Basketball; More than a Child's Game

Basketball may be a game, but to some it's much bigger than that. For some, Basketball is life changing and is exactly what they needed. Gary Bestman, a former WCSU player, who now coaches at the high school level in his home of Springfield, Massachusetts, believes basketball saved his life.

"I knew Basketball would keep me off the streets and out of trouble, plus I loved playing it. And now it's my turn to motivate these kids, be a positive influence for them, and hopefully the game could have a similar effect on them," Bestman said.

When doing something you love it can become therapeutic, whether its music, sports, writing. For WCSU junior, Brendan Stewart, playing Basketball has that affect for him.

“Basketball helps me escape reality, anything causing me pain or stress, and on the court I feel at peace and can be my true self,” Stewart said.

Basketball may be something one may fall in love with as a child, but as they grow older and wiser, it’s something they hope to pass onto the youth and hope it can have the positive, life changing affect for the future generation as well. As sweet as the sound of the ball swishing through the net is, Basketball also teaches trust, teamwork for success on the court, and leadership. As a kid you play because it's fun and maybe become inspired by watching the professionals on the TV make everything look so easy. The older you get, the more you take from the game and what it has to offer. How it can start with a child's dream and love to then evolve into a man's reality.