There was complete silence on the playground. It was the nail-biting finale of the 'Kabaddi' match and I was a part of the team of one of the Houses. The entire student body was supporting either of the two House teams. All around me I could see a sea of faces, anxious, excited, there was whispering, amidst a lot of nervous tension in the air. We players were full of confidence and bravado on the outside, while each one of us was a bundle of nerves inside! It was a tough match which needed a lot of grit, stamina and determination from us. We had to focus on not losing our nerve, play as a team, with great coordination and focus. What began in pin-drop silence ended in a deafening roar! There were tears and laughter all around, as our team won! There were either tears of frustration or joy, but one thing stood out quite clearly, even the losing team were satisfied at a match well-played! That's what comes out of the ultimate moments in all sports. In that moment, winning or losing takes a backseat, only the satisfaction of playing the game remains!
Despite being a very skinny and not-so-tough kid, I participated in as many sports and games that I could possibly manage or could actually play! I had to prove to myself and my teasing classmates and friends, that my weak exterior had a tough interior! And in that process, I learned some of the most invaluable lessons in life – I now see that those endless hours on the field, that never-say-die philosophy has stood me in good stead when real life came along with real problems! It enhanced my decision-making, concentration, ability to focus completely on the task at hand, taking criticism and rejection well, holding my own when surrounded by the 'bigger and better'! Even physically, I became tougher and stronger with athletics, learned quick reflexes and dexterity through badminton and table-tennis, learned to stretch myself beyond my pre-conceived limits in gymnastics, broke the gender biases in football, and so on! I will never forget the day when I decided to run the marathon which took us around our town, and eventually when I reached the school grounds, I saw that everyone else had finished a long time ago and I was the last, but I did not give up, and to the cheers of the entire school egging me on, I finished the final round! I stood last, but I was as proud as I would have been to win that race, because I had run the race knowing full well that it was beyond my physical capacity, but nonetheless I wanted to attempt to make it possible and win a few points for my House as well!
I am revealing so much (even the embarassing stuff!) about myself, to make the point that playing sports can be a total character-building experience. All that we learn within the boundaries of the classroom, can be put into practice on the playfield, and studies and sports together can really create a well-rounded (pun intended!) individual. Sports participation can bring about an appreciation of health and fitness, develop positive self-image, teach us to be team-players, develop social skills like taking turns and sharing, teach how to manage both success and disappointment, teach how to respect others' capabilities and talents, and all this while having fun! I have witnessed that sports builds character, teaches honesty, integrity and fair-play, discipline and sacrifice, hard work and perseverance, problem solving and communication skills, commitment and dedication towards a cause, all in all, a defence academy training and a MBA degree, rolled into one! And what experts have noted is that all these skills are also transferable beyond the sporting context, and can be put to good use in all kinds of domestic, corporate, workplace situations, and at any level of responsibility.
The reason for this article is my growing worry about the sports situation these days. If you would take a reality check right now, and think about how long your child/children spend playing sports (structured or unstructured) every day? Is it two hours or more, one hour or less, less than half an hour, an hour or two on weekends, or no sports activity whatsoever? Your answer will bring to light the condition of most kids today! If your answer is 'yes' to the first one, you are definitely one of the rare parent-child teams!
It is a fact that most children take to sports and games like a duck to water, so why is there such a great lacuna, a whole generation being kept away, being deprived of the benefits and value of sports? For centuries, sports have been used for enjoyment, physical activity and fitness. Why then this sudden decline of interest? The causes are numerous, but we will only go into that next week. I am convinced the answers lie with us. Meanwhile, do send me your own sports stories and experiences, and those of your children as well. Till then!
al mother-teacher, runs Life Express - an after-school center for children. She can be reached at juhimalini@gmail.com. She also writes 'Reflections of an inner Journey'
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