Rec Report: Junior basketball program builds foundation for life

By Brandon Hassid

The city of Davis junior basketball program has always been a fun and exciting atmosphere where young basketball players make new friends, learn basketball skills and build life skills, such as teamwork and sportsmanship.

I have been a part of the city of Davis junior basketball program since I was a 7-year-old who had just moved to Davis.

For the past five years, I have been a coach in the basketball league and camps, and have had the privilege of helping many young players grow and develop, some of whom had never touched a basketball before. From 7-year-old beginners, they become proficient, well-rounded players by the age of 12.

In addition to learning skills, players develop friendships and learn social skills. During the season, the teams become tightly knit. The coaches are able to get to know their players and make a personal investment in seeing the players’ progress over the course of a season.

One of the greatest feelings as a coach is watching a young team successfully execute a new play or skill that you have taught them and seeing the joy they experience because of it.

It’s easy to see that the players are having a great time, all the while learning these new skills. The sheer excitement of a team jumping up and down and celebrating after a win, or a young player pumping his fist in the air after he made a basket, permeates the gym, reaching the parents, coaches and other players. But most importantly, after every game, players always shake hands and congratulate each other.

The city of Davis junior basketball program creates a fun, positive environment where each player has the opportunity to be a part of a team, where every player is valued and where everybody plays. The goal is to promote good sportsmanship and to allow each player the chance to learn and have fun on the basketball court.

The combination of enthusiastic coaches, an emphasis on teamwork and an opportunity for children of all skill levels to learn and improve in basketball is what makes the city of Davis junior basketball program so special, and still so valuable after so many years.

Registration for the junior basketball program is open now. The season begins the week of Jan. 14 and runs for seven weeks. For more information and to register, visit http://community-services.cityofdavis.org.

— Brandon Hassid of the city of Davis Community Services Department has coached and officiated in the junior basketball program and has coordinated the summer basketball camp program and the fall PeeWee basketball program.