Why Is Basketball Important To Me

Playing basketball has always been fun to me. The excitement, competition, energy, and teammates bring the joy. Some people start very young and develop, while others may have just begun. No matter how old or young you are it is never too bad time to start your basketball career. It all started when I was six years old. By that time I was active in almost all sports. I was playing soccer, basketball, softball, and even cheering. It was fairly normal because no child knew exactly what they wanted to do at six years old. I really didn’t have an option to whether I was going to do anything or not, it would be one or the other. Through all the options I had before me I chose to stick with basketball as my favorite sport. I can remember my first game like it was yesterday. My little sister and I played for the “Shock” recreation team. Our colors were burgundy and gold. I was so nervous to get out on the court and play in front of all those people, but I know I couldn’t show my fear in front of my little sister then she would be even more scared. My heart felt like it would beat out of my chest and I could feel the sweat forming on my nose 30 minutes before the game. The closer the game before ours came to ending the faster my heart would beat. Sweaty palms,

Now I was EXTRA nervous. Everyone that I could think was at that game to support and I did not want to mess up, but in basketball that’s common. The only play that I remember from this day was my first time actually scoring a basket. I had stolen the ball and was speeding down the court on a fast break. Panting from being out of breath and sweat dripping from my chin and bouncing to the floor. I made it all the way to the basket and threw the ball clean across the backboard and the ball never touched the rim. I thought that I had the ultimate screw-up of the game until the referee blew the whistle and called a foul on the other