Sport

Tonight and the following Fridays, there will be community football. This will start at 6:00 PM and is available for ISY community members. Parents, students, staff and alumni are all welcome. 

Another popular community sport restarting is touch rugby. This will be on Thursday evenings at 5:30 PM. This is also for parents, students, staff and alumni. 

If you are interested in playing either of these community sports please come along at the given day and time and you will be welcomed.

.

After School Activities 

Thank you to all the teachers, parents, student leaders and outside helpers that have provided a wide range of activities for our students. I think there was something for everyone to try, make a difference and have fun. Also, thank you to the students that have given something new a go or continued with something they love.
The next session will start on January 29. In January, please look out for information about how to sign up and what activities are on offer in this blog as well as the Principals’ blogs and the “Friday Notices” that are sent out by email.

ISY Sports Broadcasting

Last year a sports broadcasting club was started at ISY. They were able to cover some of our high school basketball games with great success. They produced a very professionally polished product.
This year they will cover our high school athletics for the whole year. If you are interested in this please follow the link below and this will lead you to the group’s Youtube page. So far the group has covered two high school volleyball games and some of the high school basketball games from last year.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIzBh86SGxeV22RG6ZHYW2g

Swim Team

Here are the training times for our elementary, middle and high school swim teams.

ES Swim Team:
Monday, Wednesday and Friday 2:20-3:20 PM

MS and HS Swim Team:
Monday, Wednesday and Friday 3:30-5:00 PM
Tuesday and Thursday 6:45-7:45 AM

Questions or More Information

As always, if you have any questions about what is in this blog or anything else that you may think of related to activities or athletics please feel free to contact me at:

josullivan@isyedu.org

Kindest regards,

Mr. Jonathan O’Sullivan

Blogs
Secondary School
Elementary School
Athletics & Community Education
Service Learning
Global