Personal Narrative: Improving Basketball Skills

“Come on guys,” I yelled. I heard the screech of the referee’s whistle. Rushing to the bench, I heard the referee call out “Timeout, Heat.” Everything was on the line and our team’s championship hopes, being foremost on our team’s minds, was all coach could scream about. “I’m not going to tell you how to play basketball,” he yelled out. “That’s your job. I’m just going to say that right now, to us, this is a championship game. If we win this, we move on to the championship. If not, at least let us fall valiantly.” That got the whole team riled up as we rushed back onto the court. The crowd, encouraging as always, yelled out their approval on the fact that we were giving it our all. With just sixteen seconds left in the game and our team down by four, something special had to happen or we were done for the season.

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.

LIstening to the sound of a basketball bouncing off the hardwood floor in the gym is amazing. Hearing the swish of the net is the best. Until you hear the laugh of your newborn nephew over the phone. His laugh brought joy to my world in a way nothing else has. I wanted to just go over there and be with him. I didn’t know what to do though. I had a basketball team that wanted me playing for them and i had a few friends on the team counting on me to play for them.

I failed over and over and over again consistently, I’d try then fail, “ oh wait I get this… Oh nevermind” this phrase was consistently in a future of mine that I was not yet aware of. I’m a basketball, football player, cheerleader, track star, and I failed at everyone of those. I spent a lot of time being criticized about the basic aspects of the sport. In basketball was by far the toughest of them. It all started my started in 7th grade.

My basketball is one of a kind because I received this great gift on Christmas day from my dad. What was so awesome that the rockets were playing! First, he gave me a wrapped box and I said in my mind ‘’what is it’’ second, I opened it and I was the supreme logo (a very expensive brand), and I thought wait could it be a basketball third, I opened the box and I see a supreme basketball to my knowledge. Then I see a signature and I asked who’s signature is it my dad said ‘’James Harden’’ my jaw dropped. I was so happy like a child on Christmas day.

Basketball has been the passion of my life since I was 4 years old. I've always had a competitiveness or desire to not lose. That's why my sophomore year of high school was the worst, but best year of my life. As a freshman I was on JV and had tremendous success. The next year I anticipated a starting varsity role. I couldn't wait, expecting a year even better than the last. All the success I had as a freshman didn't translate as smoothly.

Last year, in seventh grade I decided to try out for basketball after the first day of tryouts I was not confident that I was going to make the team because I could not make a shot. The next day we had another try out I was ready to play. I came out and played well which made me feel better about the tryout. After the third day of tryouts I was not to confident that I would make the team. When I got the email that I made the team I was juiced I jumped all over my room. The first practice I was ready to play. I knew that coach Faust didn't mess around when it came to basketball. Practice was miserable I was so tired from doing “suicides” and running around the track. Our team couldn't do any of the drills successfully so we ended up running extra. On the second day of practice we started doing much better and making some shots.

I am in love with the sport of basketball. The feeling of adrenaline I have before the start of a game, the satisfying sound of the swish of a buzzer shot, and the half-time coach-given-tension-filled talks work together to create an atmosphere unlike anything I have ever experienced. I have been playing basketball for as long as I can remember, and when high school finally came, everything intensified. My freshman year, I was placed on the varsity team. I looked forward to practices, tournaments, bus rides, and every inside joke and moment I would get to share with the girls on my team who, as an only child, became sisters to me.

When I was younger, I wanted to be one of the most extraordinary basketball players in the world. An example of my ambitiousness was revealed one day when I was twelve years old. I was shooting hoops at my house one day and I was getting frustrated. My mother taught me three things to get over my frustration. She told me: don’t overdo things, the pros mess up too, and basketball isn’t the most important thing.

You are here today to do crossovers, behind the back, through the legs hesitations,” coach had said as though it was a simple as doing a layup with no defenders. There was an awkward pause during which my mind was frantically trying to figure out if I had ever even attempted to do that before. I even though I hadn’t I was sure it would be fine, it sounded easy enough. Finally Coach broke the silence. “It’s a joke girls! I do that,” she cried as though were were insane to not notice the humor in her voice. “Now let’s see some pound crossovers!” I had started right away as it was obvious what we were supposed to do, but some girls merely stared at Coach as though she had just told them there fates of whether or not they made the team relied on a miss or make half point shot. For some reason that is what made my confidence sour. Soon there was the steady beat of balls hitting the gym floor that make us sound like a group of drummers as Coach made her way around the circle correcting something here, and tweaking someones for there. Soon she had reached me and I was unsure what to think. I held my breathe but her only critique was, “Don’t sway so much on your cross.” I had felt my breath come out in a sigh. I was relieved she hadn’t had more to say to me, and as I looked around I couldn’t only see I was better than my competitors, but I felt

I cannot remember the day I first held it in my hands. The notion yielded to be genuine. Over time, the game of basketball converted into a textbook. It is a textbook that is thrown away by the irresponsible student but cherished by the resolved. It is not a textbook to be skimmed through or forgotten in a locker. It is a textbook where each lesson is invaluable and could be interpreted in various ways each time it is read. People who see it as just another commodity are ignorant towards the textbook but for me, I see every page as priceless paintings. To the capable mind, the textbook is not a collection of valuable paintings, it was a study guide to succeed in life.

So this happened in 8th grade and it was wednesday morning me and my friend we eating

I would like to think that I would consider myself an expert in a lot of areas. I like playing factual games like millionaire where I do exceptionally well. The one area that I believe that I am a “true” expert would be in the game of basketball. Basketball has been a big part of my life ever since I picked up a basketball at the age of 2. Through my life I have always loved basketball. I practiced basketball with a hoop in the back yard in many different weather conditions such as, snow, rain, cold and heat. I watched all sorts of videos on YouTube on how to improve my game and have watched countless hours of college and NBA games. While watching games I analyze on what teams are doing and what should be done. This could be whether a team

We’re officially down to the final four in the 2016 NHL playoffs with the East and West Conference Finals underway. Like every year, the playoffs have offered high-quality hockey with riveting games throughout the postseason. There have been four seven-game series, all in the Western Conference, that went back and forth, while shorter series have also had very competitive games. Every night of postseason play has provided excellent theater, and those who haven’t watched are missing out.

Have you ever had an interest in Basketball? If not maybe the book How Basketball Works can give you basics of Basketball and fundamentals so you yourself can play Basketball.