Camp teaching youths basketball skills
By Cheeto Barrera, Sports Editor, The Daily Independent
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DAILY INDEPENDENT PHOTO BY CHEETO BARRERA Participants in the Cerro
Coso boys summer basketball camp work on pivoting during a drill on
Wednesday. |
Throughout most of the day at the Cerro Coso boys basketball camp, the
three coaches were trying their best to get the kids to cheer or clap to
support each other.
It seemed that it only took a five-on-three contest with the campers
facing off against the coaches in a first-to-three match.
Each time the campers made a basket, the cheers went up, echoing through
the Coyote gym. And each time the coaches scored, a rendition of boos
followed.
But the cheers went up again when the coaches — as they promised they
would — did a set up pushups when they lost.
The camp was more than just a chance to try to beat three people in a
lopsided contest, it was an opportunity for 27 boys to develop basic
skills required to play the game. There was dribbling, passing,
shooting, ball control and in-game strategies.
For some, this wasn’t the first time attending the camp run by Cerro
Coso women’s basketball coach Tom Heck, but they were still learning
something and having fun in the process.
“Learning the things we’ve done before makes it a lot funner,” said
Sterling Board.
The camp was open to school-aged kids who hadn’t quite reached junior
high school.
Campers all did the same drills at the start of camp, but were then
divided into older and younger groups to work on more specialized
activities for the age group.
But no matter the age, there was something to learn.
“I’m having fun,” said Trevor Fisbee, 6, who said he has been playing
the sport since he was 4 years old.
The youths had different aspects of the camp that they said they liked.
When coach Stephanie Hart asked the kids what they wanted to play,
bounce out or the three-on-five, the class was almost evenly split with
the game against the coaches winning by one vote.
“I like playing the games,” said Justin Aichlmayr who helped lead a
group of five in a resounding victory against the coaches. “I like the
challenge when we’re playing.”
Aichlmayr’s team hit several long-distance shots to beat the coaches,
twice.
During a free time session, the coaches got their revenge and actually
played tough and won 5-0.
But the boys said they still enjoyed making their teachers sweat.
The boys camp will continue through the week, though the registration
period has already closed.
Spots, however, are still available for the girls camp coming up on Aug.
6 and will run through Aug. 10.
The cost is $70, which includes T-shirts. Applications will be taken
through the first day.
For more information, call Heck at 384-6384.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
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© 2007
The Daily Independent.
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