About 2 weeks ago, on August 24th-25th, there was a basketball tournament held at San Bernardino Valley College. It usually began in the morning around 9am and lasted until the afternoon around 4pm. I had attended this event to show my support and encouragement for my younger cousin who was competing with his basketball team. The purpose of this event shows that it promotes the traveling basketball program, encourages kids and teenagers to be active and inspires other kids who enjoy basketball to join the program..The reason for this event is to encourage kids to sign up for a traveling basketball team and get the experience to compete in events. Kids and teens who are interested in this organization can help build their confidence and set higher athletic goals for themselves. The process of this organization begins with applicable teams who play previous games at other schools and as they continue winning, they are able to attend bigger competitions and win awards.
This event affects a large number of people who are parents of basketball kids and want to support their basketball interests. Sports have been very popular throughout the years and many famous athletes start off small. A traveling basketball program shows that it can be a start of a child/teen’s future athletic career. An event taken place in the San Bernardino area seems likely convenient for those who live in the Inland Empire and are a fan of basketball.
The Summer Finale Tournament involved well-known organizations and individuals as there were coaches who worked for the program. As well as other teams from different schools who participated in the tournament. The founders of the basketball program were involved as well.
The key individuals involved in this event were my cousin and his basketball team. As a family, we attended to show our support and cheer him on for his huge competition. During this event, it was a huge gymnasium that was filled with many friends and family. Teams from other schools were either practicing or having pep talks with their coaches. My cousin was around his team, talking about strategies and how to work together to make scores. The purpose of the event was to watch out for the best basketball team, as well as focusing on specific players that stood out the most. Overall, it is meant for the athletic kids to show what they got and how skilled they are on their favorite sport.
For the interviews, I was able to interview my cousin and his parents.
As I interviewed my cousin, I asked:
Q: Before arriving at the tournament, what was going on in your mind?
A: “I felt nervous and excited at the same time. Wondering if I was going to mess up, trip and fall on the court or if I’ll be okay throughout the entire game.”
Q: Compared to your previous games, how did this competition make you feel?
A: “This competition felt more intense to me because there were a lot more people than I expected. I was more used to a lesser crowd.”
Q: What do you usually do to calm your nerves down before a basketball game?
A: “I like to listen to music with my headphones in while I shoot some free throws. At the same time, it’s a mini practice for me to improve my moves and skills to use against the other team.”
Q: How did you feel after winning the competition and receiving a big award?
A: “I was happy and proud of myself and my team who worked together and made it possible. I felt confident in myself to put all my effort into winning and it successfully worked out. It inspired me to continue my dream to become a professional basketball athlete.”
Moving forward, I had asked some questions to his mother, Kaila:
Q: What were your expectations before attending this kind of event?
A: “I expected lots of people who were friends and family that were filled with encouragement and support for their teams. It was very hype and loud as the crowd continuously cheered and shouted positive comments to their teams and boosted their confidence.”
Q: What are your thoughts on an event/tournament like this?
A: “An event like this helps promote the basketball program and inspire kids to sign up. I think the energy around the room was filled with excitement that allows kids to see and feel encouraged to pursue a sports dream.”
And lastly, a few questions I had asked his father, Randy, were:
Q: What do you think about the tournament and attending an event like this?
A: “I have always been a fan of sports since I was young. Basketball was my favorite of all sports and I liked the love and support that was spread around the room. Having an actual tournament/competition is a great way to promote the sport and encourage other kids to try it out.”
Q: What is your insight about the tournament?
A: “I enjoyed the energy, anxiety, and excitement all around. Seeing the stress on the crowd’s faces when their team was either close to losing or winning, it was funny. The excitement was hyped up and made me feel more energetic throughout the games.”
In conclusion, the Summer Finale Tournament was a fun experience for my cousin, my family, as well as myself. This proved to all of us that my cousin’s passion for his favorite sport is growing into something bigger and better. I enjoyed the concept of this event as it can inspire other kids and teenagers out there to build a career in a sport. Starting off small from playing basketball in your backyard can lead to you playing basketball in front of huge crowds and exciting competitions.
