Activating Empathy Through Play - Silicon Valley

Playworks provides various after-school leagues to give students additional opportunities for safe and inclusive play, focusing on just one sport. These leagues teach skills for each specific sport, while also teaching important team-building and developmental skills. The following story demonstrates how these leagues are truly important for helping students new to the game gain confidence in trying new things.

         One of the coolest things about Playworks Leagues is seeing the growth from the first game to the last. Girls’ Basketball especially was a great time this year. One particular girl who I will call Samantha was very shy and felt intimidated for the first two games. It was hard to even get a smile out of her. It seemed she lacked confidence in herself, making it difficult for her to move around, call for the ball, or take shots to the hoop.

          It wasn’t until the third practice/game when she really started to shine. Something ignited in her and she became much more comfortable being a part of the team. From that point on, she was moving up and down the court, making herself open for passes, and even shooting the ball when she got the chance. I could see she was trying her best, getting rid of any uncertainties, worries, or nervousness. It felt like I had a completely new player on the team! It was awesome to witness such success in someone who started out feeling so unsure of herself.

          For the rest of the season, she ended up being one of the best players on the team. She was making plays and was always there for her teammates. The turn around from week one to the final week was huge, and I was happy to be a part of it. This is why Playworks Leagues are so important: she is now more outgoing, all around happier, and I am sure she will continue to shine as the years go by.

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