by Billy Donnelly
Youth Programs Associate
Youth Programs Associate
My experience with the Hoop Shoot has been the exact opposite of that. When I started as the Youth Programs Associate at the Elks National Foundation, I had never even seen a Hoop Shoot contest in person. My first contest was my own Lodge’s—Chicago Northshore, Ill., No. 1316—and it was an eye-opening experience.
Two years ago, I went
to the Goethe Elementary gymnasium in Chicago ready to take notes and observe
my first Hoop Shoot from the sidelines. I should have known better. Without
skipping a dribble, my Lodge Secretary Paul Ronzani called me off the bench and
told me that I was going to be a rebounder that morning. I was excited to be involved
and felt like a part of the team. I had a blast that first year chasing down
balls. It was only my first contest, and I already had the best seat in the
house, right by the basket! Except it wasn’t really a seat, and by the end of
the day I felt like I needed to ice my legs!
This year, I didn’t know what to expect. I showed up at Goethe with sharpened pencils and comfortable shoes—ready to work! There was only one position left on the court that I had yet to cover, and it was the position I feared the most. Line judge. Rebounders work as a team. Scorers work separately, but still as a team, and they get to sit. The line judge has no safety net. They are the leaders on the court, and in the spotlight. They make the call to determine if the shot counts, and in the Hoop Shoot, one shot often determines the winner. I have never envied the line judges at any level of competition.
Lo and behold, after we
set up the gym, Paul called me over. I’ll give you one guess as to what I was
going to be doing that day, line judge. I have had the opportunity to watch
some of the program’s best line judges over the years, but actually stepping up
to the line was a different story. I was so nervous for the 8 to 9-year-old
contest, but I knew it needed to be done.
Despite the build-up, and years of
fearing this responsibility, the scorers, rebounders, and I were able to form a
rhythm almost immediately. It did not take long for me to realize that the line
judge isn’t out there alone—they do have a safety net. The entire team of
volunteers is there to support each other and work together. Once I understood
that, I was able to really enjoy myself the rest of the day. Yes, I still went
home tired, but that was because I had spent the morning doing something good.
Despite the build-up, and years of
fearing this responsibility, the scorers, rebounders, and I were able to form a
rhythm almost immediately. It did not take long for me to realize that the line
judge isn’t out there alone—they do have a safety net. The entire team of
volunteers is there to support each other and work together. Once I understood
that, I was able to really enjoy myself the rest of the day. Yes, I still went
home tired, but that was because I had spent the morning doing something good.
I have enjoyed
volunteering at every position during my first three Lodge contests. Each year
I have learned something new, and gained a further appreciation for the Hoop
Shoot volunteers. All across the country, volunteers work tirelessly, both
physically and mentally, in order to give an opportunity to the youth in their
community. It takes a lot of work, but their efforts benefit tens of thousands
of kids every year. At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter how tired or sore
they are. What matters is the difference they made.
Going through the
chairs on the court has really opened my eyes to the sacrifices that Hoop Shoot
volunteers make, and I will never take their hard work lightly. I plan on
continuing to volunteer at my Lodge, so that I can continue to benefit and grow
from my experiences. However, when it comes to the big leagues, the National
Finals, I think I’ll let the Regional Directors handle the court.
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