Reach For The Sky Summer Camp 2011

On Saturday the 23^rd of July at Stonelaw Community Sports Centre Reach for the Sky Basketball hosted a second Summer Basketball Camp. The camp was set up to provide children the opportunity to take part in Basketball over their summer holiday time and learn new skills and techniques which they can take back to their teams as a new improved player. The camp was directed by RFTSB Founder & Managing Director Graham Hunter, who commented,

“I am really happy with how this year’s camp went, the children where nonstop from 10-4pm, I think it was great to see all the children now building friendships with other children they have met from our previous projects who they may not have ever come in to contact with. Our Head Coach at the Camp Ross Rankin did an excellent job, arranging a lot of fun and challenging games which I really think the children got a lot out of.”

This year’s camp featured three special guests who gave the young campers a lot to think about, the first guest was Coach Ross Hutton, who has vast experience in the sport from club level to professional. Coach Hutton challenged the campers to think of ways to motivate themselves to improve their performance by using a positive attitude in not only basketball, but in everyday life, he commented,

“Reach for the Sky Basketball continues to provide fantastic opportunities for young people in Lanarkshire. They are providing a service to the wider community which is untapped and showing young boys and girls how to improve their basketball skills. Graham Hunter is doing a brilliant job and long may his success with Reach for the Sky continue”.

RFTSB is also working in partnership with Basketball Lanarkshire to ensure the young talent produced has the link to district level competition all the way to the Scotland Squad. Lanarkshire’s Coach Martin Irvine commented,

“It was great to see lots of young children at the camp showing interest in the game of basketball. Many of seemed to be interested in joining the Lanarkshire team. I am looking forward for the start of the season when Lanarkshire connects both North and South to create a stronger Lanarkshire basketball team”.

The final guest speaker was former professional Josh Tackie. Coach Tackie has 20 years experience in basketball and offered excellent insight to young campers. He currently Coaches at well respected Glasgow Rens and Cuckoo’s and also runs Glasgow Basketball Academy Camp which focuses on elite players from 16-18 years old. Coach Tackie told the campers all about his experience of playing from the same age as them to rubbing shoulders with NBA player Tony Parker, playing in the Commonwealth Games for Scotland and playing professionally.

He commented,

“Reach for the Sky Basketball are doing an excellent job in development, both people and basketball at a grass roots level, Graham and his staff are doing the ground work to grow the game as well as teach children about the benefits of a healthy lifestyle”.

The camp is also used as an opportunity for coaches to come along and identify players they may wish to join their club. Camper Jack Healy now has a trial opportunity with Coach Tackie’s Glasgow Rens.

This year’s coaching staff did an excellent job all showing how much they have grown as coaches and as role models to the youngsters. Graham Hunter commented, “I am really proud of the coaches, you know when I started this organisation it was very hard for me to trust other coaches to deliver on my behalf, but I have really grew in confidence regarding the ability of the coaches and volunteers we have”. The camp featured many drills and games designed to increase the player’s performance and skill level. This year’s camp also featured some drills which normally would be more suited for a national league squad but the campers did a great job running them.

It also featured a free throw competition and hot shot competition in which the campers went head to head to emerge a winner. The games where split into group A & B in terms of age and height. Group A’s free throw champion was Chris Curle who was also the Easter Camps champ. The hot shot winner was young Shaun Thomas. Group B’s free throw champion was Abbie Howat and the hot shot winner was Kyle Maxwell.

The camp was a great day for all involved, Reach for the Sky would like to thank all the players and parents for their continued commitment. We would also like to thank camp sponsor basketballscotland, Cambuslang & Rutherglen Sports Council and the Stonelaw Community Sports Centre staff for a great day.

For more information about basketball in South Lanarkshire please visit, www.reachfortheskybasketball.com