Pick-Up: Just The Introduction I Needed

When I was younger, it was rare to see girls playing pick up ball around the way. For the most part it’s always been what a bunch of the guys did. I would find myself being the lone female, holding my own against whatever group I came across. Maybe it was due to where I was and how I grew up, but I didn’t see many females out there hoopin’. Especially, not anyone worthy enough for me to call a “hooper.” 

Of course, there would be those times where a girl, whether I was in middle school or high school, would make her way to the courts full of boys in an effort to “play” as a form of flirtation with no real skill with the basketball. For me, as I moved around from country to country, and base to base, playing basketball with the guys was always my formal introduction to a new area. It was what I was good at, what I was confident behind, and I didn’t have to do a lot of talking because I let my game speak for itself.

And as I grew up going about things that way, I would find the group that played often. They also played well. I needed to be around the best group available. One nice move to the basket, a sweet pass, or even knocking down a J in someone’s face.. I never had to speak on it. Now forget an introduction from my end, they knew who I was and told everyone else. 

Although playing this game with the guys is what made me feel more like an insider when I would first move somewhere, it also made me an outsider in some other ways. Wasn’t sure where I fit in if a basketball wasn’t involved. Overall, I became a better person and athlete for it.

I had to learn and adapt to playing with other girls when I was around the 7thgrade. I had played on an all-girls team probably once before that, when I was on Sembach AFB in Germany. But that was by choice, and I was playing 2-3 grades ahead of my own. It was an opportunity to just be around the older girls and learn a couple things, so when I did that my mindset was a bit different. I didn’t feel like this was forced upon me, but more of my choice, if that makes sense.

But when my family moved to the U.S. and I had to play on an all-girls team for 8thgrade at the middle school, I wasn’t too fond of that. I had been at the school and in the area for a little bit now at this point, and I hadn’t seen many girls playing basketball for real. The girls were different, they weren’t the nicest (on and off the court), and I had just battled with school officials about their outdated policies about me (a girl) playing with the boys during recess. 

During this time, a lot of things were still brand new to me considering I had just moved from overseas to America. I was still adjusting, getting to know how things worked. I was on foreign land in foreign territory trying to figure out a new custom and a new way of life. Things were difficult to say the least.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I had some teammates that had a little skill but it was 8thgrade after all, and I was just a bit further ahead in the game. My mindset had a strong focus on the sport at that time. I was, and still am, someone who would play all the time. Every single day if I could. Whereas 85% of the girls around would only touch a ball whenever there was practice and games. And it showed. They didn’t play all the time, they didn’t put in extra work like that, they didn’t play for fun on “off” days. This was only something they did to pass the time during a school year or to be on a team just to say they were a part of one. But for me this wasn’t a game, this is what I wanted to do for many years to come.

I could have practice that day and immediately after it was over hit a gym or a location and REALLY get to work. I loved playing against guys, grown men to be exact. Even though I did have a group of boys around my own age that I would play with and against often. As soon as I was old enough to go to the gym on my own I would play with men twice my age and almost double my size. It became my favorite thing.

I credit playing pick-up to much of my success. Playing against grown men who didn’t want to look bad in front of a little girl went a long way. They didn’t take it easy on me. Well, after the first shot at least. They would begin underestimating me, which usually worked in my favor. But from that point on I was able to gain a bit of toughness, some physical abilities that allowed me to keep up, and a confidence to take with me everywhere I went. 

There are so many things I took away from playing pick-up on a regular basis while I was a kid. This goes for everyone, but especially for young girls playing against boys, here are some of the things that playing pick-up did for me:

-      Allowed me to develop stronger physical abilities at a younger age. (Going up against people twice my size and being able to push them around or take some of their bumps as well.)

-      Taught me how to be aggressive when I had open opportunities.(When you’ve got an open shot, not thinking twice. Or when the lane was finally open to get to the basket, taking that opportunity because it was rarely available.)

-      Helped me develop a shot from long range.(As a 5’2” – 5’7” guard, some times being guarded by a 6’5” 280lbs man, you take what he gives you. And if that happens to be an open look at the basket from 6ft beyond the arc… YOU TAKE IT!! Shout out to Chuck!!)

-      Developed some physical mannerisms on the basketball court that play a huge part in the way I land vs. most females. (First off… **knock on wood**… as I began to play with more females growing up, I always thought that they (most of them) ran “funny”. I even had conversations about this with my Dad. Every time I land, whether on 1 leg or 2, my feet were always under me, and pretty much squared up. And when I would watch other girls, their knees were buckling, or they would go inward whenever landing and jumping. There were so many injuries and ACL/MCL problems. I am blessed to say, that has not been the case for me.)

-      Taught me how to play with different styles of players(Playing pick-up often enough makes you adapt to a new team all the time. Different players, lower/higher basketball IQ, different abilities and personalities.)

-      Taught me a level of scrappiness to earn my keep. (As a female playing this game around a bunch of guys, I was underestimated as soon as I walked into a new setting. I knew that I needed show some people that I was about business as soon as I stepped on the court so they could be confident having me on their team moving forward. Always had to prove myself first and foremost, and I was up for that challenge.)

-      Challenged my mental toughness (Dealing with some sexist individuals from time to time who would say or do things to try and either discourage me from playing with the “big boys” or just the guys that really pushed me to be much better. Whether they played extra aggressively but with GOOD defense, or they just talked their $hi+ thinking I wouldn’t be able to handle it.)

-      Gave me the ability to play in-game situations on the fly without the use of a play being called. (This is actually big for me and a major key. I have seen SO MANY players that are like deer caught in headlights because they cannot play off script and if something goes wrong within a play, they are stuck. Pick-up ball allows you to figure out how to make plays happen on your own. No one is running plays while playing pick-up! Once you get the ball, that’s your opportunity to make something happen and try to get a bucket! This element adds to your game and can make you more versatile.)

And many other things as I look back on it all. It really prepared me as I grew up and the competition got better. I still look forward to playing pick-up to this day. That is a big part of my routine, on top of working out on my own. 

These days you don’t see too many kids, ESPECIALLY girls, grabbing a set of friends and hitting the park or the gym to just play. Or if they do are they really playing competitively? I remember going hard in the parks and in the gym with my friends. We had some true battles. Battles that even tested my friendships. These battles really taught me how to compete and then come back for more. They also tested out some reflexes that I just don’t think you get from training by yourself, or practicing within controlled situations.

Girls, play pick-up because it’s more beneficial than people realize. Don’t be afraid to get out there with the guys. Play with those that are bigger, stronger, faster, and don’t take it easy on you. This is another way and a great way to get better.