FLOYDADA, TX – “We felt there was a need for our kids to have the fundamentals of basketball,” is why a group of parents stepped up and brought back the PIP program this year.
Teysha Cornelius explains that Players in Progress, or PIP, is a performance program specializing in basketball skills, drills, and tricks. It is essential because it creates an early interest in basketball while encouraging the development of ball-handling skills, stimulating self-discipline, and helping to build self-confidence.
She and Jordan Beedy, Stacey Reddy, Jana Garza, Megan Aleman, and Jennifer Emert are preparing for their final public performance tonight at Whirlwind Gym.
“We felt there was a need for our kids to have the fundamentals of basketball,” the elementary teacher explains. “A few of us did PIP when we were kids, and we know how much it impacted us, and we wanted that for our kids coming up.”
This is a perfect example of listening to the teacher since Cornelius, the former Teysha Matthews, led Vega to a state semifinal game, was named to the UIL 2A State Tournament Team in 2009, and played at South Plains College.
“I think it is also a great thing to help kids understand how to be ‘coachable’,” she adds.
Though this is the end of the PIP season in Floydada, she thinks the kids (Kindergarten through 5th grade) might get an earlier start next year, maybe in September.
“I think there are a lot of fun things for our kids’ futures,” she adds. “If there were kids not able to participate this year, I hope they can next year – it really is fun!”
