Be like Chris: Jump into the Action at Sports Week in Buriram Pitthayakhom (BP) School

Sports Week at Buriram Pitthayakhom (BP) School proved to be a great success.

For those of us who teach in Thailand through the BFITS Program, moments like this go far beyond the classroom. Teaching abroad is not just about lessons and exams. It is about immersing yourself in school life, culture, and community events that bring everyone together in the most energetic and meaningful ways.

A Lifelong Love for Sports

When I was much younger and at school myself, I was quite the accomplished sportsman. That is to say, I had a great interest in sports, one that endures to this day, and because of that interest, I participated in many different games during my school years. I played all the usual stuff, football (or soccer, for our North American friends), badminton, some tennis, and even a bit of golf.

In Ireland, where I grew up, we have indigenous sports that are played under the umbrella of the GAA (Gaelic Athletic Association), and these sports, Gaelic football and hurling, are played throughout the country by almost everybody at some point in their youth and adolescence. I also took part as part of the country I am from, which is quite adept at hurling in particular.

Returning to the Field Once Again

As I got older and life got in the way, my sporting endeavors took a back seat, and I regretted this as I felt it was detrimental to my physical health in particular. I’ve always felt that sport was important in life, and although I understand that quite a large number of people have no interest in it whatsoever as they pursue other hobbies (music, literature, art), I did not fall into this category. To me, it was intrinsic to my happiness, and I still watch it whenever I can.

Well, last week at the annual Sports Week of Buriram Pitthayakhom School, I got to lace up my boots again (figuratively) and happily and excitedly take part in some of the many games being played between teachers and students.

Four Days of Energy, Competition, and Fun

Our Sports Week began on Tuesday, 3rd September, and continued over 4 days until Friday, 6th September. It would encompass many different games and activities and would greatly benefit both students and teachers, as it would take the focus and pressure off the academic side of things for this period.

The first game I participated in was Petong. I had never played before, but it is basically like lawn bowling, but played on rougher terrain. For a complete amateur, I displayed a decent skill level and was happy enough with my own performance, but alas, my team was defeated by superior opposition. There was a healthy competitive spirit to the proceedings, a spirit that would carry over into all the games that were to follow.

Why Sports Week Matters for Students

So why have a sports week in the first place? What are the potential benefits, and is it just a distraction from the serious academic stuff? The benefits are manifold and, in my opinion, increasingly important in an age when a generation of students spends so much time on phones and other devices.

Apart from the obvious benefits of physical activity, participating in sports can foster personal growth and positive well-being. The mental ‘push’ it can generate can sometimes outweigh the physical benefits, as it is surely good for anybody’s self-esteem to take part and, indeed, maybe even do well at a particular game.

Teenagers can face various stresses in their daily lives, including the pressure to conform, exacerbated by the constant stream of influencers on ever-expanding social media platforms. There are academic pressures as well as the pressure of personal expectations. It has been proven that sports can positively affect a person’s mood, as physical activity releases endorphins in the brain, known mood improvers and stress reducers.

Building Community Through Sports

I strongly believe that participating in a truly whole-school event such as this can help foster a great spirit among the school community. This can lead to friendly relationships being established between students and teachers. I played games with teachers I had never formally met before and, through a shared love of sport, found that we had many other things in common.

Also, by participating in sports, an individual can develop leadership skills that they can then apply in other aspects of their lives. There is a positive correlation between sports and academic achievement, dispelling the notion that sports can be a distraction.

A Memorable Match with Fellow Teachers

On Thursday, I played a game of six-a-side football against a team of Thai teachers. My own team was made up of various teachers from the Foreign Language Department, and I am going to name-check those heroes here who agreed to play and absolutely ran themselves into the ground with me as we tried to secure the win.

So a big shout-out to teachers Charles, Ronan, James, Dan, and Joe, who, along with me, played their part in a memorable game which we were unlucky to finish on the wrong side of. Even my best Messi impression couldn’t save this particular day, but again, the fun we had and the memories from the game itself were worth more than the actual victory. And the school still gave us medals, so we all went home happy!

We tried to give the impression we were bossing the game, despite massive evidence to the contrary.

Encouraging Healthy Habits and Lifestyles

Another positive aspect of active participation in sports is that teenagers are more likely to adopt healthy dietary and lifestyle habits. Anecdotally and statistically, students who play sports are less likely to smoke, to use drugs, or to take part in binge-drinking. Another reason to encourage it.

Our sports week was a great advertisement for the benefits of getting together, playing sports, and generally enjoying each other’s company. It helped foster great camaraderie among the entire school community.

A Colorful Parade Through Buriram

The final day began with a school parade through the streets of Buriram. The costumes on display were nothing short of fabulous, and we all marched accompanied by the school band, which put on a great musical performance.

From my experience here, we usually do this twice a year—at the end of sports week and during Loy Krathong.

Closing Celebrations and Performances

After we returned from our parade, there was to be a final day of performances by various student groups, and there was a real sense of the end of a festival at the school.

By now, everybody was pretty physically tired, but they gave it one last push to make sure the closing day was as successful as all the others.

More Than Just a Week of Sports in Thailand

All in all, our sports week was a tremendous success, and by Friday evening, we all departed for home, tired but thankful for the week that had just been. I think events like this are important in a school calendar. It’s nice to get out of the classroom sometimes and to unwind like this before focusing again on the upcoming final exams for the term.

I’ve already spoken about the many different benefits that I believe sport brings to growing teenagers, both physical and mental. Adolescent sports participation lays a solid foundation for a bright and prosperous future and helps mould teenagers into well-rounded individuals who are ready to tackle the challenges of adulthood with confidence and competence.

I truly believe that all of this was very well represented during the sports week we just had in Buriram, and I will certainly make a point of actively engaging more in sports around the school whenever I see students playing, be it basketball, football, or whatever. I lost both games I played a part in, but I had a blast with old friends and new ones, and this is what I take from the week as a whole.

Chris,
Buriram Pitthayakhom (BP) School