My students need the opportunity to have the playing field leveled by receiving training items, like basketballs and defensive mannequins, that their more financially fortunate counterparts have access to.
This project is part of the Black History Month celebration because it supports a Black teacher or a school where the majority of the students are Black.
My Students
Confidence is a little thing that goes a long way. The simple feeling of knowing that you are doing something correctly and looking good while doing so does wonders for the self esteem of the youth. My student athletes are 6-8th graders at a K-8 elementary school in Newark, NJ which is in the heart of the inner city. In Newark, NJ students must apply to High Schools through a process similar to the college application process. Coupled with their academics, my players use sports as an opportunity to gain acceptance into a strong academic high school. My student-athletes are well behaved students who are ambitious, focused, and goal oriented.
They show up to school each day, take part in our after school team study hall, and consistently show up for and work hard at practices.
Unfortunately due to budget cuts and other academic priorities, our school’s finances cannot always match our student’s athletic ambitions. That’s why, much of our sports equipment is in need of replacement.
Many times when we show up to games and tournaments, the discrepancy between the quality of our fundamentals and physical strength, and that of the teams we play against is clear.
My Project
Each of these items will allow my student-athletes to become better overall players. The Wilson Evolution Official Basketballs will give my players a realistic idea and feel of what an in game experience will be like. Most of the basketballs that we use for practice are of a cheaper quality and are not the official size, weight, or feel of the balls that we play with at our tournaments/games. The Spalding Jump Strength Training Aids, will help build stamina and prevent injuries by strengthening my student's cores and making them more physically healthy. The defensive mannequin and blocking pad will teach them basic fundamentals, such as how to box out and shot fake. These drills in practice will translate into more fundamental basketball on the court.
More importantly, these higher quality items will boost the self-esteem of my players.
They are aware of the circumstances that they are growing up in. Access to these items are the perfect opportunity to allow them to feel as though they are on a level playing field with their more fortunate counterparts.
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