Man, I remember a while back, I was really trying to get into something, anything, to shake off the rust. You know how it is, work grinds you down, you get home, plop on the couch, and suddenly a year’s gone by and you haven’t really done anything. I tried jogging for a bit. Lasted about a week. My knees were screaming, and honestly, staring at the same cracked pavement every morning got old, fast.
Finding a New Groove
So, I was complaining to my buddy, Mark, about my failed fitness ventures. He’s one of those guys who’s always got some activity on the go. He mentioned this “Al Salam Basketball” thing. Said it was a pretty casual setup, just people getting together to play. I was skeptical, you know? Team sports? Me? I hadn’t seriously played ball since high school, and even then, “seriously” is a strong word.
But Mark was persistent. “Just come down once,” he said. “No pressure. Worst case, you shoot around for an hour.” So, I figured, what the heck. Better than another evening re-watching old shows.
First Steps on the Court
I showed up that Tuesday evening. The place was, well, a basketball court. Nothing fancy. A few guys were already there, warming up. I felt a bit awkward, not gonna lie. Like the new kid in school. Mark waved me over, introduced me to a couple of guys. They seemed alright. No pro attitudes, which was a relief.
My initial “practice” went something like this:
- Getting the feel: I grabbed a ball and just started shooting. Clank. Clank. Airball. Yeah, it was rough. My arms felt like wet noodles.
- Joining in drills: After a bit, someone suggested some simple passing drills. That helped. Loosened me up a bit, got me talking to a few more people.
- The first pickup game: Then came the dreaded, “Wanna run a game?” My heart did a little jump. But, you know, peer pressure and all that. So I joined a team.
That first game, I was mostly just trying not to trip over my own feet or get in anyone’s way. I think I scored one accidental basket. But it was… fun. Sweaty, exhausting fun, but fun nonetheless.
The Regular Routine and What I Noticed
I actually went back. And then again. It kinda became a thing. My Tuesday “Al Salam Basketball” night. It wasn’t super organized, more like a consistent gathering. People just showed up, formed teams, and played. Sometimes it was intense, other times more laid back.
Here’s what I jotted down in my mental notes over those weeks:
- The Vibe: Generally pretty welcoming. You had your more serious players, sure, but also plenty of folks like me, just there to run around and have a good time. No one was yelling at you for missing a shot, which was key for me.
- Skill Levels: All over the place. Some dudes could really play, draining threes and making fancy passes. Others were clearly beginners. It usually evened out in the games.
- The “Organization”: It was pretty loose. Whoever got there first kind of got things rolling. Sometimes we’d have to wait for enough people for a full game, other times it was straight into it.
- The Physical Part: Man, I was sore after those first few sessions. But in a good way, you know? Reminded me I actually had muscles. Slowly, my shots started to fall a bit more, and I wasn’t gasping for air after two minutes.
It wasn’t about becoming a superstar. It was just about showing up, moving, and being part of something. I even started looking forward to it. Got myself some actual basketball shoes instead of my beat-up trainers. Felt official, haha.
So yeah, that was my little adventure with Al Salam Basketball. It wasn’t some life-changing epiphany, but it definitely beat jogging past that same cracked pavement. It got me out of the house, got me moving, and I met some decent people. A good, simple way to break the routine, that’s for sure.
