It is not uncommon to hear the “You’ll Never Walk Alone” chants from the Liverpool faithful, or “Glory, Glory, Man United” from die-hard Manchester United fans, in Singapore, a country 10891 kilometres away from the home of the Premier League, England. Such widespread influence football has had around the world. Basketball, volleyball, rugby and many other sports have also witnessed exponential popularity growth over the years in Singapore. Schools often offer these sports as part of their Co-Curriculum Activities, further promoting these sports across generations.

Growing up a part of this generation, football played an integral role in shaping my life. Playing under the void deck, joining the school football CCA, waking up in the middle of the night to watch games, football has shaped and moulded me in ways I never expected it to. So, it felt natural for me to want to join the football interest group (IG) in Residential College 4 (RC4). Little did I know the treat in store for me.

I had just come back from an outing with friends, and was sitting in my level lounge, when my Residential Assistant walked in. We chatted, laughed, after which he invited me to join him to play dodgeball together with the dodgeball IG. I chuckled, turning down the opportunity,“Bro, dodgeball like throw ball only!” He had laughed it off and persisted that I give it a try I gave in and followed him, with little expectation of what the sport could offer. After all, it was just people throwing balls at each other. What real fun could come from that? Well, to the past me, all I can say is, you had absolutely no idea how fun dodgeball is.

My first session became two, two became three, and soon afterwards, I found myself a regular dodgeball IG attendee. It has completely taken over my life. I found myself looking forward to the next session, training harder, participating in inter-house games and inter-college games. My motivation to do better grew by the second, awakening a feeling in me I had only previously felt while playing football.

I was confused. I had placed football up on a pedestal, unfelled by any and every other sport, and dodgeball had come along and knocked it right off its perch. I implored myself, questioning the reasons behind such a drastic change, the rationale behind my infidelity to the sport that had literally shaped me. On one hand, I did not want to let dodgeball take over my love for football, but on the other, my love for dodgeball was growing day by day. And then it hit me - it wasn’t just the love for the sport itself, it was my love for the people.

When a person likes the experience of doing something, he craves more of it. He seeks out avenues to gain that experience, to feel the emotions he feels when doing that activity. What amplifies this experience is the environment he does it in, and that environment can make or break the person’s experience. Though my love for dodgeball started growing due to the competitive nature of the game, the thrill of throwing and dodging balls, and the feeling of accomplishment when winning sets, the factor that truly tied my heart down to the sport was the well-knit and lively community of individuals part of the IG itself.

Ranging from year 4 soon-to-be graduates to year 1 freshmen, IG sessions were always filled with fun and laughter. In those 2-3 hours of playing dodgeball, nothing about academics or university mattered. It was only me, the game, and the people I was surrounded by.

Seniors who were always open to help, friends who knew how to make light of every situation, and even alumni who took time out of their days to come down and train the juniors; everyone added their own flavour and spice to the cauldron of different personalities. The resulting product was a beautiful concoction of joyful moments, adrenaline filled incidents and pure elation. Be it hitting someone with the ball, getting hit by the ball or even comments made by others, every word said, every game played, and every action done that day included a touch of comedy that completely elevated my experience there. I found myself smiling more and laughing more, feeling all the lethargy of the day get defenestrated because of these sessions.

Cameron Loh Jun Wen, the vice-captain of RC4 dodgeball for AY24/25, looked back on his experience fondly when asked about what the interest group meant to him. “My experience in RC4 Dodgeball has been nothing short of amazing. From day one, I was warmly welcomed by seniors who made a conscious effort to balance fun and training. The strong mentorship culture stood out, with seniors personally guiding juniors, integrating them into the dodgeball family, and helping them grow as players.” Cameron led the junior team in the Inter-College Games 2025 and spearheaded them to a 4th place finish amongst 9 teams.

Reflecting on his responsibility, Cameron quipped that he was proud of what the junior team achieved and was grateful for the trust the team placed on him. When asked about what his favourite part about the dodgeball IG was, Cameron remarked, “My favourite thing about the IG is the nonsensical jokes and the culture of harmless fun that has been an integral part of the community. When life gets difficult, it feels good to turn off my brain and laugh at something stupid from time to time.”

Cameron speaks for not just me, but everyone in the dodgeball IG. More than just a group, the dodgeball IG has become a family. A family of individuals with varying backgrounds, personalities and majors who gather to just have a good time and stay fit. A family where nothing short of fun and laughter is accepted, but also a family that is ready to lend a helping hand to anyone who is in need. This sport has been one of the reasons why my stay in RC4 so far has been beyond spectacular and makes it clear why it’s more than just a sport; it’s my happiness.