Hey guys, it’s your boy here, back again with another one of my little adventures. This time, it’s about basketball, specifically something called “OSSAA basketball”. Now, I ain’t no expert, but I got involved, and let me tell you, it was a ride!
So, it all started when I stumbled upon this thing called the “OSSAA”. Turns out, it stands for some association for high school activities in Oklahoma. I was curious, you know? Always up for learning something new. So, I dug deeper. Found out they organize all sorts of stuff, including basketball. I mean, who doesn’t love a good game of hoops, right?
First thing I did was check out their calendar. They had this whole schedule laid out for the 2023-2024 season. Rules meetings, state championships, the whole nine yards. It was pretty organized, I gotta give them that.
Next, I got into the rules. Man, they’ve got rules for everything! There’s this “Link Rule” thingy, where if a coach moves to a new school, he can’t just take his star players with him. Makes sense, I guess. Keeps things fair. Also, if a student is in a camp by a member school they can’t play for another school. Kinda strict if you ask me.
- And get this, a typical high school game is 32 minutes long, split into four 8-minute quarters.
- They even have a halftime break, around 10 to 15 minutes.
- Oh, and if you’re in seventh or eighth grade, forget about playing varsity. You gotta wait your turn, kiddo.
Then there’s this whole section on when the season starts and ends, and some rule about non-scholastic basketball. I didn’t quite get that one, but hey, I’m not planning on going pro or anything.
I spent a good chunk of time just reading through all this stuff. There’s even a shot clock now apparently. And don’t get me started on the faxes they want to send, who even uses those anymore.
But here’s the kicker. I actually went to one of their games. And let me tell you, the energy was electric! The crowd was wild, the players were giving it their all, and I found myself getting really into it. It was awesome to see these young athletes in action.
What I learned
So, what did I learn from my little OSSAA basketball escapade? Well, first off, high school sports are a big deal, at least in Oklahoma. There’s a lot of time, effort, and passion that goes into it. Second, rules are important, even if they seem a bit much sometimes. They’re there to keep things fair and organized. And finally, there’s nothing quite like the thrill of a live game, especially when you’re surrounded by a bunch of enthusiastic fans.
Would I do it again? Maybe. It was definitely an experience. But for now, I think I’ll stick to watching from the sidelines. Or maybe just shooting some hoops at the local park. After all, I’m just a regular guy, sharing my little adventures with you all. Until next time, stay cool, folks!
