Alright, let’s talk about my time getting familiar with the basketball scene over at Ambassador Christian School. It’s funny how these things happen, you know? We weren’t initially looking for a sports powerhouse or anything like that when we first considered the school for my youngest, David.
How We Landed There
It started, like most things, with David. He suddenly got bit by the basketball bug in middle school. One day it was all about video games, the next he was bouncing a ball everywhere. So, when we were checking out Ambassador Christian for its academics and, well, the Christian environment, the basketball program was sort of a background thing for me. But for David? It was a big deal.
We went for a school tour, I remember. Nice campus, good feel. Then David, sharp as a tack, spotted the gym and his eyes lit up. He asked about the basketball team right away. The admissions person was friendly, mentioned they had a team, focused on sportsmanship, that sort of thing. Sounded pretty standard. So, we enrolled him, and academics were the main focus, but basketball was definitely brewing in his mind.
Dipping Our Toes into the Basketball Program
Once school started, David was all over tryouts. I helped him fill out the forms, made sure he had his physical done, got him the right sneakers – the usual parent stuff. He was nervous, I could tell, but super excited. He made the team, not the star player right off the bat, mind you, but he was on it. That’s when my real “practice” with Ambassador Christian School basketball began.
First, it was driving him to practices. They were after school, a few times a week. I’d usually hang around for a bit, sometimes read a book in the car, sometimes wander in to watch the last few drills. The coach, a Mr. Henderson, seemed like a decent guy. Stern but fair, you could tell he loved the game and cared about the kids. He wasn’t just about winning; he was teaching them fundamentals, discipline.
Then the games started. Local league, mostly other Christian or smaller private schools. My wife and I, we’d go to almost all of them, especially the home games. The atmosphere was… cozy, I guess? Not like a giant high school stadium, but very community-focused. Parents knew each other. You’d see teachers in the stands. It felt supportive.
What I Saw and What We Did
Over the next couple of years, I got more involved, not officially, but just as a parent. Sometimes I’d help with carpooling for away games. A few times, when they were short on volunteers, I even helped with the scoreboard, which was more complicated than it looked, let me tell you!
What I really observed, being around the team so much, was this:
- Emphasis on Character: Coach Henderson would talk a lot about respect – for teammates, opponents, referees. Winning was great, but how you played mattered more. I saw him bench a good player once for bad attitude, right in the middle of an important game. That made an impression.
- Teamwork over Talent: He really pushed for them to play as a unit. Lots of passing drills, lots of talk about supporting each other on and off the court.
- Faith Element: Being a Christian school, there was often a prayer before games, and sometimes the coach would tie in lessons about perseverance or humility with biblical references. It wasn’t preachy, just part of their culture.
It wasn’t always smooth sailing. They lost games, sometimes badly. David had his slumps, his frustrations. There were a few times he wanted to quit. But we talked it through, he talked with his coach, and he stuck with it. That perseverance was probably the biggest win.
The Real Takeaway for Us
Looking back, the Ambassador Christian School basketball program wasn’t just about putting a ball through a hoop. For David, it was about learning discipline, teamwork, how to handle disappointment, and how to push himself. For me, as a parent, it was about seeing my kid grow in a supportive environment. It was about community, shared effort, and seeing values being taught through something as simple as a game.
We didn’t go looking for a top-tier basketball program, but what we found was something pretty valuable. It became a really positive part of David’s school years, and honestly, a good experience for our whole family. The wins and losses on the scoreboard? They fade. But the lessons learned, those stick around.
