TBE's Youth Ambassador Program resumes in-person programming at Haven for Hope

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by Zach Mason, director of communications

After several months of suspended programming due to the coronavirus pandemic, The Basketball Embassy has begun to phase in some of its in-person activities with a slightly modified, COVID-safe approach. 

TBE’s partnership with local homeless shelter Haven for Hope has fully resumed in-person programming with weekly basketball practices on campus. 

“One of the toughest things about this pandemic, especially for people that work and engage with youth regularly, is so much of the progress that we make and characteristics of success are instilled in person,” Chris Dial, TBE president, said. “We’re so reliant upon the relationships that we’re able to build in person with these young people that are going through so much. So the ability to be back in person with these kids, even with the social distancing, masks, limitations on activities, things like that, it just makes all the difference in the world.”  

While basketball practices have a new look to accommodate CDC guidelines, the general structure and character-driven content remain intact. TBE coaches and volunteers continue to prioritize fundamental instruction paired with intangible life lessons through socially-distanced drills, activities and games.

TBE board member Tim Drolet, who routinely drops in to volunteer at several practices, said the enthusiasm from the kids since returning to the court has been overwhelming.

“One of the things TBE has confirmed through our camps both domestically and overseas is that kids are kids around the world,” TBE board member Tim Drolet said. “They want to play and be active, they excel more with adult guidance, they want to learn to work within a team, and most of all they want to be recognized for their achievements, big or small. That’s what we’ve missed the most.”

The practices at Haven for Hope are part of TBE’s larger Youth Ambassadors Program (YAP), which includes similar programming at various elementary and middle schools in underserved communities around San Antonio. Now in its second full year of implementation, YAP has provided students from low socio-economic backgrounds opportunities to learn the fundamentals of the game from top-quality, service-minded coaches with global experience. 

“It’s a reciprocal thing for coaches and people that practice servant leadership,” Dial said. “Our coaches and staff at The Basketball Embassy thrive and survive on those human connections, and it’s extremely meaningful to our coaches and staff and volunteers to engage with these kids. We’ve missed them and we’re thankful and happy to have the opportunity to be back out there.”

Zach Mason