How did the coach's meditation experience help the Thai youth soccer team?

At a gilded temple in the mountains of northern Thailand, Ekapol Chanthawong honed a skill that helped him when he was trapped in a cave: meditation. Before becoming a coach for the cave soccer team, Ekapol spent about 10 years as a monk. He often went to the temple to stay and meditate with monks, according toAP.

“My nephew can meditate for up to an hour,” said Ekapol’s aunt, Tham Chanthawong. “It definitely helps him and the kids stay calm.”

Indeed, Thai government spokesman Werachon Sukondhapatipak said the coach was a moral support for the team. He "advised them to lie down, try to meditate, not to move their bodies too much, not to waste energy. Of course, by meditating, the children will always be calm, not to think about anything else."

The Wild Boars team was formed three years ago to compete in provincial tournaments. Most of the players come from ethnic minorities and poor communities. Many of the boys have been playing since they were eight or nine. Ekapol, 25, waits for them to come to practice every day after school.

Thirteen days have passed since Ekapol and the other boys were trapped in the Tham Luang Nang Non cave. They were discovered on July 2 after nine days completely cut off from the outside world. Paul Auerbach, an expert at Stanford University, assessed that the children may be anxious, scared and feel hopeless.

However, videos released by special forces showed the team appeared to be in good spirits, smiling for the camera.

Experts say Ekapol's meditation method can be effective. "I think it's helpful - even if it's just as a way to make the kids feel like the coach is doing something to help them.
“Feeling loved and cared for is the most important thing for children,” said Michael Poulin, a psychology professor at the State University of New York.

Spiegel agrees that meditation can help those who are stuck manage their mental state, "allowing fearful and negative thoughts to pass like a storm rather than fighting against the fear."

The team also has some advantages: its youth and team spirit. "Teenagers like to interact with others, and having friends and a coach around makes them feel more secure," said Stanford University professor David Spiegel. The team is a close-knit group that has gone on many adventures together, including swimming in waterfalls, mountain biking, river rafting and cave exploring.

Aisha Wiboonrungrueng, the parent of one of the boys trapped in the cave, is sure that Ekapol's calm demeanor had an impact on the teenagers' mental state.

"Look at how they sat there waiting so calmly. None of the children were crying or whining. It was amazing," she said, referring to the moment the team were found by divers.