Basketball Team-Personal Narrative

We walked together to the field, the spikes on the bottom of my cleats clicking with each step on the parking lot pavement. A huge field with onlookers filling the bleachers on the far side came into view, lit up by the soft evening light. I spotted the girls on my team and my tired looking grey-haired coach. Me and my dad split up, me going to warm up with my team and my dad going to sit with the team parents. As I was passing with my teammates I watched the opposing team carefully. I observed how neat their drills were and how accurate their shots and passes were. They all looked so athletic and that really made me doubt myself. How was I supposed to prove to everyone that I was a good player if I had to play against a team this good? What if I mess up and the other team completely destroys my team? The loud buzzer that ended the warm ups sounded and both teams went to their side of the field. My coach called today’s starters out, and luckily he didn’t choose me. Relieved, I went to go sit on one of the hard metal chairs they provided for the teams on the sidelines. The chairs were uncomfortable but that didn’t bother me. I had other things on my mind. I sat shivering watching the events of the game

Every year I play for a baseball team but for some reason this season was more special than all the other years that I have played. My team was full of all different kinds of people like kids who took the game to serious, kids who were really funny, kids who were really shy, and many other people, also there was my coach, he was a good guy but he really serious about the game and if you did something bad he would get really heated. My team was really good that we made the state tournament with other really good teams. We played really hard and the tournament was two game elimination, and we only lost one game. After working really hard we made the championship game.

The day was October 8th, 2014. I hardly played. One school day, my 5th teacher, Ms. Smit said, “flyers for the basketball team on the table” ordinarily I took one. Kids from 4th, 5th, and 6th grade came to try out for the team. After tryouts, a paper next to the nurse's office was hung up. The paper sheet named those who had made the team. Surprisingly, I made the team, most likely from my height. I felt like I shouldn’t have made the team. At the time, I barely started to play basketball. I went to the practices at school and tried to make myself a little bit better, since a tournament was about to begin in a few weeks.

Our 8th grade basketball team were putting on a show! Opponents would enter bobcat territory where our team would play a hard fight to take another win. Every game spectators are left in astonishment after witnessing determination, willingness, and our spirit until the clock expires down to its last second.

It was the middle of October of 2013. In the south, this is a great time of the year, its called football season. It was a pretty big year for the Mobile Christian Leopards football team, as this was the year that we were supposed to go the 2A championship. It also was a big year for me as well, as I was senior and sat out my junior year. I was in great spirits that year. Unfortunately, this turned out to be a bad year for me.

I was competing for a spot with girls I had never even seen before, and even worse: I had no idea what they were capable of. Tryouts gave me the same rush of adrenaline I felt during my first performance. As much as I loved the feeling, I was terrified of it all at once. Once I made my first impression on the judges, it was time for the waiting game. It took a solid three weeks until I got my letter in the mail that held my future cheer sealed inside. To my delight once more, the contents of the letter were more than exciting. “Congratulations! You are invited to cheer on Saint Francis Junior Varsity Cheerleading!” stated the letter in big bold block letters. The season flew by faster than the speed of light, and before I knew it I was feeling the adrenaline rush again inside the sticky, hot gym. I put my spot on the squad in jeopardy by going for the varsity squad as a junior, which was something very risky because the seniors always got selected above a junior. Taking this risk was something I would have never done, as I used to always play it safe. An upperclassman I had confided in when I met her during my basketball season watched my tryout from outside the window looking into the gym, and she said I had killed it, and the letter I received that April reflected that. I was one of two juniors cheering on the football squad of all seniors.

I grew up as an older sibiling who really had no one to express myself with. There are kids who live in secluded areas or just don't have the social skills to find other friends. Organized activites changed my perspective as a young child on how to actually have fun with my other peers. I personally liked playing basketball and was quite decent at the sport, I quickly developed friends who enjoyed the sport as much as I did. After awhile I started hanging out with a variety of different kids who were mutual friends between my friends and I.

I do believe that it is very important to be involved with not only your school but also

“Friday night games with huge crowds. That atmosphere is hard to beat.” Senior Hunter Martin is playing through his fourth and final year on the Varsity basketball team. For two years in a row, he has been the starting foward. “Basketball hasn’t always been easy but I’m really glad I stuck through it all four years,” Martin said. Looking back on his accomplishments, Martin said that his favorite memory was was win the team won districts his sophomore year. “Nothing can compare to that moment of celebrating with my team.”

One morning during practice, my coach approached and requested that I play the point guard position for the upcoming tournament in place of my friend who was unable to participate due to a sprained ankle. Initially, I was very apprehensive about taking this position as they held the crucial responsibility of constantly assessing the situation and determining the best course of action for the team to take. Unsurprisingly, my performance during this first practice was disastrous due to my lack of experience. However, despite my initial failure, I did not remain discouraged for long. I began examining the habits of the varsity point guards during practice and accepted constructive criticism from my teammates to help improve my results. Eventually,

Going into the start of the basketball season, I was ecstatic to finally bring the ball down the court as a varsity point guard, but my joy quickly turned to frustration when my role changed. I worked hard every single day in order to earn a position in that starting five; I put in extra effort before and during the season. After a few games, my hard work seemed to be insignificant because my playing time started to be cut. As time went on, I played on the court less and less until finally I didn’t play at all. Gretchen Wald, the power forward, received less playing time as well. We were both confused and frustrated. Despite the dissatisfaction, Gretchen encouraged me to continue to work hard and stay positive. She always kept a smile on my face during practice and games. Also, I would find notes in my locker from her that encouraged me to keep fighting through the difficult season. During games I would look at the other girls with jealousy because I longed to play the game I loved again, yet Gretchen still found ways to make me laugh throughout the game. Among the many people who have touched my life significantly, Gretchen Wald stands out. Although basketball season was filled with disappointments, I learned that friendships and a positive attitude can make a situation

It has been three days since the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards began and I'm still surviving behind the facade. I created this entity because I wasn't comfortable with new people or breaking of my comfort zone. I have never been away from home and surrounded by 99 strangers before. To other campers, I'm sassy and love the Kardashians. I would crack jokes and try to get by. Behind the facade, I was frightened and refused to leave my comfort zone. I refused to utilize the opportunity. I just wanted to get the camp over with. I never fit in with straight guys so I never bothered to interact with the guys. The girls loved the facade and at that point, I did as well. It was the only thing that kept me safe and made me feel strong. On the fourth

Hmm… It’s sunny outside and it’s clear. There is a volleyball net out the right side of the window. In the distance there is a garbage can sitting in the parking lot. The basketball goals standing tall in the sun light. It’s very nice outside and a beautiful day. There's a slightly dark blue bench sitting in the dusk.

Playing basketball in elementary was always fun in P.E. but it was something that I wanted to do against real competition and not the crazy kids everyday kids in P.E. class. I first tried out for my elementary basketball team in the third grade which was the minimum grade they allowed kids to play basketball. Even though I was very shorter and smaller than the other kids I luckily made the team and it made me very happy. One day I gave my opinion to the coach regarding bettering the team thinking I could be very helpful. Unfortunately, he didn’t think so and thought I was insulting his knowledge about the game which they started a series of disagreements throughout the season. Eventually he put me off the team that year and every year afterwards. After being put off the team I told myself I would just do as the coach says even though I knew that I was right. A year past and I eventually tried out for my middle school team. I made the team and It was a whole different experience for me. I bettered myself throughout those years and carried my love of basketball into my high school years.

One rainy night in November, I arrived to the church gym for my first basketball practice of the season. As I walked in the doors creaked and you could smell the gym floor. As I already heard the basketballs hitting the ground, bouncing up and down. My friends Brittany and Destiny walked in right behind me through the door. That was when we realized we were the only girls surrounded by all guys. As practice came to a start we began to run, it felt like we were never going to stop. Up and down the court as we ran suicides, you could hear the squeaking of shoes as we went from the next line back and then on to the next. Before we started scrimmaging, the two captains were boys. Brittany, Destiny, and I stood in amazement as we were the last three standing there. You could see by their expressions they didn’t want any of us on either team.