BouncingSouls Posted July 2, 2014 Posted July 2, 2014 So, I am not LDS and I had a weird experience the other day at a church. My friends, who belong to the church on about 56th south and 7th west, were all going to go play basketball at the church. It wasnt a church ball game, it was just a normal game of pick up... They had me come with. When I got there to play with everyone, I wasnt allowed to play. One of the older men who was monitoring the gym and what not, told me that since I wasnt part of a ward I coudlnt play... Is this a rule or some sorts? Again, it wasnt a church ball game, it was just a pick up game. Thankfully, one of my friends was upset by this and left with me as well..
Calm Posted July 2, 2014 Posted July 2, 2014 (edited) Might have had something to do with insurance though I suspect if so it is a misunderstanding since we are encouraged to invite nonmembers to church activities, but I know of plenty of instances wherenonmembers have played in such games.I also know where the activity was canceled because of insurance concerns (a woman's exercise group...but guys kept playing ball whenever so at least for a time in that stake it was inconsistently applied. Edited July 2, 2014 by calmoriah 1
BouncingSouls Posted July 2, 2014 Author Posted July 2, 2014 I used to go and play at this Lutheran church in Murray, and they would let me play everytime, even though I wasnt part of the church. So I was thinking maybe rules might be different...
ksfisher Posted July 2, 2014 Posted July 2, 2014 I wonder if they've had problems in the past with so many "friends" showing up that the guys who belong to the ward felt they weren't getting enough court time.
BouncingSouls Posted July 2, 2014 Author Posted July 2, 2014 I wonder if they've had problems in the past with so many "friends" showing up that the guys who belong to the ward felt they weren't getting enough court time.That would be understandable, if that were the case. I could see that.
halconero Posted July 2, 2014 Posted July 2, 2014 There's no general rule, it just sounds like it was limited to that guy. I live in Toronto, ON, and our gym is filled with more non-members than members on basketball night. Also, during my mission in Phoenix, a detachment from the Fire Department would use the gym to play some ball in their downtime.
BouncingSouls Posted July 2, 2014 Author Posted July 2, 2014 I figured that it might be just this one guy. Maybe he was having a bad day or something. But good to know its not all over.
Garden Girl Posted July 2, 2014 Posted July 2, 2014 I figured that it might be just this one guy. Maybe he was having a bad day or something. But good to know its not all over.Hello bouncing...I think it is just a misunderstanding on the part of this one fellow... ask your friends to check with their bishop as to what the reason was for your not being allowed to play... when I was a teen growing up, we had all sorts of non-member friends that would come to youth activities with us, and participate in basketball...I have to warn you however... it is a joke in our faith that Church basketball is quite lively... in fact, I saw a Tee-Shirt in the BYU Bookstore that said something like "Church basketball... organized war" or something to that effect. BTW... welcome to the board... hope you like it here... I see you've posted in several threads, so I'll go and see what you have to say... again, welcome... from the beautiful central Oregon coast... GG
Calm Posted July 2, 2014 Posted July 2, 2014 The idea is church basketball is where all the natural aggression the nice Mormon men have but keep pent up is released....
strappinglad Posted July 2, 2014 Posted July 2, 2014 There is an apocryphal story about Hulk Hogan, the pro wrestler . He was asked about the rough treatment in the ring. He replied that it was no big deal as he had played Mormon basketball, which was much rougher. 2
ERayR Posted July 3, 2014 Posted July 3, 2014 There is an apocryphal story about Hulk Hogan, the pro wrestler . He was asked about the rough treatment in the ring. He replied that it was no big deal as he had played Mormon basketball, which was much rougher. I have both played and refereed some of those battles games.
BouncingSouls Posted July 3, 2014 Author Posted July 3, 2014 The idea is church basketball is where all the natural aggression the nice Mormon men have but keep pent up is released....Oh ive played with some LDS guys before. Up in Washington when I lived there, I played every tuesday with a group of guys and one was a returned missionary, who was now a Dr. He was really good so we called him the Dr. in reference to Dr. J. But he was the most physical player I have ever played again. There were times when we had to stop and ask him to calm down lol. Very passionate.
Judd Posted July 4, 2014 Posted July 4, 2014 Based on you saying that an older man who was monitoring the gym stated you couldn't play because you weren't part of the ward would make me suggest this reasonable possibility:Those assigned to watch the building may find themselves in difficult circumstances being responsible for what happens with very poor capacity to regulate it. I coul see basketball being this way. I could be wrong, but I think this had more to do with you not being part of the ward than not being a member. I've seen places where lots of people show up and nobody really is from the ward an it gets difficult to regulate responsibility and keep things in check of the church ends up being a being an open-door gym that doesn't charge fees. Even gyms charging fees can sometimes have difficulty with regulating what happens, despite having paid staff. -A guy who loves to play church basketball.
Storm Rider Posted July 4, 2014 Posted July 4, 2014 So, I am not LDS and I had a weird experience the other day at a church. My friends, who belong to the church on about 56th south and 7th west, were all going to go play basketball at the church. It wasnt a church ball game, it was just a normal game of pick up... They had me come with. When I got there to play with everyone, I wasnt allowed to play. One of the older men who was monitoring the gym and what not, told me that since I wasnt part of a ward I coudlnt play... Is this a rule or some sorts? Again, it wasnt a church ball game, it was just a pick up game. Thankfully, one of my friends was upset by this and left with me as well.. This is a really strange situation and not typical. Our basketball nights in Bellevue Washington ward always had more non-members than members; 10 to 14 guys would show up and play in the Thursday evenings and Saturdays. This is different enough that it would be worth a question to the Bishop about the rules. There may be a worthwhile reason and it could be this is an example of an old codger just acting on his own and misunderstands the rules. I am sorry that it happened; that would be awkward and uncomfortable.
Guest Posted July 8, 2014 Posted July 8, 2014 So, I am not LDS and I had a weird experience the other day at a church. My friends, who belong to the church on about 56th south and 7th west, were all going to go play basketball at the church. It wasnt a church ball game, it was just a normal game of pick up... They had me come with. When I got there to play with everyone, I wasnt allowed to play. One of the older men who was monitoring the gym and what not, told me that since I wasnt part of a ward I coudlnt play... Is this a rule or some sorts? Again, it wasnt a church ball game, it was just a pick up game. Thankfully, one of my friends was upset by this and left with me as well..Although it has a basketball court it is a Church. I was once at a Church ball game when someone called my wife something really bad...the game resumed after I and others removed a drunken fool from the building. Following that the Stake President canceled all games until Priesthood Leadership were at all games. It was only the guy did not end up in jail was two of his brothers getting him in a car and drove away.
firepatch36 Posted July 13, 2014 Posted July 13, 2014 We have non-members play ball on our court all the time.
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