So I’ve been wanting to get back into basketball since moving to Yambol last spring, but man, it’s tough figuring out where to start in a new town. Here’s exactly what I did step by step.
The Search Begins
First thing Tuesday morning, I grabbed my phone and just typed “basketball clubs Yambol” into a search engine. Scrolled through local listings but half the pages were outdated or had zero contact info. Totally annoying.
Asking Real Humans
Later that day at the gym, I straight up asked the trainer pumping weights beside me: “Hey, know any active basketball groups around here?” Turned out his cousin plays at some club near the railway station. Wrote the name down on a gym receipt.
Checking Out Locations
Next morning I drove to three spots:
- Youth Center court: Chain nets missing, concrete cracked everywhere
- School Sports Hall: Guard said teams only play weekends
- Railway Workers’ Club: Dingy building but proper hoops inside
The Registration Hassle
Walked into Railway Workers’ office Thursday afternoon. Lady made me fill out:
- Emergency contact form handwritten twice
- Weird insurance waiver
- Payment slip for 40 lev
Photocopier broke halfway through. Took over an hour just for paperwork. Brutal.
First Practice Reality
Showed up Friday night expecting NBA vibes. Reality check:
- Only 12 guys showed including me
- Oldest dude must’ve been 55 – still crossed me over though
- They use these rock-hard synthetic balls that sting your fingers
My lungs burned after ten minutes. Forgot how much wind sprints suck.
Where I’m At Now
So after all that running around? I’m officially signed up even if my knees hate me. Went back this Tuesday – still worst shooter there but whatever. Coach says they need guys who show up consistently, so guess that’s my role now.
Honestly just glad to have some place to play before work. Even bought my own ball to avoid those bruise-makers. Next mission: convince them to fix that busted water fountain in the locker room.