Came here this weekend like many other weekends for a basketball tournament. This weekend was hosted by skyhook basketball. Before the 6pm all the players were told to gather around in a circle on court 1 where the host facilitated a lengthy prayer. The players had no idea why the were being told to “gather round” till the start of the prayer. The players weren’t given the option not to participate, they were tricked into participating. Even if they were given the option not to participate, the method of which this activity was facilitated would have made it extremely uncomfortable for the children to excuse themselves.

Players and parents alike had no idea what was happening until the man with the microphone began the prayer. Total disregard for consent.

Not only is tricking minors into participating in a religious activity wildly inappropriate, it’s extremely disrespectful to the families that chose other religious or non religious practices.

Nothing about this tournament advertises that it is religiously affiliated. If I wanted my child to attend church services, I would have taken him to a church not a basketball tournament. I do NOT want strangers preaching to my minor child. Ppl have no business preaching to ANY minor children that they don’t know for that matter. Tricking children into participating in a religious activity at a public event is quite concerning.