Developing basketball in schools in Nghe An

Excited training grounds

In recent years, basketball has become a sport that has attracted more and more students at all levels in the province to practice and compete. This is not only a playground for students to satisfy their passion but also helps them to exercise and improve their physical fitness. Through practicing and competing in basketball, students are also trained in the spirit of fair play and proper behavior. The above factors have affirmed the increasing appeal and attraction of basketball to students today.

Every afternoon, at the Cua Lo High School gym (Cua Lo town), students enthusiastically practice basketball. Nguyen Thao Linh - Grade 11 student said: "I am very happy to participate in basketball practice at school every afternoon after school. Since playing basketball, with the enthusiastic guidance of the seniors in the school's Basketball Club, I have become more agile and physically stronger."

Cua Lo High School Basketball Club was established in 2018, under the direction of the school's Board of Directors. In addition to nearly 40 members participating in regular activities, there are also many students from all grades in the school and students from grades 8 and 9 of some secondary schools in the town. After school in the afternoon, the Basketball Club members practice enthusiastically. Joining the Club, in addition to training together, sharing knowledge and skills in playing basketball, students also meet, exchange, and share joy in life as well as in studying. After more than 5 years of establishment, the Club has created a healthy sports playground, inspiring and spreading passion for basketball in the area.

Thai Gia Bao - Grade 12 student, member of the Board of Directors of Cua Lo High School Basketball Club said: "From 2020 to now, the Club has organized many exchange and competition activities with basketball clubs of districts and towns in the province, aiming to develop the movement in the town, attract more young people to basketball, contributing to building a stronger Club in the near future".

In Vinh city - the locality with the strongest basketball movement in the province, since 2012, secondary schools have included basketball in the physical education program as an optional subject. Coming to the gym of Ben Thuy Secondary School, you can see the basketball practice atmosphere in physical education classes is quite exciting. Tran Ha My - a student of Ben Thuy Secondary School shared: "Basketball class is one of the most awaited classes for us, because this is both a time for us to exercise and a way to relax to continue other classes more effectively."

Mr. Phan Kieu Dung - Principal of Ben Thuy Secondary School said: "To develop basketball, the school has invested in facilities, equipment, and arranged teachers to guide students in practicing. Not only do students love basketball, but teachers are also excited about this sport. Bringing basketball to school is a practical activity, contributing to promoting the sports movement among students, staff, teachers, and employees."

Exciting tournaments

From the development of basketball movement in schools, recently there have been many basketball tournaments for students in the province organized. In Vinh city, from 2013 to now, the Primary and Secondary School Basketball Tournament has been organized annually, each season attracting more than 20 teams, with over 300 athletes participating.

Mr. Le Truong Son - Deputy Head of the Department of Education and Training of Vinh City said: "The basketball tournament for secondary and primary school students of the city creates a useful playground, promoting the development of basketball in schools, aiming to improve physical strength, contributing to improving the quality of comprehensive education for students. From this tournament and the inclusion of basketball in the Phu Dong Sports Festival at all levels in the city, it has created a vibrant emulation movement in schools, from investing in training facilities to selecting competing teams, inviting coaches to guide...".

At the high school level, from 2015 to now, the Nghe An Open High School Basketball Tournament has been regularly organized by the Nghe An Amateur Basketball Association. Participating in the tournament, in addition to basketball teams from high schools in Vinh city, there are also teams from Hung Nguyen, Nghi Loc, Thanh Chuong, Quynh Luu districts and Nghi Xuan district (Ha Tinh).

Mr. Le Quoc Y - Chairman of Nghe An Amateur Basketball Association said: "The tournament is organized to enhance exchanges, connect students as well as connect the basketball training movement between high schools in Nghe An province and some schools in Ha Tinh province. In addition to this tournament, in recent years, Nghe An Amateur Basketball Association has also organized a number of basketball tournaments for student athletes such as: Vinh Summer Basketball Cup, Draft VBL9... Through the tournaments, a number of outstanding factors have been discovered to select for the Nghe An basketball team to participate in amateur tournaments nationwide".

Basketball has been and is a sport that is encouraged to develop in schools across the province. In addition to Vinh city, many other localities in the province have also begun to focus on expanding the basketball movement, considering it as a new fulcrum for school sports, typically Cua Lo town, Hung Nguyen, Nghi Loc, Dien Chau, Quynh Luu districts... and private schools.

Mr. Thuc Van Tai - specialist in charge of physical education, Department of General Education (Department of Education and Training).

Despite the investment and development, basketball in schools still faces many difficulties, mainly due to the lack of instructors. Along with that, there are still few basketball training grounds, mainly playgrounds invested by schools to develop the school movement. Therefore, this sport has only developed strongly in Vinh city and has not really spread to other localities.

Therefore, according to Mr. Thuc Van Tai - specialist in charge of physical education, General Education Department (Department of Education and Training), to further develop basketball in schools, schools need to proactively build basketball clubs, prepare to participate in tournaments during the school year, as well as aim for the Phu Dong Sports Festival at all levels, because basketball is expected to be included in the competition program of the Phu Dong Sports Festival at all levels. Along with that, localities as well as schools also need to promote the socialization of organizing classes, training courses, and coaching for students, as well as mobilize resources to organize more tournaments, thereby continuing to "keep the fire" to develop the movement and improve the quality of physical education.