𝐇𝐞𝐲, 𝐇𝐢𝐯𝐞
I've been coaching a basketball team for a couple of years, for the love of the discipline and being one of the best ways to support the youngest players who are willing to give everything to earn their minutes on the court. Yesterday we were invited to an activity in a nearby town to forge a sports identity in the community and lay the foundations for the upcoming tournaments.
It consisted of a triangular sporting event where the spectators would enjoy a quiet but fiery rivalry, we decided to accept the invitation because these are the kind of activities that make it easier for us to see our mistakes and improve step by step. The excitement was palpable in the air from early in the morning, I arrived before the hour to be part of the organization and welcome the players on time. Our team is known as Mustangs, and we have athletes of different ages, but yesterday I only scheduled the younger players so they could have strong contact with other teams and evaluate the dynamics.
As a local team manager, every day is a mix of planning, training and motivational talks, a little exhausting also because I am the coordinator of another team in the discipline of calisthenics, and I have to balance the schedules well so that everyone has the attention they deserve. But I like being part of this, a base full of dreams and aspirations, each player with his own story and his own reason to play. Basketball offers not only discipline, but also a safe space where they can be themselves. So I always try to give the support I would like to receive.
Voices spread the word about the event, so parents, friends and neighbors gathered on the court, creating an exciting atmosphere. The team jerseys shone in the sun, which I was escaping as much as possible, but being a local court without a roof, it was mission impossible.
One of the most rewarding aspects of being a part of these types of activities is the connection you make with the community. Each game is not only a sporting competition; it is a celebration of memories. Basketball is one of the disciplines that has become more popular over the years in the country, so the players who have laid the groundwork in the surrounding communities continue to attend the events and tell stories of how they played basketball in their youth, while the younger players look up to their local role models. This intergenerational exchange is invaluable and reinforces the importance, and they always receive tips on how to improve, which is most valuable.
At the end of the game, regardless of the outcome, there is a sense of shared achievement. We come together as a team, shaking hands, congratulating the opposing team and laughing together. Losses become valuable lessons, while victories are cause for celebration. Our game ended 76-70 in favor of the Los Cerritos team, the local town who were the protagonists of the event, is filled with a variety of experienced and strong players, so the loss only shows how much the team has improved, and how very capable we will soon be.
In addition, through basketball, we promote values such as teamwork, discipline and perseverance. These are lessons that go beyond the court and carry over into everyday life.
The goal that the state teams have set for ourselves is to organize sports clinics, friendly tournaments and recreational activities to promote the sport and give every child, teenager or adult the opportunity to experience the magic of basketball and discover their potential.
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It was an exhausting Saturday, but full of learning, we closed the activity with a soup made by loving hands that fed our dreams and the desire to continue striving. This was not just another weekend, but one of those that is good to frame the memories.
Happy weekend to all, and thanks for reading about this little adventure.
Translated with DeepL Free version.
