I Believe in Basketball by Taylor Wissing

A court, a ball, a net, and ten players. These are all you need to play basketball. You learn many lessons from basketball, you meet so many new friends, and you experience some memories that you will never forget. I believe in basketball.

Basketball teaches many lessons. It teaches how to have a good work ethic. Most likely if you don't have a good work ethic you will not being playing very much. You don't just learn to have a good work ethic on the court but also in other things like school or jobs that you may have. It also teaches you to have a positive attitude. Even if things aren't going your way, you have to keep your composure and not complain otherwise you will be getting yourself into trouble. Instead you learn to take your frustration out on the game and play harder to help your team out. Dedication is learned from basketball or any other sport. You have to learn to dedicate yourself to what you want to do even if it gets hard. Being a good teammate can also be learned. You have to learn to play as a team and not try to make it a one man game.

While you are competing against many teams you still make a large number of friends. You not only make friends by playing on a team and spending time with your teammates but also by meeting the players on the other team. Often times you will play the same team over and over until you really start getting to know them. Then you start talking to them after the game and end up staying in touch with them. It is fun to meet new people from out of the state or from around where you live. Some teammates you become really close to and they end up being a friend you will have your entire life.

There are so many memories you get from playing basketball. For me I have been able to participate in two state championships. This is something I will never forget. Getting the chance to play at the Devaney Center and then also winning the gold medal two years in a row doesn't happen very often. The wins and the losses aren't the only memories you can keep but also the memories of the rides to the tournaments and games. You can also get great memories from the team bonding parties and meals.

I have been playing basketball since I was very little and I never tire of the sport. In basketball there are many great lessons that can be learned. You can make friends that you could end up having the rest of your life, and you have some memories that can last a lifetime. I believe in basketball.