BASKETBALL CAMP SEES HUGE SPIKE
The Powell High School girls’ and Northwest College women’s basketball camp saw a huge increase in participation this summer, drawing in more than 100 athletes from around the area in June to compete over several days.
BY SETH ROMSA TRIBUNE SPORTS WRITER
Courtesy of the Powell Tribune
The Powell High School girls' and Northwest College women's basketball camp saw a huge increase in participation this summer, drawing in more than 100 athletes from around the area in June to compete over several days.
"That is the most kids I have seen come to our camp since I took over as head coach here and we started meshing with the college," Panther coach Chelsea Kistler said. "Having nearly 100 kids here is just a good problem to have. The whole time I was like 'I wish we had another court' because I like to keep kids busy all the time … I want to keep these kids active. I know they do need a break, but whenever you're in there for two hours in a session, you do want them to be going all the time."
"I'd say that was kind of the downfall is feeling like we needed some more space."
Kistler said that this was the first time the camp was expanded in order to add in younger campers, welcoming athletes all the way down to kindergarten as well as including campers up to eighth graders.
While she and Trapper coach Cody Helenbolt were able to help lead a number of drills, she said the youngest campers soaked in information and were willing to compete at all times. Kistler noted that they were able to use high schoolers to help teach as well and learn through a different manner.
"Seeing so many kids, opening it up to the kindergartners and first graders, all those youngsters coming in excited. They don't care what you do, they just want to do it," Kistler said. "I hope the kids had fun and maybe took something away from it that they can use or incorporate in their game. I had some high schoolers coming in and helping out, and boy, they were a godsend. Cody and I couldn't have done it (without them). We couldn't have done it without those girls."
They included college athletes and a couple of high school players who, Kistler said, had the opportunity to step into their coach's shoes and teach alongside, which should help the players understand the game better, but will also help the players in the long run in a different way.
"The bigger thing is, what they don't realize or maybe they do, is that you're gaining fans when you're doing that. Those kids are now going to want to come and watch. The girls that help, now they're going to want to come and watch those girls play."
With this being the first year at the helm for Helenbolt, he was pleasantly surprised with the turnout for the camp, helping him grow his connection with the area youth as well as the high school players.
"It honestly kind of shocked me, the turnout," Helenbolt said. "It was awesome working with Chelsea and the high school kids and getting to know them a little bit. They did a great job with the kids too, it was fun."
Moving forward Kistler is hopeful that the kids had a fun camp, and he is looking forward to next year's camp with some adjustments.
"We talked about maybe doing three sessions … Every year is different but I think the other part of that is it's not an all day camp which has its flaws to it. It's a whirlwind, but I also think that the price point is at a manageable price point for families," Kistler said. "Times are tough, and I think that's a manageable price point to where kids can go for a couple hours, for four days, and get them in the gym and moving. But it also doesn't break the bank, and you can go to tennis camp, or the boys' basketball camp still, or volleyball camp. You can still do all the other camps."