Many people say, “it's just a sport,” but to me basketball is much more than that. I started playing at 5 years old. My father played college basketball, so, naturally, he pushed me to play. He says I have a natural talent for the game. At times I didn't believe him, but now I do. I am very grateful he pushed me to play because basketball has taught me an extremely valuable lesson.
Going into the 8th grade I had high hopes for the season, but everyone began doubting me. At this point, everyone was maturing faster than me. I was always small for my age, but in 8th grade everyone else grew but me. The coaches underestimated me because of my size. I could've played and done better than the kids ahead of me, but I was put down because of my size. 8th grade was a tough year, and I ended up quitting half way through the youth season. I was considering not playing in high school, but I received confidence from a great person. The varsity coach, Mr. Blank, heard about me quitting, and came to talk to me before school one day. He sat me down and said, “I'm sorry to hear this season didn't go well for you. I know you were underplayed because of your size, but I still have high hopes for you, and would like you to play next year.” This changed my mind big time.
I was 5’2”, 95 lbs, and went out my freshman year, thinking I would not get much playing time. Turns out things couldn't have gone better. We had a cool coach, and I started every game of the season. I led the team
I have been in basketball since I was young, however, I did not play on a team until I was in fourth grade. I was dragged, into basketball because I was trying out new sports and I really liked it. Basketball helps me be more active and thrusts me to work as hard as I can. My brother plays basketball too, and we help each other out. When our team does well, we win medals or a trophy. My team has won both medals and trophies. This has been our first year ever getting first place in a few tournaments.
I have not and will never forget those series of events. This time hurt me but also helped build upon my character. It was my freshman year of high school. I had decided to play soccer, which was not a hard decision for me since I had played travel soccer pretty much my whole life. Also my brother was in high school at the time and played for the boys soccer team, and had my dad as his coach. He loved it and was having a great experience playing high school soccer so of course I like to follow in my brother’s footsteps. I was very nervous at first. There were over eleven seniors on the team, and they were pretty intimidating to me. During the summer, I played with the varsity often and enjoyed it. As I kept playing with them and performing well, my nerves lessened. Finally when the actual season rolled around, I was put on full varsity. All my hard work had paid off. I was one of the two freshman put on varsity. I was ecstatic. I was actually very lucky at getting put on varsity because at this point in my life I played purely out of natural talent. I was never one to put in extra work outside of practice and be disciplined in the way I lived my life. I never really strived to be the best I could be. Making varsity made me somewhat of a threat for the older girls. Some were happy for me, others did not like the thought of a freshman on varsity. These girls were hard coore they were bound and determined to make it to state that year. They were not going to accept anything less than amazing. This put an incredible amount of pressure on us younger girls. I remember going to every practice nervous that I was going to mess up and they get mad at me. I never really felt at ease with them. In the first few games I got good playing time. I was doing really well. I was finally getting comfortable out there on the field, but that was not the direction God was taking me and with one swift kick of the soccer
In my sophomore year of high school, the successful club volleyball season was coming to an end. I was eager to be a starter on my high school varsity team because my coach had promised me a spot weeks before tryouts. Every practice I came walking in, confident as ever, ready to challenge myself to become a better player. My team mates supported me and gave me self assurance that I would be a great athlete.
Smack! Everyone could hear the sound of Billy getting smacked by Bob and Billy was on the floor with a big red mark on the side of his head. Everyone was shocked that Bob hit Billy for no reason but the next thing you know everyone is fighting in the middle of the basketball court and all the parents,referees,and kids were all trying to get to Bob and some of the parents were protecting Bob.
It all began on November 3, 2015 during my first middle school basketball tournament. The grey brick walls of the gymnasium looking more like a prison than a school. The school’s “Lincoln Park Elementary School” sign had graffiti and missed a couple letters from the name. The court was terribly small, but we began by playing the superb team of Jam on It. We were blown out and I headed back up to my mom and dad in the parent filled stands. The game wasn’t even fun to play and we looked like third graders playing them. I looked up to my parents as sad as could be.
The summer before seventh grade my mom and I were talking about school and what sports I was going to play. I knew that I was definitely be playing basketball, but my mom kept bringing up cross-country. She said she thought that I should try it because I have long legs, which is good for running. I always thought running sounded boring because all you do is move one foot in front of another. I decided to still try it because of my mom and because for all I knew it could be something I really enjoy. I didn’t enjoy much then, I didn’t have many hobbies. I did like art, but not that much, I only did it when I was really bored. I loved basketball, but even I knew I was completely horrible at that. No other sports really appealed to me and that is why I was going to give running a chance, because I was desperate for a hobby.
Basketball was my favorite sport and it took a lot of dedication and effort, and it was the biggest decision of my life so far. I began my passion for basketball when I went
Seventh grade I played in the gym only but every time a coach looked I played my best if I had the ball. When it came to tryouts I tried my best, but when the results were posted I didn’t make it. But a after lunch 3 on 3 tournament was about to happen and I was put on a team a very bad team to add that. I did not care because for the first time in a while now I get to play semi for real. I was happy once again
It was my junior year and football season was over. We had won the state championship. It was time to relax and enjoy basketball season. Basketball season was always a fun time. I was a grade younger than most of my friends who were on the team. I was always the kid that was brought up to sit on the bench or be the sixth man. I never really got too much playing time, however, sometimes if there was a big man on the other team, or some sort of foul trouble for one of the seniors, I would get in. I had been playing with these same kids since the 6th grade. My role on the team had been the same all the way up to this point. That was ok with me. What I really enjoyed though were all the trips and tournaments and just hanging
Basketball was my favorite sport growing up. I’ve played since I was little and I still play the game today. I played basketball at my elementary school, St. Cecilia, from Kindergarten till 8th Grade and also played AAU basketball for about 2 years before entering High School. Going into my freshmen year of High School, the first sport I played was basketball. Tryouts began in about the start of November and ended about 2 weeks after. I had made the Freshmen A team. I was excited and as the season progressed, we didn’t win many games but I still had fun playing. Nearing the end of the season, golf was another sport coming up that I also wanted to try and play. I say “try and play” because at the time, I was also going to play AAU basketball. I had set in my mind that I was going to play basketball for all of my four years of high school, but my parents pushed me to tryout for golf. When the basketball season ended, golf tryouts started. Tryouts lasted for about 2 weeks, and I made the JV team. When I found out I made the team, I was very surprised. I hadn’t put in the hard work as others before tryouts came around, but the coach saw potential in me and that I can become a great player. The coach saw so much potential in me, that every week, I kept progressing in skill and fine tuning my mechanics. Halfway through the season, about 4 or 5 weeks after I made the team, my coach gave me the chance to play with the Varsity Golf team for a couple days. I was excited and eager to
Basketball was a new experience to me a few years ago, but i never realized I was going to love it. When I was younger, I’ve always wanted to play the sport of basketball, and I got my opportunity to play when I was in fifth grade at Monte Vista Elementary.
Running into the gym with my team, knowing it was my last middle school basketball game, but first championship game I felt elated and truly blessed. My knees quivered with anticipation after seeing all the bleachers filled with people. After realizing even the press and other media was in attendance I grasped the moment like a newly elected president at his inauguration. I am warming up doing basketball drills, when I began to look at the flags on the gym wall depicting the history of the basketball team. The years and dates of the last championship game, Historically a championship game had not been won since 2007 . The more I stared at the flags, the more it made me want to win this game and make history in this gym. As the crowd and cheerleaders start to chant, cheer and get loud, I started to feel more comfortable and rowdy more than I had ever felt in any other game that I’ve played. Waiting for the referee to blow the whistle for jumpall to start. I felt my fingertips tapping the side of my leg, which for some reason gives me a sign to myself that I am pumped up and ready to play!
The sport of basketball is the sport I go to when I need to clear my mind. After a long stressful day of school, I go to my neighborhood court and I shoot basket after basket. I try to find time every day to play basketball. I want to make myself better. Whether it’s working on my ball handling skills, or just working on my three point jump shot, I practice all of my weaknesses. I have improved so much over the years it’s pretty hard to explain. Basketball has been there when I first moved to Kansas. I came to a new school and I had to find new friends. When those two things didn’t go so well, basketball was there when I needed it most. It got me through the first year of going to school in Kansas. I even found a team I could play with and
I was about halfway through my sophomore year of high school. I was on the varsity soccer team and we were having a terrific season. We were hoping to make a run for state, which had never been done by the boys team since its inception 10 years ago. I did not receive a lot of playing time over the course of the season, but I was integral to the depth and strength of the team. At first, I had to prove to myself and my coaches that I could be an asset to the varsity team. I stepped up my intensity during the junior varsity games and focused all my energy during practice to make sure my efforts would not go unnoticed. My hard work and determination paid off and as a result, I was asked to join in the varsity practices. It was a great opportunity
After my first game at running back, I felt like everyone looked up to me because the Coaches told me the next week that I was going to dress for the varsity game and play in the J.V. game, because I did so well at my game. I was so excited and proud of myself because of the perseverance that I showed. I could have given up, but I kept my confidence up and challenging myself to work harder and telling myself not to quit. After my freshman year the head coach of the varsity football team introduced me to my mentor.