Article Turned in to a College Class
Submitted by Jared
Some say today's children are growing up in a society where violence has become the norm. Evidence such as the shooting at a Jonesboro, Arkansas elementary school in which an 11 year old and a 13 year old took aim at fellow classmates makes almost everyone fear the worst. But is there a way to steer our children in the right direction?
Andy Lorino, a University of Texas junior, thinks there is a way to help today's youth and keep them off the streets and away from guns, gangs and drugs- on the basketball court.
Lorino's brainchild, Stateball, combines the fun and athleticism of basketball with a basic knowledge of geography. The court is set up like any other basketball court, except that a large map of the United States is painted directly on the floor.
Players are awarded five points for shooting from a state and correctly naming that state before the ball goes in. This twist motivates players to sharpen up their geography skills, and most importantly, teaches them that learning can be fun.
Five points are also deducted from a team's score in the event that a player makes a shot and calls the incorrect state. "Accuracy is the key. Not only in shooting, but in your grasp of geographic knowledge as well. It makes for a smart game" said Mr. Lorino.
Mr. Lorino thought of the idea while playing basketball at Moore Elementary School on the Michael Cahee Memorial Basketball Court, less than a mile from his childhood home.
According to him, a map of the United States had just been freshly painted on the court, and he thought it would be a great idea to make basketball a little bit more educational for the local kids.
"I was tired of seeing kids get in to trouble. They just needed a proper outlet for their aggression" said Lorino. "Stateball is the answer."
Ideally, Lorino would like to see parents playing Stateball alongside their children and giving follow up lessons on the culture and attractions of locations painted on the floor.
Lorino hopes the new sport will spread to communities all across the country. He has termed this new type of sport "athlecational", combining both athletics and education into a safe, exciting activity.
Lorino would like to broaden the scope of his new sport by adding new maps to the court floor, in what he calls the globalization of Stateball. His next step will be painting Europe on the other side of Cahee Memorial Court. According to him, this will raise children's awareness of the world they are growing up in.
Lorino has also decided to open up a Stateball court in Austin, Texas where he attends college. His prospective site is Integration Park, a traditionally gang infested and crime ridden area of the city.
