Every athlete knows what it feels like to take the game we love for granted; after a long school day, you would find yourself dreading practice, or moaning and groaning when Coach makes you do layup lines for the billionth time. You get so caught up in the stresses of life, that at times you forget to appreciate the fact that you are able to play the game you love every single day. Personally, I never truly understood what people meant when they said there is nothing in the world like high school sports; I thought that intramural sports and working out at the gym would still fire me up the same way as Thursday night games did. I was so unbelievably wrong. As I have adjusted to life after high school, I have come to realize that no amount of pickup basketball game wins can ever replace the feeling representing my high school as we went to war on the court against our rival.
To all of my teammates who still have a year or two, or four, left to play high school basketball; cherish every moment you have to play the game you love, put your everything into each loose ball or defensive slide and leave your heart on the court, because before you know it, you will have just played your last high school basketball game ever, and will give anything to lace your shoes back up and step on the court one more time. Embrace every part of the game, on and off the court, because one day you will wake up missing it more than ever, looking back fondly on all of the memories you made;
1. Game Day
Nothing will ever compare to the feeling of game day… wearing your jersey to school, unable to focus on any of your schoolwork, re running every out of bounds play through your day….
2. Pregame Rituals
Every team has them; whether it is your warm up routines, pre game pep talks, or team chants, pre game rituals and superstitions just up the intensity of each game.
3. Suicides
I know, who would have thought that it would be possible to miss the worst conditioning drill to ever exist? But believe me, when you are trying not to gain the freshman fifteen there are days when you wish you had your coach pushing you to do that extra set of suicides.
4. Your Coach
The bond between a coach and a player is so unique; it is such a special relationship that you will always treasure. There will never be another person who will push you or help you develop as a player and as a person the way a coach does. They see you every day, and want nothing but the best for you.5. Your Uniform
After high school, few people will get the opportunity to represent their school on the court again. Even when you hate the smelly gym shorts and gross pinnies, remember that they represent your school, and that your number is YOUR number, so wear it with pride.
6. The Group Chat
Sports team group chats contain some of the funniest, most random, somewhat disturbing conversations ever. Whether it is sending basketball memes, complaining about practice, or sending stats from the opponent you are playing that Friday, your team's group chat is awesome and a great form of entertainment when you are trying not to fall asleep in math.
7. Bus Rides
This is arguably the best part of being part of a team. Racing to get the back seat, jamming to Hannah Montana on a long ride to away game, or gossiping with the girls in your seat, so many memories are made in the seats of the team bus.
8. Pasta Parties
Okay, maybe THIS is the best part of being on a team. Who doesn’t love homemade pasta, garlic bread, caesar salad, and brownies while being surrounded by your best friends?
9. Saturday Mornings
Saturday morning practices after a long bus ride home from a Friday night game is something that you don’t realize you will miss until it's gone. Walking into the school when it is pitch black, you can feel the silence in the gym as you step on the court before anyone else gets there. That wave of nostalgia and that feeling of being a part of something bigger than yourself is truly incredible.
10. Your Teammates
This is what you will miss the most about basketball. Your teammates become more than just the girls who push you on the court: they become your sisters. They are there for you at your best and at your worst. The bond you have with your teammates is one you will never be able to replace. Embrace every moment you have with them, because you only get so many games on the court.
