How to Locate a Pick-Up Basketball Game

For those who love basketball, it is often hard to continue playing when you leave high school, college, or any place where you were able to play regularly. This is why it is important to know how to find and participate in pick-up basketball games.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Ability to work well with others
• Your own basketball

1. Make a list of basketball courts. This is best done by searching for your city's parks and recreation website, then locating a list of public basketball courts. If you are unable to locate a list like this, make a list of local elementary schools, public parks, and playgrounds.

2. Scout out the basketball courts. Get dressed and ready to play a game, then drive or bike to the one closest to your home. Most games will be going on either in the early evening of weekdays or on Sunday afternoons, so take this into consideration. Continue scouting until you have found a game in progress. It may take a few days or weeks of scouting, but the result will be worth it.

3. When you have found an active game, walk up to the side of the court. If there are people standing on the side, not participating, ask who has the next game. You can normally just ask 'who has next?'. Sometimes you will be offered a spot with the next team at this point, other times you will have to follow up by asking whoever does have the next game if you can play with them. This is normally best asked by 'can I run with you/ya'll?'.

Tips & Warnings

• After you have found a court with a regular game that happens there, try to play as regularly as possible. This will increase your acceptance with the group and could give you a chance to play in some of the more competitive games.
• Be aware of your surroundings! Not all public parks are created equal. Some might be unsafe.

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on 10/2/2009 very logical article as well as organized. thank you