DSA 2024

[floppy]

skii\" post_id=\"2133877\" time=\"1715740677\" user_id=\"82603:

Ya.

I was just sharing a unique example which sounded interesting.

The dsa panel for that RI boy was good at spotting talent ! (Spirit of dsa exemplified)

Well. If you keen of interesting examples…

I know of people (in the DSA that just passed) who apply to DSA under Sports for a particular sport (talent area A) was counter offered with a CO in another sport (talent area B), as well as others who apply to DSA under STEM for a particular talent area was counter offered with a CO in another talent area (within the same category).

While these students didn’t apply to the super popular schools, I think it highlights that schools do have “some” leeway in deciding what to offer if they find you more suitable in other talent areas (within the same category).

[bbbay]

How do DSA selectors know the applicants are also talented in the counter offered talent area too? The applicants have also achieved awards in that counter offered area too? Or big talents can be spotted by just observing the applicants’ behaviours? I am intrigued by it and want to learn something.


Earlier a parent shared an example of applied for hurdle DSA and was offered javelin instead. Both are athletic but focus on different part of the body. How do the selectors know that child can throw very well too?

[zac's mum]

bbbay\" post_id=\"2133920\" time=\"1715813946\" user_id=\"175278:

How do DSA selectors know the applicants are also talented in the counter offered talent area too? The applicants have also achieved awards in that counter offered area too? Or big talents can be spotted by just observing the applicants’ behaviours? I am intrigued by it and want to learn something.

Earlier a parent shared an example of applied for hurdle DSA and was offered javelin instead. Both are athletic but focus on different part of the body. How do the selectors know that child can throw very well too?

From what i heard from a friend, at dsa track & field trials, the boys were asked to try all events (including both track, and field events) during the trial, regardless of which one they applied under.

[bbbay]

zac's mum\" post_id=\"2133922\" time=\"1715816501\" user_id=\"53606:[quote=\"zac's mum\" post_id=2133922 time=1715816501 user_id=53606]
From what i heard from a friend, at dsa track & field trials, the boys were asked to try all events (including both track, and field events) during the trial, regardless of which one they applied under.[/quote]

If a child has never achieved any awards before - not proven, like the case of offered javelin, how do the selectors know the child will surely shine just by observing the child throw a few times during trial? The selectors are very very good at talent spotting? Or is there proven pattern all experience coaches know?

[sharonkhoo]

bbbay\" post_id=\"2133923\" time=\"1715816898\" user_id=\"175278:

If a child has never achieved any awards before - not proven, like the case of offered javelin, how do the selectors know the child will surely shine just by observing the child throw a few times during trial? The selectors are very very good at talent spotting? Or is there proven pattern all experience coaches know?

A good coach in any field, be it sports, music, art, language etc, can often spot the underlying skills and talent even in untried and untrained youngsters. Among my circle, in general, those good in one sport will also have skills that translate well to other sports, even if they haven't had any training. Like high athleticism, hand-eye coordination, overall fitness, competitiveness, etc. Similarly with music, dance, tech, mind games etc. It takes an experienced and broad-minded coach to recognise the underlying skills needed in untrained individuals, though.

[bbbay]

slmkhoo\" post_id=\"2133924\" time=\"1715817821\" user_id=\"28674:

A good coach in any field, be it sports, music, art, language etc, can often spot the underlying skills and talent even in untried and untrained youngsters. Among my circle, in general, those good in one sport will also have skills that translate well to other sports, even if they haven't had any training. Like high athleticism, hand-eye coordination, overall fitness, competitiveness, etc. Similarly with music, dance, tech, mind games etc. It takes an experienced and broad-minded coach to recognise the underlying skills needed in untrained individuals, though.

For discussion sake: possess potential does not always translate to achievement.

If this is indeed the case, I would think DSA is also about spotting potentials too. Hmm… make sense.

[sharonkhoo]

bbbay\" post_id=\"2133925\" time=\"1715818255\" user_id=\"175278:

For discussion sake: possess potential does not always translate to achievement.

If this is indeed the case, I would think DSA is also about spotting potentials too. Hmm… make sense.

That is what it should be - looking for talent, not just what has been achieved by age 11! Not all kids have opportunities to be trained when in Pr school, and it would be foolish (as well as inequitable) to narrow talent spotting to only those who already have had the opportunities, especially for rarer sports like golf, or fencing, say.

As for the other qualities that lead to achievement, like grit and willingness to put in the hours on top of academics - that's where the interviews and other assessments come in. If the child is talented but disinterested, or unable to cope with the rest of the students (will likely lead to mental/emotional issues), there's little point in forcing the issue.

[floppy]

bbbay\" post_id=\"2133920\" time=\"1715813946\" user_id=\"175278:

How do DSA selectors know the applicants are also talented in the counter offered talent area too? The applicants have also achieved awards in that counter offered area too? Or big talents can be spotted by just observing the applicants’ behaviours? I am intrigued by it and want to learn something.

Earlier a parent shared an example of applied for hurdle DSA and was offered javelin instead. Both are athletic but focus on different part of the body. How do the selectors know that child can throw very well too?

Sports science.

Physical attributes are important considerations in sports. Typically, measurements will be taken from the DSA candidates, example height, weight, arm’s length, reach (from a standing position / jump), reaction speed etc and will form an important part of the overall assessment. The technical skills and actual skills are over hyped but generally not really that important during DSA (unless he / she is clearly a class above the rest). It’s impossible or not realistic to get a vertically challenged candidate to add 10cm to his / her height within the next year but it’s possible to pick up basic skills over a short period of time (unless totally no ball sense or positional sense).

Hence, in the case of a sprinter, not unusual for them to do hurdling, long jump, triple jump. If the kid has strong forearms, javelin is also possible.

[sharonkhoo]

floppy\" post_id=\"2133927\" time=\"1715819928\" user_id=\"97579:

Sports science.

Physical attributes are important considerations in sports. Typically, measurements will be taken from the DSA candidates, example height, weight, arm’s length, reach (from a standing position / jump), reaction speed etc and will form an important part of the overall assessment. The technical skills and actual skills are over hyped but generally not really that important during DSA. It’s impossible or not realistic to get a vertically challenged candidate to add 10cm to his / her height within the next year but it’s possible to pick up basic skills over a short period of time (unless totally no ball sense or positional sense).

Hence, in the case of a sprinter, not unusual for them to do hurdling, long jump, triple jump. If the kid has strong forearms, javelin is also possible.

Applies to dance, music etc too. Body shape, innate musicality, coordination, size of hands (for instrument playing) etc can be measured or discerned in untrained youth too. E.g., many band/orchestra players only pick up their instruments in sec school. Most pr school kids, if they learn an instrument at all, only learn piano or violin.

[bbbay]

So far I think all of us have been thinking in term of achievements when it comes to deciding DSA applications. Maybe we should also look at how to discover our children potentials and also how to let the schools notice them in our child too.