Places I call home

            My definition of home isn't like most.  Mine is where determination, hard work and the smell of sweat meet.  You might be thinking I'm crazy right about now but, I can assure you that I'm not.  These three things meet at my work.  I work at Evolution Basketball.  Every day I get to see kids from all different towns near and far.  Most come in smiling ready for practice or a private lesson.  Then there are the “Debbie downers” who come in not as happy because either their parents made them or they just didn’t want to come.  Not many “Debbie downers” come through the door though because Evo is such an amazing place. 

The coaches for one are always happy. I would know because I am one.  I love what I do; teaching younger kids how to hold a basketball in triple threat position or how to shoot properly.   Evo is where hard work meets fun.  The kids love to scrimmage and play games against each other.  That’s where the smell of sweat comes in.  Even though the kids are playing games most of the time they have a purpose to them.  A scrimmage teaches the kids how to square up to the basket and attack if it’s open or to cut into open space on the floor.  Even though they are working hard they are having fun while doing it. 

At Evo we have a little chant that we yell before we split into groups for skills and drills or before a game.  “Family on Three 1…2…3…  Family!”  This chant perfectly represents Evo.  We are all one big basketball playing family.  We post Instagram pictures together, tweet about our victories, and our “family” events.  Evo is where kids from other towns are welcomed with open arms to play basketball together.

I am a coach but I’m also a player.  I started playing for Evo in the fall of my sophomore year.  I was kind of hesitant to start.  But I was welcomed and treated as one who has been there for years.  It is an amazing experience.  Not only do you get to play basketball but you get to meet all these amazing people from surrounding towns and become friends with them. 

Thinking back I wish I would have started Evo earlier.  This is my final season and I’m the captain of my team.  Girls have joined and left but most of us have known each other for a while.  That’s what makes a team, a team.  Knowing each other’s strengths and weaknesses and playing to the strength during a game.  Playing with new people is hard because you don’t know how they play.  Being part of a team you learn a lot about each other. And that’s what I love about Evo you are family and family helps each other after a tough loss or even if you had a bad day, because those teammates and coaches turn into friends who care about you.

That is why Evo is my home.  I look forward to going into “work” every day after school and helping someone get what I got out of this outstanding program.