Personal Narrative: My Expectations Of Playing Basketball

“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.

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.

When I was younger, basketball was all I wanted to play, it just looked like so much fun. In fifth grade I had my parents sign me up for CYB, then in sixth grade I tried out for middle school basketball and played all the way up until ninth grade. In middle school when I was in eighth grade I was awarded the captain position and that helped me build leadership and responsibility. All of the players especially the younger ones knew they could always come to me at any time if they needed anything or help with anything. High school basketball was a lot different than middle school. In middle school I was one of the star players so I played a lot but in high school that changed. I sat the bench a lot that taught me patience and understanding even

I see myself in the NBA or the NFL, making enough money to have a house and food for my family. I will be visiting my family on my off days and helping them with what they need, and making sure I take care of myself, and keeping myself in shape. I’m going to be in the NBA, hopefully on the Chicago Bulls; my favorite team in the NBA because it's my home state. My favorite player Derrick Rose is on their and that team is a good team. My school has a basketball team I got people in my school that can help me with my goals. In five years I see myself you're in a basketball or a football team, having good grades and keeping my healthy. I'm going to be the oldest child in my house I'm I have to watch out for them especially my little brother Daniel.

Starting my sophomore year I was anxious for the season to start and to experience the exhilarating energy of a packed gym. As I got ready for my first taste of varsity basketball the worst thing I could think of happened. I injured my ankle at practice, but because of my determination to get on the court

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.

Basketball time. Halfway through the season. It was game night. I was nervous. I always got nervous for basketball games. So after school I’m getting all my stuff ready and I’m putting on my basketball uniform. I had to get fired up. So I listened to some Kanye West. Ok. I was ready. My mom drove me to my game. I put my bag in the locker room. I go out on the court and warm up with the other girls. I’m getting even more nervous. BUUZZZ. That’s the buzzer. Time to go bring it in. Our coach talks to us and tells us the play to run first. I wasn’t a starter or anything. So I sat on the bench waiting to go in. The jump ball had started. Our team got the ball. During half of the first quarter, Coach told me to go in. I went in. I did my part and I played ok.

Rushing to the bench, I heard the referee call out “Timeout, Heat.” Everything was on the line with our team’s championship hopes foremost on our minds. As soon as we were all huddled up, Coach Drew began to lay out his expectations. “I’m not going to tell you how to play basketball,” he told us. “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.” We rushed back onto the court, riled up at the thought of our coach’s inspiring speech. The crowd, encouraging as always, chanted our names. With just sixteen seconds left in the game and our team down by four, we had no choice but to do something special.

When I was at a young age, I started to develop a love for the game of basketball. It helped me in many ways. It gave me something to do with my spare time and it helped me with whatever problems I may have had going on. For many people, their escape is different music, reading, or alone time. Whatever it may be, we all have one and I found that mine was basketball.

After playing basketball for six years, you start to grow into the game and learn to love it. This will be my sixth year playing and I love the game of basketball, there's so much excitement. I've played with the same girls over these years, and I consider them my second family because we are so close.

My basketball career was one to remember, I had a lot of coaches I liked and a handful I didn’t like. But one coach in particular, stuck with me because of one terrible game I had. I remember the day like it was yesterday, we were playing West aka the rich snobs of Billings. I didn’t play much in the first half but when I did play, it wasn’t up to his standards I guess. After making a great read on the defence I ended up turning the ball over. Imagine this, I had the ball at the top of the key, the defence in a 2-3 zone, I had a teammate on each side of me, spread out to perfection, and one man in front of me at the free throw line. I passfaked to my right and the defence jumped at it trying to steal the pass as this was happening, I tried to make a no look pass to the guy at the free throw line

“ No athlete is truly tested until they've stared an injury in the face” [unknown author]. Ever since I could remember basketball has been my favorite sport. I remember signing up for basketball in fifth grade, not really sure if I even wanted to play. My mom walking in with me telling me that I would be good at basketball if I just tried. She also said if I didn't like it that I didn't have to play anymore as long as I made a good effort. After I signed my name on that paper there was no turning back. The first practice was the worse for me I had my friends which wasn't bad but, I didn't know how to do anything. All my friends had been playing basketball since second or third grade so basketball came easy to them. I thought about quitting right then and there but I told myself I gotta keep trying even if I'm not that good. Forward a few years later in middle school I had the basics of basketball down pack and that's when I fell in love with the sport. I got the position I always wanted to play point guard, the point guard is one of the most important players on the team. It's also one of the most difficult positions because you have to come up with a play on the spot. You have to read what

From the earliest exposure to algebra and basic equations, students are taught that subtracting something from only one side of the equation unbalances it, until one adds an equivalent expression to that side. I never realized that this could have an application outside of purchasing large quantities of fruit until my basketball career came crashing down. My coach told me before my sophomore season, “Zack, you will be in the rotation.” I later learned that he meant the water boy rotation until one game, where I experienced the thrill of playing for twenty four seconds. For twelve years I equated winter with basketball, but with my realization that my time as a basketball player was over, I suddenly had an equation where winter equaled zero.

I’ve always been the kid that liked basketball growing up. It amazed me how the people on television did all the different moves and shots so easily. Even though they made it seem easily, when I tried it I always failed. I realized these players put in countless hours in the gym and I put in none. One day I was watching television and Kobe Bryant had lost a game, and after the loss he went to the practice gym instead of showering. So that day I knew that I will never be as good as I want to be if I don’t put the work in.

I fell deeply in love with the game of basketball when I was living in Springfield, Illinois. Starting back in fourth grade I used to be outside playing a game called knockout it was always so fun I always enjoyed it. From the beginning I always played it just because I enjoyed it but as time went by I begin to fiend to play the game it became my lifestyle. I remember in 6th grade at Grant middle school I tried out for basketball and we were playing the eighth graders I had I had about 10 points and I hit a buzzer beater 3 in someone’s face. That is probably my one of the first great things I did with basketball. But then we moved to Anna, Texas and I couldn’t play because they don’t have a 6th grade team. Even then I still played around I