Alright, let me tell you about this asfa basketball thing I got myself into.
It started pretty randomly. I was looking to get out and do something, you know, move around a bit more. Sitting around wasn’t doing me any favors. Heard about this ‘asfa basketball’ from a notice board at the community center. Didn’t even know what ‘asfa’ stood for, maybe still don’t, doesn’t really matter.
Getting Started
So, I decided to give it a shot. Dug out my old sneakers, felt kinda silly actually. Showed up at the court they mentioned. First time was awkward, not gonna lie. Just stood there for a bit, watching. Bunch of folks, mostly older than college kids, just casually shooting hoops.
Someone eventually waved me over. Introduced myself, felt like the new kid at school again. They just tossed me a ball. No big pressure, no tryouts, none of that serious stuff. That was a relief.
The Actual Playing
We started playing, kinda half-court, sometimes full-court if enough people showed up. The pace was… well, let’s just say ‘relaxed’ fits. Nobody was trying to be Michael Jordan here. Lots of missed shots, clumsy passes, but also lots of laughs.
Here’s what usually happened:
- We’d just shoot around for a bit first. Warm up, chat.
- Then someone would suggest teams. Usually just dividing whoever was there.
- We’d play. Rules were loose. Call your own fouls, mostly.
- Lots of stopping and starting. Someone needs a breather, someone’s shoe is untied.
- The focus was just on playing, getting some exercise, having a good time.
I wasn’t great. Haven’t played properly in years. My shots were rusty, my dribbling was sloppy. But nobody cared. That was the best part. If you made a good shot, cool. If you air-balled, someone would just chuckle and grab the rebound.
What I Learned (or Re-learned)
It wasn’t about becoming a better basketball player, not really. It was more about the routine. Showing up, running around for an hour or so, sweating a bit, talking to people. Simple stuff.
Found myself actually looking forward to it. Got me off the couch. Met a few decent folks too. We don’t just talk basketball, sometimes grab a coffee after.
So yeah, my ‘practice’ with asfa basketball turned out to be less about skills and more about just participating. It’s low-key, no stress, just a bunch of people trying to stay active and enjoy a simple game. Works for me.
