Photo courtesy of St. Francis School

The St. Francis varsity basketball team join their opponents in prayer at center court before the game. 

Life’s lessons at center court

The St. Francis varsity basketball team finds strength in a circle

By Paul Tanaka | Special to the Herald

At St. Francis High School, they take their basketball very seriously.

The Lady Troubadours varsity team has been to the Hawaii State Tournament four times in the past five years. So what are they doing, at center court in their Troubadome gym, sitting in a circle?

“That’s our Circle Time,” said team captain Kristen Enomoto.

“It’s kind of like an intense story time,” she explained. “Coach tells us a story and we go around the circle sharing how it pertains to us or what we got out of it. It’s one of the best things about practice.”

She added, “It has really helped me with my walk with God.”

Circle Time is a way for the teen athletes to talk about their problems — without having to get too personal.

Here’s how it works. The girls are told a story about a person in a particular situation. Because it’s easier to talk about “someone else’s” difficulties, a lively discussion follows. But the girls can easily see themselves in the same situations.

Having them say to themselves, “That’s me,” is very helpful. From there, they can better see what to do about their own behavior. Stories and characters from the Bible are discussed. Players share meaningful proverbs. Christian values become part of the varsity playbook.

Occasionally there are hurt feelings; sometimes there is uncontrollable laughter. It’s all part of Circle Time.

Here’s an example of a story used to start a discussion: “A girl is complaining to her grandmother about life and all the bad things that are happening to her. Meanwhile, her grandmother is at the stove, bringing a pot of water to a boil. Into the pot she carefully places a carrot, an egg and a teabag. ‘Grandma, what are you making?’ The grandmother answers, ‘Grandchild, when you are placed in hot water, are you like the carrot which gets soft? Are you the egg that gets hard inside? Or are you like the tea that changes the hot water into something nice to drink?’”

The players are then asked, “When things aren’t going your way — you’re on the sidelines, you’re not having a good game, your parents are getting after you, you’re having a hard time in school — are you the carrot, the egg or the teabag?”

The discussion begins. Around the circle, each player has a chance to answer and explain.

One of the spiritual habits that has developed during Circle Time is prayer. The players pray before practice, after practice, before the games and after the games. Sometimes even at halftime.

The girls pray so much, their attitudes toward prayer have matured. It is no longer just “asking God for stuff.” Now it is simply “talking to God.” Saying good morning. Thanking God. Asking God a question. Asking for help in school, for wisdom in decision making. Blessing people.

One day in the Circle, the players were challenged to talk to God at some time during the day. At each practice that followed the challenge, a show of hands revealed who actually did. By the third day all hands went up. The players all felt God was with them throughout the day.

Circle Time has even led to praying with the opposing teams.

The St. Francis basketball team belongs to the Interscholastic League of Honolulu (ILH). Though the ILH is composed mostly of Christian-based private schools, prayer seems to have taken a back seat to competition. But at the invitation of our captains, both teams will get together in the final minutes of warm-up time, intermingle, hold hands, form a large circle at center court — and pray. It is an awesome sight.

St. Francis had its share of losses this year, but in God’s scorebook, the Troubadours were 14–0! Undefeated! Why? Every team agreed to pray with us!

Long after the games are forgotten, and the scores become a blur, and the athletic achievements have faded, the lessons learned in Circle Time will stay with these young ladies and will continue to be a part of their lives.

The spirit of God is alive and thriving on the basketball court at St. Francis High School.