Traveling team teaches players confidence
Published in the Sept. 16-29, 2015 issue of Morgan Hill Life
By Cayman Astalos
Photo by Marty Cheek
Coach Marqus Crawford talks to his squad during a recent practice at Sobrato High School.
Since I was 4, I’ve loved playing the game of basketball. I enjoy the competition and the nonstop action of dribbling the ball down the court. I love it when the opposing players constantly try to steal the ball while I’m setting up a play with my teammates. Somehow, we find the easy layup to get the ball right into the hoop.
The moment that is most exciting is when the game is close and my teammates and I work together to pull out a victory. You feel like you’ve really accomplished something satisfying. I often feel this way with my teammates from MC-Elite Basketball. I’ve played two seasons with this South Valley-based basketball team, and I’ve done multiple off-season training camps and skills classes through the program. We practice and condition at Sobrato High School Gym and Track and the Centennial Recreation Center.
MC-Elite is a traveling team that competes against teams from Santa Clara, Oakland, Rocklin and even overnight tournaments in Reno and Tulare.
Playing basketball provides a lot of fun because it lets us build friendships with the entire team. It’s also fun to compete. When you go to a different city and see the high level of players, such as nationally-ranked athletes you are going up against, you feel a little intimidated by their skill. But it’s a good feeling to beat them.
Basketball also gives young people a lot of benefits both physical and mental. It helps keep their body in shape by all the running and jumping during the conditioning training and practice workouts. At MC-Elite, we’re encouraged to practice basketball skills on our own away from our regularly scheduled clinics. Every player has a workout binder where they log their activities related to basketball during the course of the week and later show it to the coach.
Mental benefits include developing a “basketball I.Q.” which is learning how to make smart decisions on the court in a fast-paced setting. Another aspect of basketball I.Q. is knowing where your teammates are and the opposing team players are so you can identify the defense and offense. It’s also about knowing when to make a pass or not make a pass and reset the play. We also learn whether or not to shoot the ball or to pass it to an open person.
Playing basketball helps you build confidence by making you feel like you can affect the game. You just know what you’re going to do and everything just works. Confidence comes from the skill sets that you have built through practice and hard work.
Basketball also helps you know how to take a loss. It teaches you that if you don’t put effort into a game, you’re most likely not going to win. This is an important life lesson. You’re not going to get anything out of a sport or anything else in life if you fail to give it your all.
MC-Elite is different from many basketball leagues because it’s a program that focuses on building the basketball skills of each player. I encourage the youth of South Valley, girls and boys ages 8 to 16, to consider playing for MC-Elite or attending one of the basketball camps or skills classes. It teaches young people to respect their peers and builds self-discipline.
Cayman Astalos is a freshman at Live Oak High School. He wrote this column for Morgan Hill Life.
