Building active communities through sport and games

At one side where the cultural and creative facet of Atmiya Vidya Mandir is flourishing red and pink at its pick through house activities and Creative assemblies , on the other side physical activities and health fitness are taken care of through sports and games. It was trailed as a sporting celebration of football bonanza over creative assemblies: The inter school football tournament was organized at Atmiya Vidya Mandir. Interestingly, despite the occasional downpour which was discouraging at fullest, AVM evidently hosted the event quite efficiently and successfully. Youngsters from around the Surat region learned about the importance of team work and fair play at a five-a-side football tournament last week. The free event was held at Atmiya Vidya Mandir’s huge play grounds.

Football is a very popular game among the school children. Part of its popularity may be its simple rules and the large field and for AVM students….part of its popularity may stem from the fact that a slight drizzle adds fun to the game and an excuse to get wet. Students display amazing ball control, dexterity and other skills with the ball, during this Annual Inter-School Competition termed as The Subrato Cup Interschool Football Tournament. In which five schools of Surat region participated, two revolutionary teams going head to head on the football pitch, just days after creative uprisings topple rain-bound passivity.

Subrato Cup Football Competition
The football event was in two categories, Under 14 and Under 17

Under 14:
8 teams participated.

1ST .SEMIFINAL:-SWAMINARYAN MISSION V/S VALMIKI VIDYALAYA

2ND SEMIFINAL: - ESSAR INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL V/S P.P SAVANI

WINNER TEAM:- ESSAR INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

Under 17:

10 Teams participated.

1ST .SEMIFINAL:-ESSAR INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL V/S VALMIKI VIDYALAYA

2ND SEMIFINAL: - ATMIYA VIDYA MANDIR V/S P.P SAVANI

FINAL: - P.P SAVANI V/S ESSAR INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

WINNER TEAM:- P.P SAVANI

AVM won the first knock out round against Ryan International School but lost against PP Savani School in the second round who were the eventual winners of the tournament. It ended with unprecedented excitement and many learning experiences. The match — between VALMIKI VIDYALAYA and ESSAR INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL kicked off in a festive atmosphere.

The thrilling game has promised to return stability to the academics, but in the aftermath of this tournament students are believed to win the other tournament too ….which was Inter House Table Tennis Tournament…..There were more than three groups in the Table Tennis set, junior and senior group but in house wise team.. Junior group for classes 6 and 7, and senior group for classes 8 to11. The school Table Tennis set practiced and played on four tables at the old hostel building. The inter-house Table Tennis trophy is awarded each year to the winner of the inter house Table Tennis Championship.

But as the game entered stoppage time with Satyam and Suhradam house students trailing 5-4 on aggregate and facing elimination from the competition, supporters of the house began pouring on to the place in droves, supporting their respective house player.

Watching children at play sometimes, one can see that teamwork does act as a natural condition . Teamwork must be learnt, and to be learnt, teamwork is stressed from the very first day of practice of games and Sports at Atmiya Vidya Mandir. Discipline is even more important. Participation in all athletic endeavors demand a lot of discipline, and this is something for which many young players are well prepared.The free event saw approximately 50 children - aged between 14 to 17 years old - entering a mini league.

May not be the winning but the importance of sports and games in school encompasses more than just the benefit of physical activity. Increases in self-esteem and mental alertness make school sports and games necessary for every school age child.

The evidence supporting sports participation for AVM students is overwhelming.

“It has the power to combat everything from low marks to low self-image, to the high-level energy drop-out rate." (Sue Castle, Executive Producer of PBS Sports: Get in the Game)