Beach
men’s basketball team sponsors camp
By Michelle Siazon
Summer On-line Forty-Niner
 Long
Beach State’s men’s basketball team is dedicating
a portion of their summer to approximately
150 children participating in the first
session of their 2003 Beach Summer Basketball
Camp. The players and coaches of the men’s
team are hosting the camp at The Pyramid
in two sessions, June 23-27 and Aug. 18-22.
“It’s[basketball camp] community relations,
these are the kids that are going to play
basketball in the future,” said men’s basketball
head coach Larry Reynolds. “It’s an opportunity
for them to get better and visit Long Beach.”
This week’s individual camp features participants
from ages 7-14 and the 49ers will also be
holding a second session of camp in August.
Attending this basketball summer camp benefits
these young athletes by giving them something
to do during the summer and keeping them
off the streets said junior guard Chris
Jenkins, who is working in this camp for
the third time. “They get to meet and learn
from college coaches and players who have
experience,” said Jenkins.
The camp includes individual fundamental
instruction of rebounding, offense and defense.
Jenkins is in charge of shooting, he teaches
the campers footwork and fundamentals, which
he said most of these children have probably
never done before.
“It’s a little hard because they have to
really concentrate and keep they’re focus
when they just want to run around and play,”
said Jenkins.
“The most enjoyable thing about summer camp
is the energy and enthusiasm the children
have about the game,” said Reynolds. “Participating
with the children at camp keeps you young
because you get to learn who their heroes
are and what they’re into, it keeps you
in touch with them.”
Dustin Thaler, 10, from Robinson Elementary
said he came to the camp with one friend
and made new ones as well. “It’s my first
time, I love basketball,” said Thaler. “It’s
fun and I learn a lot of stuff.”
The camp consists of individual contests
and team competition in which the Beach’s
men’s basketball team members coach the
participants. “It’s good that the players
get a perspective of how to get a team to
do what you want them to do,” said Reynolds.
“They get to see what coaching is all about.”
|
