Fruitbowl - Fresh Ideas from Hawke's Bay

Young and aspiring basketballers will have a chance to get up close and personal with some of their heroes from the Bay Hawks at a special summer camp in Napier at the end of this month.

Everard Bartlett, Haylen Tahau and Jamil “JT” Terrell will be three of the Bay Hawks among coaches at a basketball camp, organised by Basketball Hawke’s Bay, at the Pettigrew Green Arena in Taradale from January 19 to 21.

The three National Basketball League (NBL) stars will mentor and lead children and teens aged 7 to 17 during the three-day camp through a series of games and skills sessions.

Basketball Hawke’s Bay is offering two scholarships to attend the camp via a competition on its website: www.basketballhawkesbay.co.nz.

The organisation’s general manager Paul Trass said the summer camp was designed to foster individual improvement in a climate of “competitive fun”.
“We want our coaches to create an enjoyable learning experience for each camper and provide a safe environment where young people can develop fundamental skills, learn basic strategies, participate in self-help drills, meet new friends, and most importantly have some fun,” he said.

Mr Trass said those on the camp would be encouraged to take on a positive attitude towards their sport, and an appreciation for moral values and a better understanding of what it takes to be successful.

“The sport is basketball, but the most important element is the children's future development,” he said.
The camp will be run by Basketball Hawke’s Bay’s regional development coach and New Zealand Under 16 Boys coach, Seth Weakley who said involving the Bay Hawks this year would be a big draw card.

“It’s a basketball camp but the difference this year is that we’re involving the Hawks, it’s important to have the local (NBL) players involved,” he said.

Hawks players Bartlett, Tahau and import Terrell will help put the young campers to the test by teaching them shooting, rebounding, ball handling, defensive and other fundamental skills through innovative drills.
Mr Weakley said the camp’s curriculum was carefully supervised and there would be one coach for each team, about 10 youngsters per team.

He said each camper would be encouraged to develop his or her specific athletic capability while giving particular attention to team involvement. The programme would include games every day.

There will be awards and contests held during the camp, including: Most Valuable Player; Most Improved Player; Best Defensive Player; Best Overall Camper; Free Throw Champion; Dribble King; Hot Shot Champion; Hustle Award (All camp); Two-on-Two Champions; Knock-out Champion and 3-on-3 Champions.

Mr Weakley said campers should register before January 15, 2010, which would cost $100, or at the camp, which would cost $105.

Part payments may be made but the full fee must be paid prior to January 15.  A non-refundable deposit of $50 is the minimum part-payment.  No refund for cancellation after January 15th.

Basketball Hawke’s Bay was established as a incorporated society in April 2006 with the objective of co-ordinating and developing basketball in the region. Some of its goals in 2010 relating to player/coach development include:

• To introduce camps and clinics to develop the skills of players by expanding its Tyros Coaching Club and basketball academy to other areas in the region through clinics and holidays camps in Hastings; Havelock North; Napier; Flaxmere’ Central Hawke’s Bay and Wairoa.
• To host Hawke’s Bay region specialist clinics for elite athletes.
• To increase the number of players and coaches attending Basketball Ball New Zealand cluster and elite camps.
• To support players achieving national selection.
• To manage the schools schedule for the Hawks in Schools programme.
• To introduce 15 to 17 year-old coaching clinics in Napier and Hastings.

For  interviews and more information contact:
Seth Weakley: (06) 845 9336 ext 740 or 0274266210.
Paul Trass: (06) 835 6180 or 027 626 0429.