Rezball

Rezball, short for "reservation ball," is a special way of playing basketball. It is linked to Native Americans. People play it most in high schools in the Southwestern United States, where many Indian reservations are.

Over time, rezball has become very important to the people living on these reservations. The sport can bring people together, but it can also show some of the challenges they face.

Description

Rezball is a fast-paced style of basketball. Teams move quickly and play aggressively, trying to score and defend well. Many Native Americans learned basketball at special schools run by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. They added their own quick running, fast passing, and swift scoring, which helped create rezball. This style of basketball brings communities together and helps them support each other on reservation lands.

Origins of Rezball

Native Americans played games like basketball a long time ago. They started playing basketball when they were placed in special schools run by the BIA. This began in the late 18th century and early 19th century.

Importance of Rezball Within the Native Indigenous Community

Rezball is very important in Native American culture. It is a sport that families enjoy together for many years. Players often feel pressure to do well because of their families' hopes. For most Native Americans, playing basketball in high school is the highest level they can compete at as amateurs, and many stop playing after they finish school. For those who continue, they face challenges such as adjusting to life beyond the reservation and dealing with social difficulties.

Schools and Regions Known for Playing Rezball

The Apache, Pueblo and Navajo tribes in northeastern Arizona and northwestern New Mexico have many high schools where basketball is very popular. In Arizona, some of the biggest crowds at boys' basketball games happen at rezball games.

Arizona has some huge arenas for basketball, like The Nash Center in Kayenta and the Bee Hółdzil Fighting Scouts Events Center in Fort Defiance. These big arenas attract many fans from around the Navajo Reservation.

New Mexico also has many top high school basketball teams, especially in girls' basketball. Schools like Kirtland Central and Shiprock have won many state championships. The state finals are held at The Pit on the University of New Mexico campus.

Rezball is not just in the Four Corners region. In 2017, the girls' team from the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians reached the state tournament final.

High schools

Arizona

Cibecue High School, Cibecue, Arizona
Shonto Preparatory Technology High School, Shonto, Arizona
St. Michael High School, St. Michaels, Arizona
Salt River High School, Scottsdale, Arizona
Rough Rock High School, Rough Rock, Arizona
Baboquivari High School, Sells, Arizona
Red Mesa High School, Teec Nos Pos, Arizona
San Carlos High School, San Carlos, Arizona
Piñon High School, Piñon, Arizona
Valley High School, Sanders, Arizona
Greyhills Academy High School, Tuba City, Arizona
Hopi Junior/Senior High School, Keams Canyon, Arizona
Many Farms High School, Many Farms, Arizona
Alchesay High School, Whiteriver, Arizona
Ganado High School, Ganado, Arizona
Holbrook High School, Holbrook, Arizona
Winslow High School, Winslow, Arizona
Window Rock High School, Fort Defiance, Arizona
River Valley High School, Mohave Valley, Arizona
Tuba City High School, Tuba City, Arizona
Monument Valley High School, Kayenta, Arizona
Chinle High School, Chinle, Arizona
Page High School, Page, Arizona
Rock Point High School, Rock Point, Arizona
Fort Thomas High School, Fort Thomas, Arizona

New Mexico

Laguna-Acoma High School, Laguna, New Mexico
Santa Fe Indian High School, Santa Fe, New Mexico
Magdalena High School, Magdalena, New Mexico
Tsé Yí Gai High School, Smith Lake, New Mexico
Jemez Valley High School, Jemez Pueblo, New Mexico
Pine Hill High School, Pinehill, New Mexico
Navajo Pine High School, Navajo, New Mexico
Navajo Prep High School. Farmington, New Mexico
Dulce High School, Dulce, New Mexico
Ramah High School, Ramah, New Mexico
Newcomb High School, Newcomb, New Mexico
Crownpoint High School, Crownpoint, New Mexico
Zuni High School, Zuni, New Mexico
Wingate High School, Fort Wingate, New Mexico
Rehoboth High School, Rehoboth, New Mexico
Tohatchi High School, Tohatchi, New Mexico
Thoreau High School, Thoreau, New Mexico
Bloomfield High School, Bloomfield, New Mexico
Shiprock Northwest High School, Shiprock, New Mexico
Shiprock High School, Shiprock, New Mexico
Kirtland Central High School, Kirtland, New Mexico
Miyamura High School, Gallup, New Mexico
Gallup High School, Gallup, New Mexico
Piedra Vista High School, Farmington, New Mexico
Farmington High School, Farmington, New Mexico
Aztec High School, Aztec, New Mexico
Native American Community Academy, Albuquerque, New Mexico

Elsewhere

Cherokee High School, Cherokee, North Carolina.
Sherman Indian High School, Riverside, California
Wyoming Indian High School, Ethete, Wyoming
Whitehorse High School, Montezuma Creek, Utah
Ignacio High School, Ignacio, Colorado
Monument Valley High School, Monument Valley, Utah
Navajo Mountain High School, Navajo Mountain, Utah
Uintah River High School, Duchesne, Utah

Native American Basketball Invitational (NABI)

The Native American Basketball Invitational (NABI) started in 2003. It was created by Mark West, a former Phoenix Suns player, the late Scott Podleski, and GinaMarie Scarpa. Every year, the NABI Foundation holds a special basketball tournament in Arizona for Native American teams.

Big names like Nike N7, many Native American tribes, the Phoenix Suns, and the Phoenix Mercury help make it happen.

Now in its 17th year, NABI is known as the top tournament for Native American youth players worldwide. In 2007, it became the first tournament for only Native teams to get approval from the NCAA. This happened because GinaMarie Scarpa asked the NCAA to honor Tribal Sovereignty. The tournament brings together over 128 teams from the U.S., Canada, and New Zealand. It’s a great chance for players to show their skills to college recruiters.