Basketball in Nghe An expands its playing field to schools.
From tournaments that were once concentrated mainly in the old city of Vinh, school basketball in Nghe An is gradually expanding to many schools, areas, and age groups. Competition clusters, 3x3 tournaments, and club activities are helping more and more students have the opportunity to participate in this sport.
A playground for physical training and teamwork.
In early 2026, the Dien Chau 3 High School basketball court will welcome 7 boys' teams participating in the 4th Dien Chau High School Basketball Tournament. In addition to schools in the Dien Chau area, the tournament will also feature teams from Quynh Luu 1 High School and Tan Ky High School.
After the 5x5 matches, Quynh Luu 1 High School won the championship, Tan Ky High School came in second; Dien Chau 2 High School and Nguyen Xuan On High School shared third place.
Although not large in scale, the fact that the tournament has been held for four seasons shows that basketball is gradually establishing itself in student sports activities. To participate in the tournament, teams must recruit players, arrange training time after school, prepare uniforms, and arrange transportation.
For many students, this is also an opportunity to move away from familiar school football matches and meet new opponents, getting acquainted with the atmosphere of competition with rules, referees, and the pressure of results.
Nguyen Bao Nam, a player from Quynh Luu 1 High School, shared: “Normally, we mainly practice and compete within the school. When there's a tournament, the team gets to meet many opponents, learn what skills we need to improve, and gain more motivation to practice. Each team has a different playing style, so whether we win or lose, we all learn a lot.”
According to Mr. Ngo Sy Nhan, a physical education teacher at Nguyen Xuan On High School, basketball combines endurance, speed, and dexterity, making it a valuable form of comprehensive training. Students are also usually more enthusiastic when they are divided into teams and compete.
"However, the children need guidance on techniques appropriate for their age, especially landing, impact movements, and how to distribute training intensity," Coach Nhan said.
According to Mr. Thuc Van Tai, the physical education officer of the Secondary Education Department of the Department of Education and Training, not all students enjoy football, volleyball, or track and field. Adding basketball helps schools diversify physical education activities and provides more options for exercise after school.
When a school forms a club or team, the practice field isn't just for students participating in competitions. From regular practice sessions and friendly matches between classes and the school to cheerleading activities, basketball also creates a space for social interaction in school life.
"Basketball is a team sport, suitable for the age group and conducive to forming clubs. If well organized, this sport will contribute to diversifying the content of physical education in schools."
Mr. Thuc Van Tai - Officer in charge of physical education at the Secondary Education Department, Department of Education and Training.
The playing field is expanding.
School basketball in Nghe An has been established for many years, with the former Vinh city being the area with the most prominent movement. Some schools have included basketball as an optional physical education program, while also maintaining tournaments for primary, secondary, and high school students.
A notable development in recent years is the gradual expansion of the playing field beyond the central area. In 2026, the Nghe An High School Basketball Tournament for the April 30th Cup will expand to include a competition cluster in Northern Nghe An, making it easier for schools in more remote areas to participate. Organizing the tournament in clusters also reduces travel pressure and provides additional motivation for schools to build and maintain their teams.
Along with the expansion of geographical areas, the forms of competition have also become more diverse. Besides 5x5 basketball, many 3x3 tournaments for junior high school students and youth age groups have been organized. In 2026, the Nghe An Junior High School 3x3 Basketball Tournament and the Nghe An 3x3 Basketball Youth Cup will continue to attract teams from many schools.
With the advantages of requiring only half a court, fewer players, and shorter match times, 3x3 is suitable for many schools that lack large teams or sufficient playing fields. It also provides more students with the opportunity to participate in competitions without requiring a large-scale organizational structure.
In addition to school-based tournaments, community basketball courts also contribute to maintaining a social environment for players after they leave school. Through this, school basketball gains further connections with clubs and movements outside of school.
However, the increase in the number of tournaments does not necessarily mean that the movement has developed evenly. Fields, coaches, and funding remain obstacles in many schools. Many teams currently rely primarily on the enthusiasm of students, teachers, parents, and alumni.
Therefore, along with expanding competition venues, it is even more essential to create opportunities for regular training, with technical guidance and consistent support from the school. When clubs are maintained regularly, the tournament truly becomes the culmination of a training process, rather than just a seasonal activity.