It was 5 years ago, my eighth-grade year, I was scared and nervous about being the youngest girl on the high school basketball team. I had played basketball since I was in first grade and played on competitive teams with older girls but nothing had prepared me for what I was walking into. We started our first day of practice at 6:30 a.m. on a chilly October morning. Coach Gray sat us down before practice and went over all the many rules he had set for our team. After hearing all these rules and consequences I did not even want to breathe wrong around him. I was so scared, but little did I know that this was the start of something that would change my life for forever.
Starting the season, I had never worked so hard or been yelled at so much
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I was turning the ball over, not running the right offenses, and realizing that I was very weak and small compared to the girls I was playing against. A little voice inside my head kept telling me that I was not good enough and that I should not be playing. To make matters worse I always felt like Coach Gray was targeting me and getting on to me the most. During games after I would make a mistake, I would look at him to take me out but he would just stare me in the face and say, "Baker, I 'm not going to give you the easy way out you are going to stay in there and face it." I remember being so angry at him to the point that I would even cry I was so mad. He was tough on me and at the time I was not having any of …show more content…
I did not know that God was preparing me for something until our team made it to the state quarterfinals playing Ezell-Harding. The game was back and forth through every quarter and with ten seconds left on the clock we were down by one point. Surprisingly Coach Gray put me in with those ten seconds left and somehow I ended up with the ball. I still remember turning around and chunking the ball at the goal holding my breath and closing my eyes. We had won the game by one point. Through this, God humbled me showing me that he can use even the smallest of
Entering my final season of AAU basketball I knew I had set myself up for a roller coaster of emotions, whether it was from the night of my first practice, the weekend of my first tournament, or my first time on the road with my new team. This was because a lot was on the line this season, and I strived to make this season my best, and most enjoyable. This is mostly because this was the final year getting the opportunity to put on my red and black jersey every tournament. It was my last season traveling around the country with my teammates every weekend with one goal, to win, and it was my last season to improve my skills all around, in an attempt to further my basketball career into college. During the first few practices I was nervous for how the season would go because I noticed my coach was a lot harder on me than he was to my teammates and I did not know how to take that at first.I was not used to to his coaching style of being loud, in your face, and tough, or his emphasis on "perfection" because on my past teams I was used to being the best person on the team, and my coach rarely had negative criticism for me, so I took his intense coaching style terribly.
Sadly, my family was going through financial struggles, forcing me out of the school zone I was destined to attend. When I discussed the situation wih the high school coaches they told me they would pick me up from my new house and take me to school every day; with the condition that I’d play football for them all throughout high school. Even though this was illegal I continued to go ahead and accept the offer. My first year of high school was so exciting that it went by in the blink of an eye. Sophomore year came and the clock ticked closer and closer to when everything would change. I started in varsity as a corner back but soon would have big shoes to fill as the team’s quarterback. Not only did this require skill and hard work but the ability and qualities of a leader as well. Ultimately, playing this position helped me acquire traits that would soon be necessary for success. That year was tough for us because the majority of the team consisted of inexperienced players, however the coaches knew I would be the one to lead the
From that day on I was engulfed by football. I can still remember my first day with my team. Before my first practice began, I met up with my friend, and all I could ask was what am I supposed to do and why am I here. When the coaches rounded us up to begin practice, they told us that everyone would be put in lines to be tested so they could see what we were able to accomplish. We had to run routes, throw the football, kick the football, and practice blocking. I failed at them all. Where the other kids
Basketball Game Beep. Beep. I am a snob. Beep. I am a snob.
Three weeks into the start of that same season, I experienced a failure incomparable to any other. It all started after a usual day at practice when my coach said,
Down the court, Corey is running. Six foot three inches, short brown hair nearly all of it stuck to his head, sweat dripping from his face to the floor. He looks as if he had just taken a shower. It is now the 4th quarter 8 seconds on the clock the score is 50-52, Corey gets a pass in the outside. Now 5 seconds on the clock, Corey is tenser than ever to make this shot and win the game to take a final win for the season, and for the end of Corey’s high school career. Corey relaxes and takes a breath, now 3 seconds on the clock, Corey hears nothing but the sound of his beating heart nearly beating out of his chest, and sounds like a energetic octopus banging a drum 8 times each second. As Corey looks down his jersey and remembers why he plays the game he looks down to his white, size 14, basketball shoes on the near end of their days and remembers how hard he has worked for this and how all the effort may now pay off. He focuses.
The day had finally come, the first day of basketball practice. The long, boring school day was over, and I rushed down to the gym. I was just as nervous as I was excited as I entered the big, swinging doors into the cool but humid gym room. As a shy 5th grader who froze up whenever someone other than a close friend or family member even said a single word to them, this was a big step. I decided I wanted to join the basketball team only a couple years earlier, since at the time, I would take midnight walks on cool, starry nights to the little park just down the street to play basketball with my dad, cousin, and little brother.
I was so nervous every time it was my turn to go for a layup. My hands were shaking shaking so much that I could barely catch the ball when it came to me. Everyone would laugh at me when I missed a layup or a shot, it made me feel horrible. We started doing drills and I had no idea how to do any of them. I had never done an organized basketball practice.
Today was the day I had told myself, that I was finally going to play on a real team. I had walked through the entire building until I reached the gym, the doors started to get really big. Suddenly I got nervous and felt as if I was going to collapse right there in the doorway . I started to sweat even though it was freezing inside, then I got the courage to open the doors and walk in. The first thing I saw was about 13 boys just shooting lay-ups and jump shots. At the time I thought they were just finishing up their time.
Down two with six seconds to go fatigue had taken it tolls on the players. With little energy left; over time was not an option. I knew I had to go for the win. I walk on the floor confident of my ability that was until the whistle blew quickly turning my confident to butterflies. As I fought to get open I quickly saw the ball coming my way. As I rose for a jump shot time itself began to stay still. An in flesh everything became silent. As I watch the ball leave my hand I envisioned greatness; sure the ball was on its way in I started to celebrate that was until I hear the announcer say my teammate tip in miss shot to win us the game. Mix with emotion I celebrate with my teammate. “Ok guys, we have 24 hours until tip off. Get some rest because this is going to be the biggest game of your life. Let’s bring this championship back to Barton College. Go Bulldogs and Goodnight!” Why few players stay in the lobby to hang out I took it talk upon to work on my game and reflect on the semifinal game that just took place. At basketball games you will notice how there are all sorts of fans attending the game.
Everyday athletes all around the world get ready for a game day it is a time that they have been working for their whole week of practice. No matter the sport every single athlete always want an opportunity with the game in the balance to make a huge play and win the game for there team it is a dream that so many people have no matter what level a athlete is at whether it be professional, college or even just high school sports. Having the chance to single handedly be a main reason for a win or even the “hero” of the game so to speak is something that for a athlete is like being a little kid on christmas morning waking up and finding a whole bunch of presents under the tree that santa left you when you were little. I was lucky to have a wish
All these things show that basketball is important to a lot of people; it is also a living for some. Dr. James Naismith created a game that was played for centuries and is still being played today. If basketball wasn’t created, than what would people do for fun? Well they could play Duck-On-A-Rock but it wouldn’t be as fun. Basketball is a very popular sport and as the years go by it’ll only gets better.
As Olivia was about to go on the court, she saw a scout for the AAU team she always been dreaming about. Her hands were shaking knees turning inwards.She was so ready than ever before even though her body didn't show it. When she got on the court she playing like there was no tomorrow. Olivia was making all her shots, making good passes, and making good plays. She was drenched in sweat. Her coach was so surprised that she let Olivia stay out on the court for the whole game. Although she was tired as can be but she she still brought her A-game out on that court. When her team won she felt proud. Olivia's coach pulled her to the side and said that the AAU team would love to find her. As her coach said the the of team she right away she knew
Basketball is the best sport to start off with when you’re young. I started playing basketball when I was 7 years old. I will never give up my basketball dream. I think basketball is better than baseball, football, and soccer .My whole family is basketball fans.
Basketball Have you ever thought about being a basketball player? If so basketball players half to have these things to be able to be a consistent and a good player which are the following, rebounding, blocking out, teamwork, passing, communication and focusing. You will see some of these things that you use in normal life not just sports including focus, communication, and listening. In basketball one of the most important things you half to have is focus. If you don’t focus you could make a lot of mistakes, say you're in the middle of a game and you're supposed to be running a play you learned in practice and you didn’t pay any attention or focus on what he was saying so your in the middle of a game and the ball is supposed to be