Life skills through sports

They run three miles three times a week. They pass, pivot and dribble down the court, and they're potential champions in a national tournament.

And most can't even afford the ticket to get there.

This is where Sam Smith and Pam Anderson come in. They're co-directors of West Texas Swoosh, a nonprofit program that strives to teach life skills through sports.

On Wednesday, six of the 10 teams that make up West Texas Swoosh are leaving for the West Coast to play in a youth basketball tournament called the Swoosh Freedom Classic in Orange County. The teams, which consist of nearly 100 kids, will caravan and carpool their way to Anaheim, Calif., a long way from the south side of Odessa.

The teams practice at the Boys and Girls Club Woodson Unit three days a week.

"One of the reasons the kids come is it gives them an alternative and it gives them a choice... It teaches them commitment, dedication and discipline," Anderson said. "The majority of the kids are at-risk kids. They come from single-parent homes or are being raised by a grandparent."

Because of this, Anderson and Smith require more than just a knack for basketball.

"One of the things we do is stress education. They must maintain passing grades. When we have 50 percent who aren't passing the TAKS, we offer tutoring," Anderson said.

As a result, Smith said 85 to 90 percent of their kids passed the TAKS test. And when the children get to junior high, they must participate in a reading program where each kid has to read a book and write a three-page essay.

But not only must the kids stay in school, they have to stay out of trouble and attend Bible studies. Smith, who is minister, holds Bible studies while on trips to games.

"If they act up, we'll suspend them," Smith said.

Smith said the program requires that the kids give up most of their summer to practice. He also said they don't turn anyone away because most of these kids "don't have anything."

But as a reward, the teams travel to tournaments, and Smith and Anderson try to make the trips as much like a vacation as they can. Smith said he just got back from Kansas with several teams from West Texas Swoosh.

Even though Anderson and Smith say it isn't all about winning, 12-year-old Ariel Brown said that's what she is looking forward to the most while playing in California.

"We run a lot to get in shape ... It helps me be a better person, and it makes me want to try hard," Brown said.

Javorian Milller has been playing with Swoosh for four years. He recently went on the trip to Kansas.

"It's fun to go see different places," Miller said.

"I'm looking forward to winning, playing hard and giving it all I've got (when I go to California)," the 9-year-old said. "It's one of the ways to get out of Odessa."

While in California, the Swoosh kids will get to go to Disneyland.

"Once they commit to practice, these are trips they go on are like vacation. Ninety-five percent of these kids would never have the chance to go to Disneyland," Anderson said.

The best part about the trips is they don't cost the kids a cent to go. Throughout the year, Swoosh runs fundraisers, accepts donations, holds drawings, sells T-shirts and does anything they can to raise the money. Smith estimated the trip to California will cost somewhere between $5,000 and $10,000 after hotel, travel and meal expenses. What isn't covered by the raised funds, is often covered when Smith opens up his own pocketbook. Not only that, Smith volunteers several hours a week to the program.

"I believe that everybody has a purpose here on this earth to help somebody else. If I can take what I've been blessed with and help one person to realize their purpose, it's worth it. I want my life to mean something," Smith said.

Both Anderson and Smith said if the program helps keep one kid on track, everything is worth it. Anderson said there are a lot of bad influences that kids face living and growing up on the south side of Odessa, but she hopes that this may give them a reason to resist.

"Most are socially disadvantaged, but we offer them something that some of them wouldn't have the opportunity to do," Anderson said. "It gives them a choice as opposed to going to the streets."

Who's going to California?

>> 9 and under boys.

>> 10 and under boys.

>> 12 and under boys.

>> 11 and under girls.

>> 15 and under girls.

>> 14 and under boys.

>> Want to help West Texas Swoosh? Call Pam Anderson at 352-6355 to make a tax-deductible donation.