A Sport Anyone Can Enjoy: Church Ball

Tyce Anderson, 10, dribbling the ball, about to make an offensive move. Anderson plays shooting guard on the “Greenway 1” Church ball team. This game is being played in Alliance Bible Fellowship Church, one of the many locations where Church Ball games can be played. (Photo Credits: Beth Marsh)

Jax Marsh, Staff Writer for The Powderhorn

The Church Basketball League, more commonly referred to as “church ball”, has been around for many years in the high country. The league consists of 10 teams this year, all of which are represented by churches across Watauga County. One of the most appealing parts about this league is actually something that church ball does not have:  tryouts. Anyone who wants to play can play. This pulls in hundreds of high school players across the boys' and girls’ church ball league and sends the message that anyone is welcome to join the league and have some competitive fun. 

Senior Thomas Deiters has been playing basketball since he was young. He joined the middle school team in 8th grade and later went on to join the church ball league his sophomore year of high school. In his sophomore and junior years, Deiters played for the Greenway team, but now, in his senior season, he plays for the Rock. Deiters participates in church ball not just for basketball but for the education that he gains about Christianity.

“Church ball means a lot to me. Church ball is another way I can express/grow my faith, competition, and connect with the community,” Deiters said. “Church ball is a time where I can play hard and compete with friendly competition but also learn different information from the Bible through all the different coaches who speak before the games.”

Deiters particularly enjoys the friendly atmosphere of the game. Deiters is looking forward to being able to play a game that he loves with friends while also being a Christian leader for other people. 

“The community around church ball is great. Everyone comes to church ball games in a good mood and leaves the game with good moods,” Deiters said. “The parents get into the game, but at the end of the day, they know it’s just church basketball and its purpose is to help their kids grow their faith while having friendly competition.”

Senior Jack Garrett has also had a lot of experience with basketball. He played throughout middle school and continued to play basketball into his freshman year of high school. Garrett is hopeful about this church ball season for both competitive and religious reasons. Garrett is hopeful and has set goals for this Church ball season. 

“Hopefully winning the chip,” said Garrett. “But I’d say mainly building a faith-centered brotherhood with teammates and players on different teams.”

Senior Kylie Eldreth has played basketball her entire life. She has played church ball since her freshman year of high school, and this season she’s looking forward to playing basketball with her friends while having god as her main focus. She feels that the church ball league makes important strides to not just improve student-athletes’ basketball skill, but also educate them in Christianity.

“There is definitely a big difference between church and rec ball. The church ball environment is so much more inclusive and Christian-based,” Eldreth said. “I also like how we do a prayer and devotion at the end of each game and practice. I feel like it brings us all together and helps us focus on what really matters.”

Cora Smith, a senior,  has never played basketball before this church ball season. She is excited to join her friends and focus on having a good time with them while learning more about a new sport. The friendly and light-hearted atmosphere of church ball allows her to have an experience that no other recreational league could provide. 

“The community in church ball is super positive most of the time,” Smith said. “We have competitive spirits, but the skills don't always come out, so I become unafraid of embarrassment and can laugh at myself.”

The Church Basketball League provides a safe space for anyone who wants to play basketball to have fun while playing a sport that they can enjoy. The League continues to grow in numbers and popularity as students learn about the league that anyone can join and play a sport that they love - or can learn to love.

“It’s always a fun community. In all honesty, it really is just go out and ball,” Garrett said. “It’s always fun, and there’s never been a dull moment.”