First Dribbles

Day 3 of the school camps was at the Tambo school.  This was an opportunity to throw the rookies from Big Bangs Philippines and Australia into the deep end, and let them lead the groups at several points throughout the day.

I never get tired of running basketball camps… seeing every single kid smile, watching their eyes light up, seeing them finish up their sessions yet continue to play the games and run the drills we had taught them only a couple hours before…

At Tambo we managed to take care of over 2,500 kids the entire day, at one point while having not only 300+ kids on the court, but also playing and joking around with another 100 or so kids hanging off the seats and fences!

With so many groups of kids throughout the day, this was the perfect opportunity to get the rookies involved more fully.  A big part of our camps is to create a sense of team and unity amongst all the kids; it is often surprising to those who have not really looked for it to see just how little sense of community younger generations may feel, especially in a society which is so family-orientated.  By playing games and running drills where the kids have to rely on each other, and making sure to encourage everyone, not just winners, we are setting up not only a precedent for how the kids interact in the future, but also ensuring that everyone sees the value of just having fun, encouraging each other and competing in a friendly, fair atmosphere.

We attempt to engage every single child.  Think about the effort it takes to make eye contact with 2,500+ kids…

Keep Running

We make sure the most oft-heard noise are high-fives and giggles, and even when kids make a mistake we make sure they learn quickly and while still haveing as much fun as possible.

Amazing how running can become fun when your friends are doing it with you.

I would like to congratulate the Big Bangs Australia and Philippines rookies who took turns leading the groups, especially Gangang, for their extraordinary work ethic, commitment to the kids and sense of humour.  To any casual observer they did not act like rookies, rather they lead perfectly.

I should note too the enthusiasm and commitment of Big Bangs Philippines.  I couldn’t be prouder of these men and women.

There’s nothing better than seeing a basketball court filled with smiling kids; this trip gave us the privilege to witness wave after wave of these kids on this basketball court.

Team is Everything.

Pierre Johannessen
CEO Big Bangs