Re-framing Success in a Time of Challenge for Sport Rich Molloy, Cross Campus Head of Sport
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ith lockdown 3.0 in full swing, organised sport continues to take a back seat to ensure the safety, well being and general health of our community in Bangkok. Many of our students, as well as parents, will look back with a mixture of frustration and disappointment from a year where they missed out on so many of the normal sporting opportunities.
MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE Within our community, every person has challenges – externally visible or not. It is impossible to know what each individual around you is going through, and even tougher to relate to them when you do. What the pandemic has undoubtably shown though, is that as individuals we must choose how to view each situation. Reflecting on the year that has been, we can look for the issues or we can see the environmental regeneration worldwide or the increased family interaction. Recognise that good will have come out of this time for everyone.
This academic year has been like no other, beginning with uncertainty in August - no way of knowing whether inter-school sport would return to the agenda. Season 2 was cut short as well following the January closure, before the final week of Season 3 was lost for our Under 11, UnHow you view your narder 13, Under 15 teams this time around. rative is the key. Taking reSport is full of success and failures. Our seasons are of- sponsibility for focussing ten defined by going to trials, making the team, winning the on how you interpret your match, winning the tournament and being the MVP. In re- situation and results. This ality, very few students will manage to complete even half notion transcends sport and of these outcomes. In reality, the struggle to accomplish is essential across our daily them, the getting up and trying again, the extra training lives, from minor frustrations needed- these are the keys to success. Our students learn to life changing events. The hand being dealt to many more in the process than any trophy will ever achieve. around the world has been Elite sport, as well as school sport, is littered with set- significantly worse than ours backs and missed opportunities. The tools to manage and yet many are still smilthese feelings are key and setting goals is a great starting ing, still helping others, still point. But there are a whole host more options which we developing the Patana core principles, embracing every as coaches, parents and athletes can do to keep getting opportunity and framing their own success. better day by day. As trivial as the lost events of this year may seem, our cancelled tournaments have been a real disappointment to many. As with everything, our student athletes have a choice to make. Equipping them with the skills necessary to be responsible for their reactions are key to empowering them into ownership of their journey through sport, and life. YOU ARE NOT A SPORT At this time more than any, it is essential that our young athletes understand that their sporting achievement does not make them a better or worse person. It does not change how much they are loved, or how popular they will be. Many of the most sport-centric students will be feeling a little lost, like they are missing something, and it can be difficult to keep everything in perspective. We must
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Bangkok Patana School News
04/06/2021