PAST YNBA PLAYERS TESTIMONIALS

My time spent as both a player and coach in the York North Basketball Association, the then Newmarket Basketball Club, were truthfully some of the most incredible experiences in my life. During that time I made friends I will never forget, found role models to look up to, and managed to do it all while playing the sport I loved and still love today. For me, playing basketball on the weekends meant more than just bouncing and shooting a ball at a net, it meant that it was once again time for me to enter a world of competitive, yet accommodating, sport with teammates, opponents, coaches, and parents who I was more than happy to be around. Win or lose, it never really mattered, because our coaches and teammates always understood the true reasons why we played on those weekends, and it was simply to have fun while making an effort to improve our skills in a sport that we were all passionate about. Although I must admit, I seem to remember the feeling of winning the few championship games that I had the pleasure to partake in with my various teams. As I said, the coaches were always so amazing in what they did and truly created an environment for every player to feel comfortable to just have fun and improve whatever aspect of their game that they wanted to develop. For that reason, I was so eager when the time came for me to become a coach, as I was granted the opportunity to do the exact same thing for youth players whose faces reminded me of my own when I first started playing in the YNBA. I felt both excited and nervous at the same time, because I knew I had the responsibility to provide the same great experiences for my players that I had received in my earlier seasons, the experiences that I remember so fondly and will never forget. I am proud to say that I accomplished that task, and the reason I know that to be true is because I have never forgotten the enthusiasm and excitement of my players from those years, and I’m positive that they haven’t either. My first season as a coach my team brought me to the championship game and unfortunately we lost, but the memories were priceless and I made sure that my team knew how proud I was to be their coach. My second season as a coach however, my team managed to bring me to the championship game and we had the pleasure of winning. I won’t ever forget their faces and the enjoyment they felt after their hard work and effort had come to fruition, it was quite an amazing sight. The beautiful thing about playing or coaching basketball in the YNBA is that not only do you have the opportunity to improve upon your skills involving the game of basketball, but you also inadvertently develop life skills that are extremely valuable, including but are not limited to, leadership, teamwork, confidence, character, and the importance of hard work and initiative. I am currently in the process of applying to Faculties of Education throughout Ontario, and I can say with confidence that my time in the YNBA provided me with these invaluable life skills, and also encouragement for what I always wanted to pursue in my life. It is these experiences that I will always treasure, will always provide me with a foundation for the career path as an educator, and what has ultimately confirmed my passion for not only the game, but far more than I ever imagined. I want to thank the YNBA and all those involved for providing me with priceless memories and skills, and for continuing to do it for the youth today.

- Andrew D. Creek