As a young boy, Anthony Foster didn’t know anyone on his YMCA basketball team. It didn’t take long before he was making connections and learning to be part of a team — skills that he has carried with him into adulthood.
Today, Foster is a father and coaches his daughters’ basketball teams on the same YMCA courts he played on growing up. Although his daughters have played in more competitive leagues, he always brings them back to the Y because of the positive learning environment it offers.
As a coach, he thinks back to what would’ve helped him develop as a young player and passes that onto his team. He knows simple things, like making a basket or a good pass, are important for building confidence. And when a kid improves, their face lights up with accomplishment.
“I really enjoy the process of helping kids learn things about themselves that they didn’t know before through sports.” Foster said. “It makes me happy to see themselves grow into new roles and progressing not just in basketball but in life.”
Foster also has stayed connected with the Y because of the community he’s built over the years. He sees the same kids every season, getting to know the parents and the coaches. It’s a place that has always been there for him in every stage of life.
“With there being so many YMCA branches, you just see that small piece of community everywhere,” Foster said. “Going through high school and college, I’d come across people I knew from youth sports, and now their kids are playing in those same leagues. It’s generational, it’s really cool to be a part of.”
