SUNDRE – Following the successful second run of a summer basketball clinic intended not only to introduce participants to the sport but also further develop their skills and sportsmanship, the program’s instructors and organizers plan to keep going.
The youth basketball program recently bounced back into action following last year’s inaugural run, which was made possible by Annalise Fricker, who co-founded the clinic alongside co-organizer Chelsea Thiessen. The two are also coaches for the Sundre High School’s senior basketball teams.
“The basketball camp went really well this year,” said Fricker.
Although it was held at the Sundre Community Centre last year, she said scheduling issues for this year’s clinic – which ran in late August – resulted in lining up an alternate venue with River Valley School offering up the use of the gym.
There were about a dozen girls who took part in a day-long clinic and a little more than a dozen boys who joined up for a two-and-a-half day camp, she said.
“Chelsea and I have found (this) is the perfect amount of kids to have so that we can provide that kind of one-on-one instruction,” she said.
“We saw most of the kids that came to the camp last year return again this year,” said Fricker.
“The development of skills was phenomenal and so exciting to see,” she said, adding everyone including the coaches had a lot of fun.
“It was incredibly fulfilling and I believe all the kids really enjoyed it.”
Lunches were all included again this year, and the organizers didn’t find themselves having to solicit the community for support courtesy of last year’s success, she said.
“The community was so generous last year that we still had funds left over to use some of that money,” she said, expressing appreciation for the support that makes the opportunity more accessible.
“This is going to be a regular thing for us every year to provide quality basketball instruction and activity for kids in the community that doesn’t require hundreds of dollars,” she said, adding they also plan to run clinics through the winter season.
“There are some very talented athletes in Sundre and access to sports camps and programming year around are vital,” she said.
Additionally, team sports not only promote improved communication and people skills but they also help to foster a stronger sense of confidence alongside sportsmanship and leaderships skills, she said.
“This is so important as it helps them transition into confident adults who are able to problem solve, express creative ideas, and work as part of a cohesive team among so many other things.”
The program also gives the instructors a chance to pay forward the life lessons they learned along the way.
“We are just so happy to share our love for the game of basketball with the next generation,” she said, extending gratitude to all of the “coaches who inspired us to work harder and dig deeper.”
