't Atrium workshop: freestyle basketball full of energy and inspiration

The Atrium freestyle workshop

Shows & Workshops

The Atrium workshop with a strong start

Sometimes a great collaboration simply starts with a good conversation. For this The Atrium workshop It started with contact with Leroy de Jager, a committed and passionate PE teacher with a genuine bond with the school. That was exactly what you felt immediately. Someone who not only teaches, but also truly looks at what students need and how to create something that sticks.

Leroy had previously come into contact with workshops offered annually at the school. Basketball had briefly fallen off the radar back then, but he found his way back to us through our website. From that moment on, things moved quickly. We talked about the content, our teaching methods, and especially about why we do what we do. For me, those are always the conversations that radiate energy, because you feel that there is a passion on both sides for development, experience, and impact.

The Atrium workshop in full action

At the end of March, the time had finally come, and we got to give a freestyle basketball workshop to all first-year students. Naturally, this is something that suits us perfectly. The day started early, very early even. By a quarter to seven, we were already in the car for the drive to Amersfoort. Driving for an hour and a half with traffic jams lurking is sometimes just part of the experience, but that only makes the satisfaction all the greater later in the day.

Once we arrived, fortunately, we still had enough time to settle in calmly and talk to one of the teachers about his passion for education. Moments like that often set the tone for the day for me. You can immediately sense whether a school is truly engaged. And that was absolutely the case here. During all five lessons, the teachers were present, participated actively, and stood visibly alongside their groups.

As always, the students were also treated to a show. Not only as extra inspiration, but also to demonstrate what is possible if you believe in your dreams and work hard for them. Afterwards, we dove into the workshop and took the groups into the world of freestyle basketball, where creativity, guts, and fun take center stage.

What made this 't Atrium workshop special

What I noticed again that day is that a basketball is much more than just a ball. To me, it symbolizes possibilities. Trying. Showing yourself. Daring to discover what you don't yet know. That was also exactly the message we conveyed to the students. If you don't know something, at least give it a chance. And when you are somewhere, truly be there. With attention, with energy, and with who you are.

That message was reflected in the games, the challenges, and the forms of collaboration. Each group was given slightly different tricks, tailored to what I saw during the warm-up. That customization brings it to life. And yes, the last class also had a few rough diamonds walking around. That always makes me personally extra happy.

At the end, of course, they wanted to test if I could really play. Before I knew it, they all wanted to play one-on-one. Because time was ticking away, we eventually turned it into 10-on-1. It just about went well, but that wasn't what it was about. It was about them feeling seen and heard. That they had fun. And that they went home with new tricks, new energy, and perhaps also a new perspective on basketball and the culture surrounding it.

More than a workshop

For us, this was another one of those days where everything came together: committed teachers, enthusiastic students, room for expression, and an atmosphere where everyone was allowed to participate in their own way. That is precisely why school workshops remain so special. You don't just teach a lesson; you set something in motion.

Are you also curious about what a freestyle basketball workshop can mean for your school or students? Feel free to take a look at our website and discover what is possible.