Bulldog basketball camp set for next week
SIKESTON -- For kids interested in basketball and looking to improve their skills, the YMCA of Sikeston will be hosting their annual Bulldog Basketball Camp starting next Monday.
Leading the camp for the second straight year will be Sikeston head basketball coach Gregg Holifield, who helmed the Bulldogs during their 2011 Class 4 state championship run. He'll be assisted by members of his coaching staff as well as current and former members of the Sikeston high school team.
Those in attendance can expect to work on basic fundamentals important to any developing basketball player.
"We'll do a lot of drill work as far as passing, catching, shooting and ball handling," Holifield said. "We'll also give the kids an opportunity to play. Kids love to play so we always try to give them the opportunity to play."
The camp is for boys ages 8-14 and will run through Friday, June 22 at the YMCA in Sikeston. Kids will be divided into two age groups with 8-10 year olds meeting from 9-10:30 a.m and 11-14 year olds meeting from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Though each group will be focusing on key skills, each practice will be tailored to what best fits the needs of the respective age ranges.
"The older group is more advanced normally so we'll put them in a situation where they're in more competitive type drills," said Holifield. "The younger group, we'll put them in a situation where we spend more time just on fundamentals, like passing, catching and shooting."
On the importance of teaching kids basketball at a young age, Holifield said, "We try to get them started at a young age to develop the interest. We've had camps for years and we've always had great interest and turnouts so hopefully we'll give kids an opportunity at a young age to get in and play."
Cost for the camp will be $30 for YMCA members and $40 for nonmembers with registration currently underway and is ongoing until the start of camp.
"We're just looking forward to the kids getting out there," Holifield said. "It's always a fun time and I know the kids enjoy it. I think it will be a fun time for all."