There is a significant difference between loving to play the game of basketball and loving the game of basketball. Don’t get me wrong, I live for the rush you get after winning a hard fought game, but true love for the game goes well beyond the court. As my unavoidable final year in high school begins, it is hard to not look back on my basketball journey and see how my love for the game, and all that I have learned from it, is what makes me who I am today.
Basketball has been apart of my life for as long as I remember. At a young age, coaches began to pound the importance of hard work into my head more than they forced me to pound the actual ball. They made sure that my teammates and I knew if we wanted to be the best we would have to put
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I was named captain of the freshman A team, which in my world was a huge deal, and I learned that being a good leader takes as much hard work as being good skillwise. Sure, I could've taken every shot or dribbled up the court every time, but I quickly learned that leadership was constantly doing what is best for the team. Despite the fact that I was only a freshman, this was the first situation that presented a leadership role to me, so it was a great character building stage. As a sophomore, I was moved up to the varsity team and quickly had to adapt to my new circumstances. Coming from my job as a starter and a leader the year before, it was hard for me when I found out that my role on this team did not include either. Before this I had not experienced any real basketball challenge; I always worked really hard which conveniently was enough to land me a nice spot on every team. With the help of my teammates, who became my second family, I was able to keep a good mentality and eventually become a starter on me team. Although this may not seem like a huge deal, it taught me that I could reach my goals if I attacked them with a positive attitude and genuinely worked as hard as I could.
Twelve years of playing basketball, have flown by and there is no denying the fact that I am soon going to be playing my last game. As my career comes to an end, I can absolutely say that basketball is beyond the 32 minutes on the court.
No other sport will mean so much to me as basketball will. Every time I step on the court, I lose myself and become a whole other person. When I hear my name yelled in the crowd, I get an adrenaline rush to my brain, causing me to swiftly move quicker and focus on the game. Deep down I know that I am not here to win the game, but to enjoy myself. Each basket I make are like my worries trapped into the ball, and then expelled when it goes into the basket. This game is where my mind gets lost in the sounds of the dribbles. When the game is over, I look back to my team and give them warming hugs knowing that the game is over, and we will not stop playing the sport because there is always time to get better. Although I frantically wash my jerseys the nights before games, and leave my stinky shoes in my car all season, I would not trade pulling a jersey over my head every Friday night, dancing to blaring music in the locker room, and lacing up my shoe for the world. It means a lot more to me knowing that it is more than just a game. While I know I am having fun with my best friends and some of the greatest mentors that I have, I know that I am learning true values of life, which will make me become a better
I began to play organized basketball in 5th grade and have continued all the way through my senior year. Throughout my career I have grown tremendously each year, earning several improvement awards along the way. I had always struggled to assume my role on the team, but throughout my senior high career I learned how I best contributed to my team, earning several hustle awards and assist awards. I have learned through athletics how to be team player, and understand that not every player has the same role, which is also related to everyday life and life in the
Basketball has been a huge part of my life since I was really small. I’ve loved the sport since I was introduced to it at the age of four. It has had the best outcome out of all the sports i’ve ever played. When I’m playing basketball i’m in a totally different world. I feel
Basketball has always been something I loved ever since I was a little girl. I remember when I was younger, we had a basketball hoop in my driveway and my brothers and I would always go out and play one on one or horse. I also remember losing, a lot. Although it wasn’t about winning or losing for me, I just loved the game. In fourth grade, I started playing competitive basketball and loved the sport even more. Maybe it was scoring points or getting an assist, I’m not really sure the reason, I just knew I loved the game. As I got older my love for the game only grew; until high school hit.
I’ve played basketball for 7 years now and I enjoy every aspect of the game. Basketball has become so important to me that I consider it to be something that has significantly help to shape who I am today.
As a junior I was nominated by my teammates as co- captain of the varsity cheerleading team. Being in this leadership position was a humbling experience that not only broadened my perspective in what it takes to successfully participate in teamwork, but it developed my patience and understanding as issues and adversities would arise. Most of all, having this position tested my integrity and challenged me to lead by example. Being captain, I was automatically held up to higher responsibilities and expectations. Not only did I want to shine in those areas but in others too, making sure I was a reliable role model and leader for the others around me.
Stephen Curry, point guard for the Golden State Warriors, said about basketball, “What I tell people is to be the best version of yourself in anything that you do. You don’t need to live someone else’s story. It doesn’t matter where you come from – what you have, or don’t have, what you lack, what you have too much of – but all you need to have is faith in God, an undying passion for what you do, or what you choose to do in this life, and a relentless drive and the will to do whatever it takes to be successful in whatever you put your mind to.” Growing up I have always played basketball. It is like a haven for me considering whatever I am feeling, whether it is angry, somber, excited, etc. I can always play and depend on basketball. It makes me feel exceptional.
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.
Basketball is all I have ever known. I started playing when I was about 3 years old. At the time, I was living in a big house in the suburbs of Vallejo with a large backyard as well. My father had acquired and assembled one of the little Fisher Price baby basketball hoops in the backyard for me; it even came with a baby ball! For the duration of all of my summer, I was in the backyard, playing with the basketball, pretending I was as marvelous as a professional player like Michael Jordan. I spent so much time outside practicing, I’m surprised I didn’t get sick of it. Eventually, as time carried on, I outgrew the baby hoop. When I became of age, I started using the regular sized hoop my father had in the backyard. And I fell into the same routine
When people ask me questions like what do I love, what my goals are, and who I am, all my answers have one main point in common… basketball. Not a well-liked sport on the women’s side yes I know, but if someone took basketball away from me it would be like taking someone’s legs away and telling them to walk, it just doesn’t work. Taking basketball away from me is like putting all the gangs in the world in one small room and
Basketball has always affected my life ever since I was a kid. I could still remember when my father played basketball for his intercity team way before when I didn't even know what basketball was. Watching him as I grow up just made me want to be like him or to be better than him as every father's dream for their son to be. But I had to learn everything the hard way.
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
Basketball is one activity that has changed my life. To most people basketball is nothing more than a fun game to be played occasionally. It has provided me a much richer experience. It has introduced me to people and taught me lessons that I never would have learned without it. I have played with and been introduced to numerous kids from less fortunate circumstances than I would otherwise have been exposed to. Some of which who do not have a stable home life, or even food every night. I often would take for granted the blessings of a warm house, food to eat, and supportive mother and father. I always considered it a blessing to have a basketball hoop in my yard, but after experiencing how others live, I realize how lucky I am to even have
The first basketball scrimmage of my sophomore year in High School, we were playing ‘Worthington Christian’. Obviously, I was pumped to get out on the floor and compete. Basketball, is one of those sports where you like it or you don’t, there can’t be an in between. And in my sophomore year, I absolutely loved basketball. My coach and my teammates were a huge part into how I felt about basketball. For a long time, basketball was my go to over my other sports, but sadly that is not quite the same anymore.
Basketball seems to get into your blood. It is said by those who play, "You eat, you sleep and you play basketball." When I was a little girl all I wanted to be was a professional basketball player. I couldn't count how many times I pounded that dumb ball in our driveway until it was too dark to see, then I would play for hours more by the porch light. Now I realize that was only childish insanity. Back then they didn’t even have a girls’ profession basketball league in the states. However, that didn't stop me from walking away empty handed. One thing I learned was how to prepare oneself for life. Well, at least, how to prepare oneself for a game.