Basketball enthusiasts from all areas of the Greater Columbia Gorge can have the opportunity to sign up for the 23rd annual Jumpstart Basketball Camp, which is scheduled to run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on June 20-24 at Dufur High School. The camp is open to boys and girls from second-through ninth grades. Tom Conklin/Contributed photo
Basketball enthusiasts from all areas of the Greater Columbia Gorge can have the opportunity to sign up for the 23rd annual Jumpstart Basketball Camp, which is scheduled to run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on June 20-24 at Dufur High School. The camp is open to boys and girls from second-through ninth grades. Tom Conklin/Contributed photo
If a player wants to maximize their overall skill level in the game of basketball, extra work in the offseason is necessary.
Starting at 9 a.m. on Monday, June 20, the week long Jumpstart Basketball Camp will start its 23rd season of giving youths from grades 2-9 the opportunity to hone in on their hoops attributes in a five-day program held at Dufur High School.
Costs to attend this event are $90 before June 10 and $100 after up until the capacity 150 is met.
Areas of instruction include ball handling, passing, shooting, rebounding and defense. led by program coordinator Tom Conklin.
A strong cast of former or current athletes from across the area will be on hand for individualized instruction.
While an athlete may be blessed with speed, size, possess solid inside skills or a deadly 3-point shot, Conklin said none of those attributes matter if a player cannot mesh with his or her teammates.
“We spend a lot of time teaching about the character of an athlete,” said Conklin.
“First or last place, it does not matter. When the game is finished, how will others remember me as a player? Will coaches see me as a class act? We select specific quotes that guide each of our five days of camp.
“These quotes stem from a deep experience that defines struggle ultimately providing the success we were hoping for, but not sure we’d attain,” he added.
Not only are participants instructed on the intricate aspects of the game, they are broken up into skill levels and positions so they can harbor some knowledge of each area of the floor ranging from guard, to wing and post knowledge.
Along with the opportunity to work together to practice their new skills, the aim of the camp is predicated on emphasizing the fundamentals, developing proper mechanics and gaining valuable game experience.
Campers acquire and carry the knowledge over for a chance to get a solid start to their upcoming seasons.
In the end, there is no bigger tool then getting on the hardwood.
“In the process, I realized kids and all folks love to work towards a goal,” Conklin added. “In the process or journey, they develop much more than an outcome. The journey is what makes the person, not really the prize. When a person wins a running race, they, in my opinion, won because they reaped the reward of the process or developmental benefits of a striving for a goal.”
Early in the morning, the athletes sit down for a speech from one of the coaches, and then the instruction begins. After a break, the kids get an opportunity to use their skills in friendly scrimmages, with coaches emphasizing proper techniques on the sidelines.
Once all of the daily work is completed, the campers get a chance to soak up some sunshine at Dufur City Pool for a dip in the drink.
The money raised helps fund the Jim Schultz Scholarship program at Dufur schools and many of the other Dufur sports programs.
In addition, Conklin said he is extremely blessed to raise money from the Jumpstart track and cross country races, the hoops camp and other yearly events so he can cut checks for Home at Last, the Salvation Army, The Dalles River Trail Project and other programs.
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