By Felix Cheng
On a pleasant Saturday morning at the Maple Grove Community Center basketball court on June 28, 2025, the spirit of community came alive as over 50 enthusiastic participants with various culture backgrounds from Maple Grove, Plymouth, Minnetonka, Eden Prairie, St. Paul, and beyond gathered for a fun-filled, family-friendly basketball coaching session hosted by PLEAS.
Leading the charge was Coach Weiwei Ma, a former professional basketball player and current coach of the Minnetonka Girls Travel Team, alongside Coach Assistant Felix Cheng, a passionate senior from Wayzata High School. Together, they brought energy, expertise, and heart to the court.
Coach Ma kicked the event off with dynamic drills, teaching the fundamentals of passing, dribbling, and shooting. Then, the court buzzed with excitement as participants were grouped by age and skill level, with 1st and 2nd graders enjoying playful, competitive drills led by Felix; 3rd to 6th graders teaming up with their parents for a lively practice match led by Coach Ma; and teens battling it out in a full-on game.
Laughter, cheers, and high-fives filled the air. You could hear joyful shouts like “Pass to me, Dad!” and “Mom, I love playing basketball with you!” The court was alive with connection, movement, and pure joy — and by the end, nearly everyone was drenched in sweat and smiles.
One dad shared, “Thank you so much for hosting this gym event! I had a great time playing with my daughter and other parents. I think I’m ready to get back into basketball!” A mom added, “When’s the next family basketball event? My son hasn’t stopped playing basketball with his dad since — and he’d never played it before!”
Felix was deeply moved by the engagement, saying he was thrilled to see kids bonding with their parents and choosing active play over screen time. He planned to work with other PLEAS Board Members to organize more family engagement events in the future.
This wasn’t just a basketball session — it was a celebration of family, fitness, and community.
Fantastic program! My kids really enjoyed it! It is a funny way to introduce new activities to kids!
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