Six years after finishing as runners-up in their inaugural tournament, the faculty basketball team at Xianning Qinglin School secured the Group A championship at the 2026 Xian’an District Education System Bank of Communications Cup men’s basketball tournament, Jimu News reported.
One Month of Intensive Training Before the Tournament
To prepare for the district competition, Qinglin School organized a month-long training camp ahead of the tournament schedule. The roster draws faculty members from the school’s primary, middle, and high school divisions who maintain regular teaching and administrative schedules during the academic term. Teachers from the primary and middle school sections attended practices during evening hours after finishing their classes, while high school faculty adjusted their workloads to make it to the court.
The team maintained a fixed schedule of ninety-minute daily practice sessions throughout the preparation period. Training continued through holidays as well. Several teachers who hail from outside the local area chose to remain at the school rather than travel home for family gatherings, staying behind to preserve their physical conditioning and team rhythm.
Coach Zhang Tao Cites Teaching Workloads and Player Injuries
Organizers and players faced several logistical hurdles during the build-up, including team integration, physical endurance building, and player injuries.
Everyone carries heavy teaching workloads, so practice times required mutual coordination, while team chemistry and player injuries presented real difficulties,
said coach Zhang Tao, who has overseen the squad’s training and management since its inception six years ago.
Reflecting on the team’s trajectory, Zhang noted that the school entered the Xian’an District faculty basketball competition several years ago, claiming second place in its first appearance. With backing from school administration, the program refined its roster management and built competitive experience before stringing together three successive tournament victories.
Despite securing a third straight title, Zhang maintained a measured assessment of the squad’s performance. This year’s tournament path was quite bumpy, and the team still has many shortcomings that need continued improvement going forward,
Zhang said.
Campus Sports Integration Beyond the Faculty Squad
Basketball activities at Qinglin School extend past the staff roster. The high school division operates a student basketball team, and faculty players regularly schedule friendly matches against the student squad. These games give students practical game experience to develop their basketball skills while supporting campus athletics.
Alongside basketball, the school develops specialized sports programs. Xianning Qinglin School holds designations as a national-level football specialty school and a Hubei provincial swimming specialty school, establishing football and swimming as core components of its athletic curriculum.
National education authorities have emphasized expanded physical education frameworks in recent years. Guidelines issued by the Ministry of Education alongside four other departments outline targets for student physical fitness, urging schools to provide at least two hours of daily comprehensive physical activity and encouraging widespread participation in football, basketball, and volleyball.
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