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Junior explains the fun behind Neighborhood Club Basketball

Photo courtesy of Jimmy Menchl '14

We all just have a good time.

Last year was my first year being involved in Neighborhood Club basketball, and it was unbelievable.  Two months before the official start of the season, friends of mine had recruited me to be on their team, which then made way for the numerous tasks that were required to prepare for the upcoming games.

Most importantly, we needed to choose a NBA team that would represent us. The success of the NBA teams never came into consideration when searching, as we only looked for the team that could potentially create the most unique jerseys. After constant bickering, we decided on the Hornets. Unfortunately, the jerseys we made were pretty lame.

To some players, there is only one downside in playing Neighborhood Club Basketball: The $1,050 start up fee.  However, this cost accounts for several different necessities during the season, such as referees and Championship Game apparel. Also, the $1,050 can be divided between each of the members on the team, ultimately ranging in price from $100-150 per person

Pitching in money was also a big debacle. Each team needs to pay a grand total of $1,050 for their team to be eligible to compete, but determining how the money would be divided was the tricky part. Not only that, but we had to pay for our jerseys and basketball shorts.  Luckily, I wasn’t in charge of collecting money.

After completing these necessary tasks, the fun began.

Once a week we would schedule practices at the Windmill Pointe Park gym to scrimmage against each other for one to two hours.  Every time we lost focus, though, and ended up playing a game of dodge ball with the few basketballs we had.

Until the first game began, I never knew how much fun I would have playing basketball in a middle school gym. After losing by 15 to a team formed from South students at the end of the first quarter, I expected an angry rant from our student coach, Jack Strachan ‘14. Much to my amazement, everyone just started laughing, as if it was not a big deal. The student coach doesn’t actually coach; he stands on the sidelines, usually with his team colored suit and clip board in hand sarcastically yelling out orders.

Even though we lost that game, I remember how much fun we had just playing together. It’s not as much about “winning it all” than it is playing with and competing against friends.

Every year I am fired up for the start of Neighborhood Club basketball. It is one of the only times you can play a sport where you are judged, not by one’s skill, but by how much fun you have.

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