Leaders of Unites #119 - Raf Meulenbeld
"I am athletic and competitive by nature"
I was born in Amsterdam and moved to a small village in Drenthe when I was five
My name is Raf and I’m 22 years old. I was born in Amsterdam and lived there until I was five. After that, my parents and I moved across the country to Eext, to be precise, a very small village in the province of Drenthe. My mother was originally from the area, and my father never really felt at home in the city.
I had a really good childhood. Life in the village was peaceful, and we could always play outside. That’s where you would often find me with friends and neighbors. We usually played football on the square or at the local club. Even though I also liked basketball, hardly anyone played it, and there wasn’t a basketball club in the village.
When my parents separated when I was fourteen, I moved to Paterswolde, about twenty kilometers from Eext. That’s where I first joined a basketball club: Exercitia ’73. Funny enough, my mother had also been a member there when she was young. As a kid, I already watched the NBA a lot. I thought it was amazing to see the best basketball players in the world in action.
I am athletic and competitive by nature
I enjoyed basketball right away and was able to keep up with the level. My height helped a lot. I grew quickly around that time and now I’m 1.92 meters tall. I’m also fairly athletic and very competitive. If I do something, I want to do it well, and preferably win. On top of that, I love the vibe and culture around basketball: everyone is committed, but at the same time very laid-back with each other.
Through H.S.V.B. in Haren, I eventually got invited to play at Celeritas in Groningen. I first played a year in the youth team before moving up to the first team last season. Unfortunately, that ended in disaster: during a game, I tore my ACL. For half a second, my knee was completely out of place.
I had never experienced anything like it before, but I knew right away something was seriously wrong. In May I had surgery on both my ACL and meniscus. I’ll need a few more months of rehab. Hopefully, in about four months I can play basketball again, although I’ll have to build it up slowly. For example, I already know I won’t be allowed any contact with opponents at first.
I’ve chosen not to be a member of a club for now. I’m working on my master’s in Journalism at the University of Groningen and will be doing an internship soon. For that, I’ll probably have to move back to the west of the country. Once I know where I’ll be living and I’m fit again, I’d love to join a club again. For now, I sometimes take a few free throws at local courts to keep the feeling alive.
At a local court in Groningen, I got involved with 3X3 Unites
At one of those courts, at the Noorderplantsoen in Groningen, I first came into contact with 3X3 Unites. I had already joined some of their clinics and activities when someone asked me if I wanted to give a clinic myself. That sounded cool to me, so I decided to take the 3X3 Leaders Course.
I really enjoyed it and learned how to coach in a positive way, explain drills clearly, and present myself with confidence. When you’re standing in front of a group, it’s important to have an open attitude. I found it funny to experience how quickly young people see you as a role model if you can clearly and positively communicate what you want. They really look up to you.
These days, I regularly organize activities or give clinics myself. I do this in different places. Sometimes it’s on an outdoor court, other times we take over a PE class at a school. The reward for me is the fun that young people have through 3x3 basketball. If they walk away with a smile, I’m completely satisfied.
As for the future, I’m not exactly sure yet. I’m keeping my options open. But I do have one clear goal for the coming year: by May I want to be fully fit again, so I can compete in the 3X3 Pro League. I can’t wait to get back on the court. Basketball really is the best thing there is for me.
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