YFC Hoopfest ‘24
On the first day of Hoopfest, the atmosphere was electrifying and bustling with excitement, just as you would expect. It was estimated that over 250,000 people were in attendance, 500 teams, and roughly 2,000 in play. As we took post outside the Spokane arena, John*, one of YFC’s participating youth, waited for his teammates to play game 2 of the day. With less than 15 minutes until gameplay and no arrival of his teammates, John grew increasingly anxious. One wild thought popped into my mind…why don’t we staff just fill in?
I know what you’re thinking: How could it be fair if grownups played against a high school team? Well, to be fair, they were over 6 feet tall. Along with that, I was wearing Chaco sandals, the other staff member was partly blind, and the fourth man was a friend of ours who just happened to be walking by 5 minutes before the coin flip. We definitely had our disadvantages, to say the least.
After running the idea by John, his optimism put him back in good hope, excited to play and finish the day off strong. He could have given up and would have been justified in doing so. However, John displayed resilience by not backing down. We fought in the scorching sun as many eyes watched, unsure of our team. Surprisingly, Chaco sandals aren’t terrible for basketball as long as you don’t mind some blisters; being partly blind doesn’t mean you don’t have a good defense, and over 25 doesn’t mean you’ll automatically pull a hammy as long as you keep shooting 3’s. And then, against all odds, we ended up winning by 2 points! This unexpected victory was the most meaningful experience John had during Hoopfest.
At the YFC 1010 Center, basketball is a staple in our daily programs. With an indoor half-court, basketball is a year-round activity at the center. This grants the opportunity for staff and volunteers to have interactive communication with our youth. Sports such as basketball are pathways that are used to break down barriers youth face regularly — hopelessness, fear, anxiety, depression, etc. That said, here at the 1010 Center, we know that basketball alone isn’t the complete remedy and can be more than just a game with a ball and a hoop. It’s about the emergence of trusted, safe adults in a child’s life. Trust is very much earned when it comes to serving youth who have experienced abuse, neglect, and abandonment.
Just as John’s teammates didn’t show up for him, many of our youth have experienced similar disappointments. But here at YFC, our staff and volunteers are committed to showing up when others don’t. Every time we show up for a youth, we reinforce their self-worth and purpose. We believe that every youth is worth showing up for, and we’re here to prove it. Our work is making a real difference, inspiring hope and resilience in these young lives.
Our partners Living Water and The Zone Spokane deserve a major thank you for enabling our youth to participate in Hoopfest 2024!
*For the purposes of this story, the student’s name has been changed