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NOW!!! A GREAT EBOOK THAT TELLS YOU HOW TO RUN A
BASKETBALL CAMP – AND MAKE $10,000 IN A WEEK!!!!
BY: GLENN WILKES
1
DISCLAIMER AND/OR LEGAL NOTICES
The information presented herein represents the knowledges and views
of the author as of the date of publication.
Because of the rate with which conditions change, the author reserves
the right to alter and update his opinion based on the new conditions.
This ebook is for informational purposes only and cannot be sold or
copied. While every attempt has been made to verify the information
provided in this ebook, neither the author nor his affiliates assume any
responsibility for errors, inaccuracies or omissions.
The information provided is from the experience of the author and no
guarantee is made that the reader will achieve the same results as
attained by the author. Information is provided that can result in
considerable profit for those who decide to organize camps; however,
financial results will vary according to the ability and willingness to work
of the reader, and to local conditions that may exist in varying areas and
countries.
This ebook is not intended for use as a source of legal or accounting
advice. You should be aware of any laws which govern business
transactions or other business practices in your country and state.
2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
INTRODUCTION……………………………………………..
4
Chapter 1
General Information about Camps……………….
5
Chapter 2
Camp Registration Procedures……………………
10
Chapter 3
Basic Organization of Camp……………………..
10
Chapter 4
Instructional Organization – Day Camps………...
14
Chapter 5
Instructional Organization - Overnight Camp……
18
Chapter 6
Placement of Campers on Teams………………...
21
Chapter 7
3 on 3 and 5 on 5 Play……………………………
35
Chapter 8
The Heart of a Basketball Camp – Teaching Stations… 45
Chapter 9 Other factors Necessary for a Successful Camp……
54
Chapter 10 Sponsorships, Advertising, and Publicity…………
64
Chapter 11
Budgeting and Assuring Profitability……………..
80
Chapter 12 Camp Fundamental Drills………………………….
88
APPENDIX……………………………………………………...
114
3
INTRODUCTION
Basketball camps are run by coaches and teachers all over the world and
in numerous countries.
Some are well run camps in which good teaching is present and during
which the campers either improve their skills or learn what they will need to do to
improve their skills when they go home.
Others are poorly run camps with poor teaching whose operators may be
in the business just to make a little extra cash.
Some of the camps are extremely lucrative, especially on the campuses of
major United States universities, and others make an excellent amount of profit.
Yet, there are many who barely finish above expenses.
This book will present clear instructions for camp organization
regardless of numbers, suggest drills that will lead to good instruction and
improvement of the players, the acquisition of sponsorships to cover basic
camp expenses, and many other factors that make a good camp possible.
It is the purpose of this book to clearly explain HOW to run a basketball
camp in which campers will gain great benefit (and return year after year).
It is also the purpose of this book to show how a conscientious coach
or teacher can make at least $10,000 in a week running a quality camp.
4
CHAPTER 1
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT CAMPS
PURPOSE OF THE CAMP
Each camp will have a purpose.
It could be to teach the basic basketball fundamentals.
It could be to teach the fundamentals of a specific position. For
example, it could be a point guard camp, or a post play camp.
It could be a team camp where the purpose is to play as many games as
possible. These camps are very popular for junior and senior high school teams
when coaches want players to get as much game experience as possible.
(Unfortunately, these team camps are not as lucrative since teams come as a
group and expect substantial price discounts.)
One of the purposes, of course, is to make money and there is certainly
nothing wrong with that; however, if the only purpose is to make money then
some of the things that will make a quality camp will be missing.
Just having a camp to make money will result in an inferior camp. You
will “cut corners” to make more profit. For example, you may hire fewer
instructors or less competent instructors. You might skimp on the number of
hours the camp operates. You may provide cheaper basketballs and equipment.
You may provide cheaper awards.
Parents will recognize these efforts to cut costs and will NOT
continue to send their sons and daughters to your camp.
Your first thought must be to give your campers a great camp
experience and provide them with outstanding instruction. Do this and the
money will come.
5
DIFFERENT TYPES OF CAMPS
First we will look at the different types of camps that can be conducted.
A major distinction between camps begins with whether or not it is a:
(1) Boarding or Overnight Camp, or
(2) A Day Camp
Each of these have different types:
(1) Regular Fundamental Camp
(2) Shooting Camp, Ball-Handling Camp, etc.
(3) Position Play Camp (Point Guard Camp, Post Player Camp, etc.)
(4) Team Camp
Each type of camp requires different organization and each type can
result in a varying amount of income for the operator.
An overnight camp is the most popular camp run by the colleges and
university coaches in the United States and is usually conducted in the summer
months when dormitories are available.
Many high school coaches and some college coaches run day camps,
particularly those in larger metropolitan areas where a significant number of
potential campers live in fairly close proximity to the camp facility.
Most colleges and some high school coaches run team camps
in which coaches bring their entire team and play together against other teams
throughout the camp.
FINANCIAL POTENTIAL OF EACH TYPE OF CAMP
The amount of money you can make differs with each type of camp.
An overnight camp for individual campers usually has the potential to
6
make the most money. This is because you not only make money on the
camp tuition cost but also include a mark-up on the room and board costs.
Day camps will vary in income dependent on the length of each day
and how many days the camp is conducted.
Team camps make the least because coaches expect a big discount when
they bring their entire team to camp. Many colleges conduct team camps, not so
much as to make money, but to give prospects exposure to their facilities and to
give their coaches opportunity to judge the ability of the best prospects in camp.
We will spend the first part of this book on methods for organizing and
conducting each type of camp.
The last section of the book, prior to listing recommended camp drills, will
discuss in detail how a coach or organizer makes money. We will discuss costs
for advertising, promotion, facility rental, equipment costs, salaries, and other
expenses. And we will discuss how to set the price for camps so the camp
organizer will make the maximum possible profit.
WHEN ARE CAMPS CONDUCTED?
There are many opportunities to conduct camps. Obviously, all of them
are conducted when school is not in session.
Time opportunities to run camps include:
(1) Summer vacation. The majority of camps are conducted during this
time and virtually all of overnight camps are held during summer vacation.
(2) Christmas vacation. Opportunities for day camps (and possibly
some overnight camps) are both the week before Christmas and the week after.
Camps during holidays can be particularly creative with some coaches
running 5 day camps, others 3 or 4 day camps, and still others running a 2 day
7
camp. The actual date of Christmas and the New Year influences the
length of camps at this time of year.
Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Years Day
are, for the obvious reason, not good days for camp.
(3) Fall or Spring Holiday periods. Most schools have some form of
holiday period both in the fall and spring, particularly the spring.
(4) Weekends. These will vary in length. Some just on Saturday, while
others might include Friday night, all day Saturday, and Sunday
afternoon. (It is best to avoid Sunday morning because of church conflicts.)
(5) Saturdays only. Gordon Gibbons, who was a camp guru while
coaching at Florida Southern, would hold a “5 day camp”, all on Saturdays in
the Fall or Spring. Campers would sign up for the five Saturdays and pay
the same fee as they would for five days during the summer months.
(6) Any other time when school is not in session. For example, many
school systems have “teacher work days” or “teacher planning days” on a
Friday usually every six to eight weeks. Students do not attend school on those
days. Many coaches hold camps on Friday and Saturday and possibly Sunday
afternoon during those long weekends.
(7) Evening Only . Some coaches hold camps on 4 or 5 successive
nights, usually beginning at 5 p.m. and going to about 8 p.m.
An example of this type of camp would be a Make the Team Camp.
State high school associations have rules as to when fall practice will begin. An
enterprising camp operator can run a 5 night camp the week before practice
starts and emphasize conditioning and basic fundamental instruction that would
prepare the campers to make the team. Most high school coaches would want
their players to attend such a camp.
AGE GROUPS OF CAMPERS
The largest age group attending basketball camps are from 9 to 14
years of age. Of course, high school age players also attend; however, this can
8
vary as to how good the player is and whether or not he may be playing on an
AAU team that could prevent attendance.
With good instructors, you can have 8 year olds, but it is difficult to go
lower.
Former LSU Coach Dale Brown brought a lot of attention to his camps
when he announced that he was having a 3 and 4 year old camp. It was
probably more of a “baby sitting” service than a basketball camp, but it added
to his camp revenue and gained a lot of attention to his other camps.
Simply because most of your campers might fall in the 9 to 14 year range
does not mean you should not accept older campers. Accept campers up to 18
or 19. However, it will be necessary for you to have enough 16, 17 and 18
year old campers for them to have competitive 5 on 5 competition with each
other.
Fifteen year old campers can play with the 14 year olds, but 16 year olds
do not like to do that. The exception might be if the 16 year olds are poorly
skilled.
You will have more older campers in position specific camps or a team
camp.
9
CHAPTER 2
CAMP REGISTRATION PROCEDURES
CAMP REGISTRATION
The length of time needed for registration varies dependent on whether
the camp is a Day Camp or an Overnight Camp.
PRE-REGISTRATION: It is important to get as many of the campers
pre-registered in advance of the camp dates. This (a) speeds up the actual
registration on the first day of camp and (2) helps you determine how
many coaches you will need to employ and (3) the basic camp schedule.
In overnight camps, pre-registration is essential since you must
provide for room and board.
Pre-registration is more difficult in Day Camps. However, it should be
encouraged. Provide a phone number for pre-registration that will be included
in all brochures or flyers, posters, or announcements about the camp.
In Day Camps, many campers will just show up on the morning the camp
begins. Therefore, you must plan for what you will do if more than expected
arrive. You should have some type of limit on your numbers even if you have to
turn away some campers.
You should also have some “standby” instructors that you can employ
at the last minute if they should be needed for additional teams that you might
have to add.
DAY CAMPS:
Day camp registration is easier than over-night camp registration.
10
If the camp is to begin at 9 a.m., registration should be open from 8:30
a.m. to 9 a.m. If most of the campers pre-registered, it will take less time than
that to register the “walk-ups.”
Since you do not have to assign dormitory rooms, one coach can handle
the basic registration. He/she must check each camper as they arrive to
determine if they are pre-registered and are fully paid. If not pre-registered, the
“walk-up” camper must fill out an application form that will give his basic
contact information and pay the amount due. This basic information is needed
primarily for email mailings to future camp sessions.
If you plan to give T shirts for each camper, give them out at the end
of the first day ‘s session. They then can wear them to the other days of camp
if they would like.
OVERNIGHT REGISTRATION:
Since campers will be arriving from different locations and distances, a
larger window needs to be given for registration.
Registration can begin at 2 p.m. and end at 5 p.m.
Those campers who arrive early can register at 2 p.m, go to the dormitory
to find their rooms, and arrange their belongings. Campers may have to check
out sheets and towels at the dorm; or, if the facility does not provide them, they
will bring them from home.
Room key arrangements will vary with the facility but all usually require
a key deposit which is returned at the end of the week when the camper returns
the key.
Early arrivals should be free to come back to the gymnasium for free play
while waiting for the camp to officially begin. Coaches must be assigned
supervision of this free play.
11
OVERNIGHT REGISTRATION PROCEDURES
Several coaches or counselors will be needed in the registration process.
One coach will have each individual camp application, check to see if
he/she is fully paid, and to receive funds if they are not. This same coach will
handle all “walk-ups.”
Another coach must make the dormitory assignments. Every effort
should be made to make roommate requests. Two or three campers may come
together (or even a team) and may want to room together. If you do not allow
that you will affect their enjoyment of your camp.
That coach should also be careful of “age differences.” Many campers
will come alone and have to be placed with a roommate (s). It is important for
campers to room with a similar age camper. You do not want to place a 10
year old with a 15 year old, for example.
The coach handling dorm assignments must use common sense in
placing the campers. Occasionally he might get an unusual request for
roommates and the coach should not immediately say “no”. Is there any way
possible to meet the request? An example is when 5 campers from a team want
to room together and your dorm suites only have 4 beds. Every effort should be
made to either get another bed for the room, or at least a mattress that would
make an extra bed.
A third coach will be needed to handle meal tickets and another to
accept key deposits. If you plan to give each camper a T shirt (which is
normal) a fourth coach must be assigned to issue them.
Make sure you are prepared for registration. Have registration
assignments made in advance, plenty of meal tickets, keys to the rooms, extra
applications for “walk-ups”, and plenty of pens available .
12
CAR KEY DEPOSIT
It is important for older campers who might have driven their
automobile to camp to turn in their keys to the camp administration. These
will be returned to the camper prior to his departure on the last day of camp.
This is extremely important. You do not want campers to leave a
campus to go to a local eatery or store. Any accident that may occur will be
on “your” watch. Remember, you, the camp operator, is responsible for the
safety of the campers once they arrive and until they leave.
INFORMATION SHEET
The overnight camp will need two types of information sheets.
Since most overnight campers will register in advance, an information
sheet must be sent to them when they send in their application and camp
payment. Make extra effort to get their email addresses so that you can send
their information sheet without using the U.S. Mail postage.
An example of this type of information sheet is presented in the
appendix.
Another information sheet should be available to pass out to the campers
and parents at registration. This sheet should answer basic questions that they
might have. Directions to the dorms, the cafeteria, the gym (if registration is
not in the gym), what time is the first meeting, first dinner, and first practice.
The camp contact telephone number must be given to parents.
Well-planned Information Sheets will answer important questions
parents may have and prevent you or your staff having to continually repeat
answers to questions that could be on the sheet.
13
CHAPTER 3
BASIC ORGANIZATION OF THE CAMP
The number one guide in organizing camps is to do it in four team or
eight team leagues.
Four teams in a league or eight teams in a league will result in a team in 5
on 5 league play never having a bye when playing 5 on 5 games. Having four or
eight teams also makes an easily run tournament at the end of camp.
If you have 5 teams in a league, teams 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 play each
other while the fifth team has to “sit”. You don’t want that. You need to always
have an even number of teams.
You can have six team leagues and avoid byes in regular league play;
however, if you plan a camp ending tournament, you will have 2 byes at the
beginning of the tournament. Then, the 2nd round will have 2 byes, and so on.
Keeping the number of teams per league at either four or eight makes for
smoother run competition. However, numbers of campers can sometimes
dictate having a 6 team league.
Four team leagues are ideal because it groups like ages together better
than larger leagues. However, when numbers in a camp grow to two or three
hundred campers, eight team leagues become the most efficient.
Whether or not you have four team, six team, or eight team leagues
will depend on the total number of campers, the different age groups, and
the number of courts you have available.
Ideally you would have four teams of ten players in each age
grouping.
14
HOW MANY PLAYERS PER TEAM
Ten players per team is the most efficient. This makes for (1) easy
substitution and (2) makes for a better team practice. However, the number
of campers will dictate the final numbers.
You could have some teams with eight or nine on a team. Occasionally a
seven camper team. Varying numbers per team is due to the total enrollment.
I have seen camps in which they have advertised there would be no more
than eight players per team. However, an eight team league of eight on a team
only allows you to have 64 campers instead of the 80 on a ten camper team.
You are leaving revenue on the table and there is no reason an eight player
team should result in a camp being better than a ten player team league.
So, to maximize your total enrollment and consequent revenue, shoot for
ten players per team.
ROLL CALL OR ASSEMBLY
One of the primary reasons you put individuals on a team early during
the camp is for the all-important roll call.
A team coach must know the names of his players and the number on the
team. In this manner, he can easily report when an individual camper is
missing from his team.
Roll call should be made several times a day. At the first period in the
morning, just before lunch, after lunch, after the afternoon session and, if you
have an evening session roll is reported prior to the evening session and at the
end of the evening session.
Each team must have a specific place they report for any roll call
assemblies that are held. Players line up with their team, and the team coach
immediately knows if any camper is missing. He can then report any absence to
the Camp Directors and the missing camper MUST be found.
15
You must constantly be aware of whether any camper is missing.
Placing campers onto teams with a coach is the easiest way to check whether all
campers are where they are supposed to be.
If a coach knows he has nine players on a team and he has only eight
when they first assemble, he knows he is missing one and must find out who
and where the missing camper is.
The missing camper could be in the bathroom or other area location and,
in the case of an overnight camper, could be over-sleeping. In this latter case,
someone must be sent to the dorm to wake the camper and get him to the gym.
Putting attractive team signs on the wall so that campers know
where to assemble adds a little class to the camp.
Do not overlook the importance of roll call. When parents drop their kids
off to go to your camp they expect you to know where they are at all times.
Imagine how you would feel if a parent walked in and said he/she wanted
to talk to their son or daughter and you could not find him/her.
A good example of a Camp Assembly. Notice the team names are posted on
the wall in the background.
16
WHEN TO ASSEMBLE
(1) Always at the beginning and end of each session.
(2) After any break in the program.
(3) Prior to lunch or dinner.
I cannot emphasize enough how important a frequent assembly is.
Parents want to be certain that their sons/daughters are safe and the camp
leaders must know if any camper is missing.
PENALTY FOR BEING LATE TO ASSEMBLY
Campers must understand the importance of assembly also. Because
of this, some type of penalty must be enforced if they are carelessly late for
assembly. It might be a windsprint, pushups, or something of this nature, but
without some type of penalty, the campers will get careless about being on time.
For repeat offenders, they must understand that their conduct may
eliminate them from any award and disqualify them for various contests.
Constantly being late, or another form of undesirable conduct means no
trophy at the end of camp.
The exception would be the first assembly in the morning at Day Camps.
Parents are transporting them to camp and it may not be the camper’s fault.
17
CHAPTER 4
INSTRUCTIONAL ORGANIZATION – DAY CAMPS
We will begin with the methods for organizing a Day Camp because
the day camp does not have as many factors involved as a Boarding or
Overnight Camp.
A day camp can be run at any time of the day, early evening, or on a
weekend or holiday period.
Examples of differing time schedules for Day Camps:
9 a.m. to 12 Noon
9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
9 a.m. to 12 Noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. (campers can choose a session,
both sessions, or the camp can take younger campers in the morning and
older campers in the afternoon.)
6 p.m. to 9 p.m. (or 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.)
6 p.m. to 8 p.m., 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.
5 p.m. to 7 p.m., 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
A weekend day camp might run from 6-9 p.m. on Friday,
9 a.m.-4 p.m.on Saturday, and 2-5 p.m. on Sunday. OR, a session could be held
on Saturday evening.. Remember, Sunday mornings are usually avoided
because of church activities.
The more sessions that can be scheduled on the weekend,
the higher the fee that can be charged for the camp. The possibilities for
time scheduling are numerous and can fit the entreprenual, imaginative camp
operator’s preferences.
DAY CAMP SCHEDULES:
A typical schedule for a 9 a.m. to 12 noon (or 1 to 4 p.m. day camp):
18
9:00 a.m. WELCOME/General camp information
9:05
Warmup activities (Stretching, Run in place, etc.)
9:10
Placement on Teams (First Day Only)
9:40
Fundamental Teaching Stations
10:40
BREAK
10:45
“Knockout” Competition (or other individual competition)
11:10
5 on 5 games
11:40
Fun competitive games (relays, etc.)
12:00
FINAL ASSEMBLY/End of Session
A typical schedule for a 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. day camp:
9 a.m.
9:05
9:10
9:40
10:40
10:45
11:00
11:15
12:00
12:40
12:45
1:10
1:35
2:35
3:00
3:40
4:00
WELCOME/General camp information
Warmup activities (Stretching, Run in place, etc.)
Placement on Teams (First Day Only)
Fundamental Teaching Stations
BREAK
“Knockout” Competition (or other individual competition)
Mini-Lecture/Demonstration
5 on 5 games or 3 on 3 games
LUNCH
ASSEMBLY
Fundamental Lecture/Demonstration
3 on 3 League
Fundamental Teaching Stations
“Knockout” Competition (or other individual competition)
5 on 5 games
Fun competitive games (relays, etc.)
FINAL ASSEMBLY
19
A typical schedule for a weekend day camp:
Friday
6 p.m. WELCOME/General Camp Information
6:10 Warmup Activities (Stretching, Run in place, etc.)
6:20 Placement on teams (First Session only)
6:50 Fundamental Teaching Stations
7:55 BREAK
8:00 ASSEMBLY
8:05 5 on 5 Games (or team practice the first day)
8:40 Fun competitive games (relays, etc.)
9:00 FINAL ASSEMBLY
Saturday
9 a.m.
9:10
9:20
10:35
10:45
10:50
11:15
12:00
12:40
12:45
1:30
2:30
2:50
3:40
4:00
ASSEMBLY/Announcements
Warmup Activities (Stretching, Run in place, etc.)
Fundamental Stations
BREAK
ASSEMBLY
“Knockout” Competition (or other individual competition)
5 on 5 games
LUNCH
ASSEMBLY
Fundamental Lecture/Demonstration
Fundamental Stations
Individual competition (Best FT, 1 on 1 etc.)
5 on 5 games
Fun competitive games (relays, etc.)
FINAL ASSEMBLY
Sunday:
2 p.m. ASSEMBLY
2:10
Fundamental Lecture/Demonstion
2:35
Warmup activities (Stretching, run in place, etc.)
2:45
Fundamental Stations
3:45
5 on 5 Tournament (Mini-Games)
4:50
Awards
5:00
FINAL ASSEMBLY/End of Camp
20
Keep in mind that players will have to be assigned to teams
during the first session of day camp. This will enable roll call
throughout the weekend and the campers will be prepared for 5 on 5
play.
A full discussion will be included in Chapter 6 on how to divide
the camp into teams.
Coach is giving detailed instruction to camper on getting
into ready or “triple threat” position. (Photo taken at the Shooting Stars
Camp held at Lander University’s great facility.)
21
CHAPTER 5
INSTRUCTIONAL ORGANIZATION - OVERNIGHT CAMPS
An overnight camp requires similar organization to a Day Camp; however,
the camp is responsible for all of the time during the camp, which includes nonbasketball time as well.
In addition to the basketball activities, plans must be made AND
supervised for the dormitory accommodations, all meals, and any other free
time in or away from the gymnasium.
Since most overnight campers travel from some distance away, most
overnight camps do not begin until the first afternoon and usually end by noon
on day five.
A Typical Schedule for a 4-night Overnight Camp:
Day One Schedule:
2:00 p.m. Registration & Dorm Assignments
5:00
First meeting in gymnasium (Welcome,
Introductions of Staff, etc.)
5:30
DINNER
6:30
Assemble in gymnasium
6:40
Warm-up activities
6:50
Fundamental stations
7:50
Placement on teams/3 on 3/5 on 5
9:25
ASSEMBLY/ANNOUNCEMENTS
9:30
Return to dorms
10:45
Dorm Room Check
11:00
Lights Out
22
Days 2, 3, and 4
7:30 a.m.
8:00
9:00
9:10
9:20
9:50
10:50
11:00
11:50
12:00
1:30
1:40
2:15
2:35
3:00
4:50
5:00
6:20
6:30
7:30
9:25
9:30
10:45
11:00
WakeUp
BREAKFAST
ASSEMBLY/Roll Call and Announcements
Warm-up Activities (Stretching, run in place, etc.)
Group Fundamental Drills
Fundamental Stations
BREAK
3 on 3 League
ASSEMBLY
LUNCH
ASSEMBLY
Fundamental Lecture/Demonstration
“Knockout” Competition (or “Hot Shot”, etc.)
Team Practice
5 on 5 games
ASSEMBLY
DINNER
ASSEMBLY
Team fundamental competition
*5 on 5 games
ASSEMBLY/Announcements
Return to Dorms
Dorm Room Check
Lights Out
* The first round of tournaments may be held on the evening of
day 4.
Day 5 Schedule:
7:30 a.m.
8:00
9:00
9:10
9:50
11:30
11:45
Wakeup
BREAKFAST
ASSEMBLY/Roll Call
Finals of fundamental competition
5 on 5 Tournament finals (& 3rd place)
Awards
Close of Camp
23
24
CHAPTER 6
PLACEMENT OF CAMPERS ON TEAMS
Your first objective during the first one or two hours of a camp should be
to organize the campers onto teams based on age, ability, and heigth.
Of course, this time frame would vary dependent on the number of
campers. Organizing 40 campers can be done much quicker than organizing
100 campers.
In most cases, campers have a better experience when they play with
a similar age group. The exception is when a younger player is highly skilled
and has the ability to play with older campers.
Most parents want their children to succeed in camp and, unless they
are highly skilled, placing a camper in an older group will elicit complaints
from parents. Complaints from parents can really hurt a camp’s
reputation.
DIVIDING INTO GROUPS BY AGE
The first thing the camp director must know at the beginning of camp is
the total number of campers present.
Even though you may know the total number of paid applications you
have for camp, it is still best to get a total head count at the beginning of your
first session. One or two day campers may have arrived late and failed to
register or one or two pre-registered campers may not come.
Dependent upon the number of campers, you would attempt to group the
campers by the following ages:
25
Four groups of campers:
Group 1 - 9 and 10 year olds
Group 2 - 11 and 12 year olds
Group 3 – 13, 14, and 15 year olds
Group 4 - 16 year olds and up
Three groups of campers:
Group 1 - 9, 10, and 11 year olds
Group 2 – 12, 13, and 14 year olds
Group 3 - 15-18 year olds
Of course, there will be variation when ability and size are taken into
consideration. And there will be variation if you take younger kids (7 and 8 year
olds).
MOVING CAMPERS TO ANOTHER GROUP
You undoubtedly will need to move a few campers from one group to
another due to size or ability level.
Moving a young, skilled player up to another age group is easier than
moving an older, poorly skilled camper into a lower age group.
You might move a 12 year old down to a younger group, but moving a
15 or 16 year old down with 13 and 14 year olds usually meets objection
(from both the camper and parents).
A less advanced 13 year old will probably prefer to play with the 11 & 12
year olds.
Always keep this rule in mind….the younger the player the easier it is to
move him down an age group.
26
Also remember this. The camper may not mind moving up or down;
however, his Daddy might mind. Sometimes an explanation on why you
need to make the move will suffice, but often the Daddy does not accept the
explanation. If he insists, move him up or down as he wishes. It will cause
you no big problem, but will satisfy a parent who may send his son or
daughter to you for several years.
LEAGUE AND TEAM NAMES
Prior to camp, you should name the various leagues and teams within
each league.
It adds class to a camp if you have the team names attractively put
on posters and placed on the wall. This lets the campers know where they
should go for assembly.
Since many camps use the names of college leagues for their league
names, you could have determined that your three leagues will be named SEC,
BIG 10, and ACC with the SEC being the youngest. Or perhaps the PAC 10,
BIG 12, and WAC. Use names of conferences in your specific area of the
country.
If you have four leagues, picking another actual NCAA league is simple.
You could also use the NBA as a name of one of your leagues, and
perhaps put your older campers in this league. Older campers like that as a
league name.
You may decide to name your oldest league the NBA, the middle age
league the ACC, and the youngest league the BIG TEN.
Team names can be names of colleges that make up the actual NCAA
conference, or you can pick any name for teams you desire. It is not absolutely
essential that you pick the college name, though it works best when you are
using actual college conferences as your leagues.
You could use names like Bulldogs, Tigers, Bears, and Lions.
Whatever names you use, have this decided prior to camp.
27
PLACEMENT ON TEAMS IN DAY CAMPS
Placement of campers on teams in day camps is somewhat different than
in boarding camps.
Day Camps do not have the time in the schedule to play 3 on 3, 5 on 5,
and grade players before putting them on teams, whereas boarding camps can
devote as much as two hours to select and balance teams.
If Day Camps took that long, they would not have sufficient time to
include the most important part of the camp….INDIVIDUAL TEACHING
STATIONS. In addition, Day Camps do not have as much 5 on 5 play as do
overnight camps and the emphasis on records and championships is not as
much.
Day Camps should attempt to place campers on teams in a thirty minute
time frame.
Once a total count is done, campers should be placed in groups by age
with a Commissioner in charge of each group.
If the camp total is 80 or under, plan for two leagues. If it goes over 80 a
third league will be needed.
Let’s assume the total count is 76. You begin by placing 38 campers in
each group. This would make two teams of ten and two of nine in each
league if no movement between groups occurs.
Because of age and ability considerations you could end up with
forty campers in one league and 36 in another. That would put four teams of
ten campers in one league and four teams of nine campers in the other league.
This is actually better than putting 38 campers in each league.
If your total count is 98, you will divide into three groups with a
Commissioner directing each. After movement of better players, or less skilled
players, to another group, you could end up with two leagues of 32 campers, 8
on a team, and one league of 34 campers, eight on two teams and nine on two
teams.
28
Line up players in each group from tallest to shortest in separate areas
of the gym with a Commissioner with each group.
Since each commissioner will have four teams in his group, he will begin
counting each player from 1 to 4, then the next four campers 1 to 4, and so on
until every camper has a number between 1 to 4.
All of the 1s go to an area, 2s to another area, 3s to another, and 4s to
another. Each group is then given a team name.
After placing them all on teams, you are ready to move on to the next
part of the camp schedule. When it comes time for 5 on 5 play, you simply call
out team names and you are ready to play.
At the end of the first half of play, movement of players can be made if
necessary to balance the teams. Often a team will not have a tall player while
another may have 2 or 3 tall players or a team may have no point guard and
another team may have 2 or 3. Moving players from team to team is very
important in these situations.
PLACEMENT OF TEAMS IN OVERNIGHT CAMPS
You can spend more time balancing teams in an overnight camp, plus
you have time to let coaches quickly grade the players and assign an equal
number of the better players to each team.
Another reason to take more time to balance teams in overnight camps is
that there will be more emphasis placed on 5 on 5 games. Whereas the Day
camp may not have more than 30 or 40 minutes daily for 5 on 5, the overnight
camp can easily play two full games daily.
Playing more games and keeping won-lost standings makes 5 on 5
more meaningful to campers.
As in the Day camp, you must get an exact count before you start
balancing.
29
Taking a hypothetical situation, we will assume that you have 117
campers. In this case, you probably will want to divide them into three leagues
instead of four (two of 40 campers and one of 37 campers).
Four leagues of 4 teams would require 16 coaches whereas three leagues
would only require 12 coaches for each team to have their own coach, a saving
of 4 staff members.
Prior to camp, you should already have named the various leagues.Since
many camps use the names of college leagues for their league names, you could
have determined that your three leagues would be named SEC, BIG 10, and
ACC with the SEC being the youngest.
First, call out the 17 and 18 year olds and line them up along the sideline
and baseline. Next line up the 16 year olds, then the 15 year olds.
Starting with the oldest, count off 37 campers and send them to an area
where the ACC commissioner can begin dividing them into three teams of nine
and one team of ten campers.
You will now need to get two groups of 40 campers each.
Next, call out the 14 year olds and let them stand along the sideline next
to the 15s. Then call the 13 year olds.
Beginning with the oldest, count off 40 campers and send them to
another area to the Big 10 Commissioner whose job will be to divide them into
four teams of ten campers.
Then call out the 12 year olds, then the 11s, 10s, 9s, and 8s in that order.
Line them up on the sidelines next to the 13 year olds.
You should have a total of forty campers in this last group and they will
also need to be divided into four teams of ten and will be the SEC League.
BALANCING THE TEAMS AND LEAGUES
Each commissioner should have enough index cards for each player.
He divides his group into four groups, with a coach with the index cards with
each group.
30
Coaches first write each camper’s name, age, and height on the index
card. They should make sure they have each player’s name spelled correctly.
Coaches then let his group play 3 on 3 as he “grades” each player. The
grading system could be a “1” for the best players, a “2” for the average
players, and a “3” for the less skilled.
You can let the coaches use a “plus” and “minus” system also. If they are
unsure whether a player is “1” for example, they could give him a “1-“ or a
“2+”. Using a plus or minus can lead to a little better grading and perhaps
better placement on teams.
After playing 3 on 3 or 4 on 4, it is good to let the group play some fullcourt 5 on 5. There are players that may not be able to show their true ability in
a 3 on 3 half-court game but their speed and athletic skill may set them apart in
5 on 5.
At the completion of the allotted time, each coach must have a grade
placed on the card for each camper.
While the grading is going on, you, as the Director, or an assistant
director who you may have assigned, move from league to league and begin
asking the Commissioners what players they have they can move up or move
down.
The Commissioner of the ACC (the oldest) may tell you that he has 3
campers who are overwhelmed in this league and need to move to the Big 10
(the middle age group).
You take the 3 campers with you to the Big 10 Commissioner and let him
put them in his group. This will give him 43 campers. 34 campers not remain
in the ACC.
You then tell the Big 10 Commissioner he must give you 3 campers to
move to the ACC.
He informs you that he has, not 3, but 4 campers who definitely need to
move to the older league.
31
How many could be moved to the older league and still have only 10
campers per team. Three? No, six. The ACC had 37 campers, moved 3 down a
league, leaving 34 campers, room for six more to make a four team, 10 camper
league.
You send the 4 campers to the ACC which leaves the Big 10 with 39
campers and the ACC with 38 campers.
Now, you move to the 40 camper SEC where you often run into a
problem.
The Commissioner tells you he has 3 campers more skilled than the
others in the league and that they need to move up to the Big 10.
You move these 3 to the Big 10 which gives that league a total of 42
campers. Since the SEC Since the SEC has only 38 campers, you tell the
Commissioner of the Big 10 that he will have to give you his 2 weakest players
so that you can move them to the SEC.
Now, you have 40 campers in both the Big 10 and ACC and 37
campers in the SEC.
Instead of moving two campers up to the ACC, you could have given the
Big 10 Commissioner the choice of moving two campers down to the SEC.
Without risking confusion, the Camp Director should move players from
league to league in an effort to (1) get campers into their right skill level, and
(2) try to have leagues with the same number of campers per team as much
as possible.
When you move campers from one league to the other, avoid saying
“we are moving you down” or “we are moving you up.” Simply say “we
need to move you to the SEC.” Though most of the campers will realize
that they are being moved up or down, it still makes it easier for you to
move them when you avoid using “up” or “down.”
32
We really have given a rather simple example in our efforts to be clearly
understood. What if you had 121 campers instead of 117. That would mean you
would have 3 leagues of 40 and one league of 41.
Having more than 10 players to a team means that the 11th player does
not get into a 5 on 5 game until the 2nd substitution period. Players 1
through 5 might start the game, and at a required substitution time 6 through 10
come into the game.
How do you think number 11 feels? And just as important, how do you
think his parents feel? Angry in all probability, and maybe thinking “I won’t
send my kid to this camp again” or maybe “I’m taking my child out of this
camp now and asking for my money back.”
There could be a time when you might have 11 players on
a team. In the above example, if you had 121 campers
instead of 117, you would have had 11 players on one team. You
could have prevented one kid from coming to camp, but you do not
want to deny a child the opportunity.
You can make one of two adjustments. (1) You can have either a 6
team league or add a fourth league, or (2) you can add time on the
games so that number 11 plays as much as the other campers. This
causes a longer game and may require a slight adjustment of the
schedule.
Even though you might show a parent his #11 is playing as much as
the other campers, having him as #11 will not go over well with the
parent. Try to avoid having 11. One thing that can help alleviate the
problem somewhat is by changing starters each game, then number
11 will start the third game.
PLACING PLAYERS ONTO TEAMS
After the numbers are set for each league, it is now time to place the
campers onto teams.
Using the 3 x 5 cards, each Commissioner begins to place his campers
onto four teams.
33
He divides all of the players rated #1 onto the four teams keeping in mind
the sizes of each player. Then he divides the #2s and #3s onto the four teams.
Remember that the taller players in the camp must be spaced out
among the four teams.
You do not want one team having virtually all of the tall players in camp.
Not enough tall players on a team may affect the team’s ability to rebound
while having too many tall players on a team may affect the backcourt ballhandling of the teams since they may get caught without guards.
Now that the teams are established, they can begin playing 5 on 5 again
with coaches officiating and watching which teams need help and which teams
may be “loaded.”
If one team has “too many guards” it is the Commissioner’s job to trade
one (or more) of the guards to a team that needs guards.
The objective is to balance the teams as closely as possible so that good
competition can result.
Campers will have a better experience when they are placed on a
team that has a chance to compete.
If you do not pay attention to this “balancing” detail, you will have at least
one team that loses all or most all of their games. These campers may have
a bad camp experience….and might not come back next year!
In over 40 years of conducting camps, I have found this system best
for organizing teams by age with some allowance for ability.
34
NUMBER OF LEAGUES NEEDED FOR VARIOUS CAMPER
NUMBERS
Following are some recommendations for league numbers for different
camper totals:
Number Campers
Number of Leagues
60
Two leagues, One of 32, One of 28 campers
80
Two leagues, both with 40 campers OR
three leagues, 24, 28, and 28
100
Two leagues, one 4 team league of 40, and
one six team league of 60, OR
three leagues, 32, 32, and 36
130
Three leagues, Two four team leagues of 40
and one six team league of 50 (8 on team, one
team of 9)
Coach teaching a camper what to do with the ball after he catches it. Photo
Taken at the Michael Jordan Basketball Camp in Santa Barbara, CA.
35
CHAPTER 7
3 ON 3 AND 5 ON 5 PLAY
Campers naturally like to play the game and most would not complain if
they played more competitive full court games and had less instruction.
A quality camp will provide quality instruction and make ample time for
playing 5 on 5 games. Playing 3 on 3 is usually only done in overnight camps
because of time constraints though a 9 to 4 Day camp could work a period into
the curriculum for 3 on 3.
3 ON 3 PLAY
3 on 3 is an excellent game for learning the game. It has some advantages
over 5 on 5:
(1) More campers get to handle the ball than in 5 on 5 full court play.
The better players tend to dominate the ball in 5 on 5 play and those less skilled
players can make numerous trips downcourt and not touch the ball on offense.
(2) The game teaches offensive movement better than 5 on 5.
(3) Games can be played at all baskets in the gym, therefore getting
more participation.
(4) The lane area does not get as congested as in 5 on 5.
(5) 3 on 3 puts more defensive emphasis on players since there will
not be as much defensive help.
(6) The Camp Director can decide whether or not to use a 3 point
shot or whether or not to permit dunking. If no dunking is
allowed, post players must use a “move” to score.
36
As previously mentioned, it is difficult to find time for 3 on 3 play in any
day camp that does not run both morning and afternoon. 3 on 3 is included in
overnight camps because the schedule has to be filled morning, afternoon,
and evening.
A 45 minute time period in an overnight camp needs to be set aside for 3
on 3 play. In a 9 to 4 camp, a period of no more than 30 minutes could be
available for 3 on 3.
3 ON 3 TEAM ORGANIZATION
Part of the first 3 on 3 period must be devoted to placing campers on 3 on
3 teams.
Teams should be made up of four campers to allow for possible injury or
absense.
Consideration must be made for age groups. If the teams have been
divided by leagues for 5 on 5, the same leagues can be divided for 3 on 3.
A more experienced coach, usually the Commissioner, must be placed in
charge of this team selection in each league.
An easy method is to line up all campers in each league down a sideline
by height. Then, a player from the smaller side of the line is chosen along with
a player from the taller side. Two players are selected from the middle. This
will be Team #1 and they take a seat as a team on the other side of the court.
This procedure is repeated until all campers in each league have been
placed on a team with a team number.
Team numbers are called out and sent to a basket with an opponent.
It is probable that one league will have 3 baskets and another league 3
baskets. Therefore, 12campers from each league would be playing a game at
one time, for a total of 48 campers each game.
37
Those campers whose teams are not playing should sit in the center of the
court to avoid being in the way of a game.
The League Commissioner will maintain the 3 on 3 league schedule with
a simple round robin tournament played each day. He/She will keep the wonlost standings for each team.
At the last 3 on 3 session of the camp, the best 4 teams per league can
play a single elimination tournament for the 3 on 3 championship.
There will be ten teams in a 40 camper league. In the example above, the
37 camper league can have nine teams with one of them having five players on
it.
3 ON 3 GAME PLAY
The first thing that a Camp Director must determine for 3 on 3 is
the length of each game. Games can be from 3 to 5 minutes in length. Any
longer than 5 minutes will often mean the teams not playing will get bored and
restless waiting on the game to get over.
On every score, both teams substitute. All players must rotate in and out
so that the better players cannot stay on the court all of the time.
Once a game is over, the results are recorded by the League
Commissioner and another round of games is immediately begun.
In a 45 minute period, 5 or 6 games can be played dependent upon the
length of each game.
Team coaches referee and keep score.
In the event of a tie game, free-throw sudden death determines the
winner. One player shoots and makes, the other player misses, then the winner
is decided.
The basic 3 on 3 rules are listed in the Appendix.
38
5 ON 5 PLAY
Giving campers daily 5 on 5 games adds to their enjoyment of the
camp and provides opportunities for them to perform the fundamentals they
have learned during the instructional sessions.
Campers need basic fundamental drills so that they can begin to learn
basic fundamentals. But no camper would want to drill all day.
The first part of a week 5 on 5 teams will play “league play” in round
robin or “pool play” type of games.
If time permits, each team will play each other during the week. In doing
so, it assures a true league champion. This is easily done in a 4 team league. In
fact, some teams may play each other twice.
In an 8 team league, time will not permit each team playing each other. In
both 4 team leagues and 8 team leagues, the won-lost records of the team will
determine the true champion even though some of the better teams might not
have played each other. The “tournament champion” will be determined by
the playoffs.
“Pool play” during the week is played in a round robin format.
For a 4 team league, the schedule would be as follows:
Game 1
Game 2
Game 3
Game 4
Game 5
Game 6
1 vs. 2
4 vs. 3
1 vs. 4
3 vs. 2
1 vs. 3
2 vs. 4
1 vs. 2
4 vs. 3
1 vs. 4
3 vs. 2
1 vs. 3
2 vs. 4
If schedule time permits 6 games, each team will play each other twice.
The length of some camps will provide only 4 or 5 games for pool play.
39
For an 8 team league, the schedule would be as follows:
Game 1
Game 2
Game 3
Game 4
Game 5
Game 6
1 vs. 2
8 vs. 3
7 vs. 4
6 vs. 5
1 vs. 8
7 vs. 2
6 vs. 3
5 vs. 4
1 vs. 7
6 vs. 8
5 vs. 2
4 vs. 3
1 vs. 6
5 vs. 7
4 vs. 8
3 vs. 2
1 vs. 5
4 vs. 6
3 vs. 7
2 vs. 8
1 vs. 4
3 vs. 5
2 vs. 6
8 vs. 7
In the event the number of campers, and varied abilities, required a
6 team league, the schedule would be as follows:
Game 1
Game 2
Game 3
Game 4
Game 5
Game 6
1 vs. 2
6 vs. 3
5 vs. 4
1 vs. 6
5 vs. 2
4 vs. 3
1 vs. 5
4 vs. 6
3 vs.2
1 vs. 4
3 vs. 5
2 vs. 6
1 vs. 3
2 vs. 4
6 vs. 5
1 vs. 2
6 vs. 3
5 vs. 4
If 6 games are played in pool play in a 6 team league, notice that the
teams from the Game 1 round play each other twice.
Also notice that all 3 schedules have been made by leaving #1 constant
and simply rotating the other teams per game.
This rotation assures that no team will play the same team twice in
the first round unless it is a 6 team league.
ELIMINATION TOURNAMENT AT THE END OF CAMP
After the round robin “pool play” is concluded, standings will rank each
team based on their won-lost record and teams advance to a camp ending
elimination tournament. Such a tournament can be an exciting culmination of
the camp.
40
In the event of a tie in league standings, head to head play will determine
the tiebreaker. If they did not play each other, then a flip of the coin will be
needed to establish tournament position.
Types of elimination tournaments are single elimination, double
elimination, and consolation elimination. Time usually does not permit any type
of tournament other than single elimination. However, if time allows, use a
consolation elimination format. (In consolation elimination, a team that loses
can no longer win the championship, but drops into the losers bracket and plays
for various place positions. This enables players to continue to play after their
team has suffered a loss.
Time constraints and facilities will determine the type of elimination
tournament to be played.
5 ON 5 GAME RULES
Regular 5 on 5 rules that are usually played in schools and colleges must
be adjusted for the camp situation.
First of all, you do not have as much time to devote to the games. If you
did, it would have to be taken away from the instructional sessions.
Second, you must adjust some of the down time normally found in
games so that as much playing action can occur as possible in the limited time
allotted.
Adjusting downtime means less timeouts, shorter halves, quick
substitutions. We also recommend minimizing free throw shooting since
players would be standing around for the free throw.
LENGTH OF GAME
Whereas high schools play 32 minute games and colleges play 40 minute
games, camp games vary considerably as far as length of games. Game length
will depend on how much time is allotted for 5 on 5 play in the daily schedule.
41
Remember this, much more time is available in an overnight camp for
5 on 5 than in a day camp. Whereas an overnight camp may include two one
hour periods daily for 5 on 5, a full day camp may be only able to work a 30 or
40 minute period in the morning and a similar period in the afternoon.
Since most campers pay to go to camp, it is important to require
substitution to assure each camper plays a similar amount of time.
Because of this, the length of games is often determined by how many
substitution segments you can have during a game.
A good time segment is usually best to be five or six minutes. Anything
less than that and the campers cannot get “into the flow” of the 5 on 5 game.
Longer time frames mean players sitting out become bored or muscles are not
ready to play.
Therefore, overnight camps can play 24 minute halves which will allow a
starting group of players and then 5 different substitution opportunities.
Two 24 minute halves are ideal but often not enough time in the daily
schedule can be allotted for that length for two halves.
We have found that two 24 minute halves will require about 1 hour and
10 minutes to play.
Most camp schedules can only allow one hour for 5 on 5 games.
Therefore, we arrived at a game time schedule as an 18 minute first half
and a 24 minute second half. This will allow for two substitutions the first half
and three the second half.
Because of the intensity of games in the last few minutes and to allow
campers a chance to have their best team on the floor at the end of games, we
allow free substitution the last 2 minutes of a game.
You might ask, “why not two 20 minute halves?” If this is what you
prefer, then you will need to sub every 5 minutes instead of 6. Five minutes is a
little too short.
42
The full day camp may require two 12 minute halves with
substitutions every 4 minutes.
A complete list of camp 5 on 5 rules is shown in the Appendix .
EQUALITY OF SUBSTITUTION
As mentioned earlier, a quality basketball camp will have a substitution
system to assure that all campers play approximately the same amount of
If you do not think this is important, play a camper 10 minutes in a 40
minute game, while others are playing 30, and experience the reaction from a
disgruntled parent of the player who played only 10 minutes.
Remember, most of the campers are paying the same amount to attend
the camp. They are not paying to “sit on the bench.” And parents aren’t
paying to watch their child “sit on the bench.”
Of course, scholarships may be involved, but most of your campers will
be paying the full ticket. Therefore, it is imperative to equalize playing time.
Many coaches will think they can equalize playing time without a
system, but they definitely cannot! Coaches need a specific system to assure
equality of playing time and the system needs to be enforced by the Camp
Director.
A SUBSTITUTION SYSTEM
Following is a system for substitution that is very easy for coaches to
follow

All players must be numbered from number 1 through the last player.

Even a 10 player team has to be numbered. As long as there are 10
players on the team, substitutions can be made in 1 to 5 and 6 to 10.
However, what if a player is hurt making the team a 9 player team. A
43
numbering system becomes extremely important and needs to be
done prior to this happening.
PLAYER SUBSTITUTION CHART
9 Player Team (18 minute 1st half, 24 minute 2nd half)
FIRST HALF:
Time Game 1
18:00 12345
12:00 67891
6:00 23456
Game 2
67891
23456
78912
Game 3
23456
78912
34567
SECOND HALF:
24:00 78912
34567
89123
18:00 34567
89123
45678
12:00 89123
45678
91234
06:00 45678
91234
56789
02:00 FREE SUBSTITUTION
Game 4
78912
34567
89123
Game 5
34567
89123
45678
Game 6
89123
45678
91234
45678
91234
56789
12345
91234
56789
12345
67891
56789
12345
67891
23456
 Notice that different players start each game. All players like to be in
the starting line-up. On a 9 player team 1-2-3-4-5 starts game 1.
Players 6-7-8-9-1 start game 2 and so on.
Substitution charts for other numbers of campers on a team are shown in
the Appendix.
NUMBERING BY ABILITY AND POSITION
For the substitution system, campers should be numbered by a
combination of ability, position, and size.
It is a good idea to have a point guard numbered 1 and 6 and a post
player numbered 2 and 7.
This assures a point guard and a big player to be on the court regardless
of the substitution segment.
44
Numbers 3, 4, 5 should be the next 3 best players and 8, 9, 10 the last in
ability.
Numbering by ability will mean that less skilled players will be in the
game at the same time and can guard each other.
It lessens the quality of the camp if less skilled players have to play
against far superior players. It tears down confidence and makes the camp
experience less enjoyable for the less skilled player.
And as a coach/business owner, remember that campers who do not enjoy
your camp will NOT come back next year!
45
CHAPTER 8
THE HEART OF A BASKETBALL CAMP – TEACHING STATIONS
A quality basketball camp features quality instruction.
In order to get quality instruction, part of the daily camp schedule must
include work in smaller groups, called “stations”.
Ideally, no station would have more than 10 players at the station;
however, there are camp situations where you need to have 1 or 2 more. More
than 12 at a station will result in an inferior camp.
Let’s look at a boarding camp schedule that allows for a 1 hour and 30
minute period for instructional stations.
There are two ways that stations can be handled:
(1) Campers are assigned a basket, and after a certain number of minutes,
a whistle blows and all groups rotate one station.
OR
(2) Campers are assigned a basket or area, and after a certain number of
minutes, a whistle is blown and groups merge toward the middle where an
instructor demonstrates or teaches the next drill. Groups then return to their
original basket and work on the skill just taught by the instructor. The
disadvantage of this method is that all groups will need a basket.
Either system will work. In the first, a coach is assigned a particular skill
at his/her station and teaches that skill throughout the total station period. In the
second, coaches all teach the skill that was taught at the beginning of each time
frame.
In the first, assignment of the skill at each station is dependent on the
ability of the instructor. If an instructor is very good at teaching passing, he
46
would remain at that station for the entire period. If he/she is good at teaching
rebounding, he/she would remain at the rebounding station the entire period.
There are obviously some advantages here since instructors may request
a station skill that they feel more comfortable in teaching.
A disadvantage of this method is that the same amount of time must be
put on each skill. Some skills may take longer to teach, but using the rotation
system does not allow varying times at each station.
In the second method of teaching stations, all instructors will teach every
skill. The advantage of this is that different time frames can be set for each skill.
In addition, the instructor may be fresher and more enthusiastic when he changes
his skill topic, whereas in the first, he would remain at the same station and
perhaps get a little bored at teaching the same skill over and over. The
disadvantage, of course, is that an instructor may be teaching a skill that he feels
less comfortable at teaching.
In either method, the amount of time scheduled for the station skill
should be put on the game clock so all instructors can see how much time they
have left to complete their teaching in the particular station.
Regardless of the method used, there are many options available as far as
time for each station. In the first method, campers can rotate every 10, or 12, or
15 minutes. Camp Director’s choice. In the second method, 10 minutes may be
allowed for the first skill, 15 for the second, and perhaps 12 for the third skill.
Time allotment would be determined by the difficulty of the skill being taught.
STATIONS FOR 60 CAMPERS – TWO COURTS
We will start at looking at a group of 60 campers in one two court gym.
That would necessitate dividing them into 6 groups (or stations) with perhaps the
following skill topics:
Stationary Jump Shooting
Jump shooting off Dribble
Chest and Bounce Passing
Pivoting (or footwork)
Dribbling
Defensive rebounding
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Diagram 1. Station lay-out with 60 campers on two full courts. 10 campers
per station.
This is an example of the rotation method of stations.
Assuming a basket at each station, 1 could be Station Jump Shot, 2 Jump
Shot off dribble, 3 Chest Passing, 4 Pivoting, 5 Dribbling, 6 Defensive
Rebounding.
A 90 minute period would allow for 15 minutes at each station.
A 60 minute period would allow for 10 minutes per station.
Although most 2 court gyms have 6 baskets, it is not essential that
passing, dribbling, and pivoting have a basket. Therefore, to give more room
at the baskets that need the room, these non-basket fundamentals can be taught
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at different areas of the gym. Dribbling could be taught at Station 2, Passing at
Station 4, and Pivoting at Station 5.
Dependent on the size of the gym floors, it might even be necessary to
have one of the stations in the lobby of the gym.
This is an example of the type of things a Camp Director must use his
creativity and organizational skills to provide enough good teaching areas.
STATIONS FOR 80 CAMPERS – TWO COURTS
Diagram 2. Station lay-out with 80 campers on two full courts. 10 campers
per station.
To handle 80 campers in a 2 court gym, you will need to have 8 stations
of 10 players with the length of the stations cut to 10 minutes each.
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STATIONS FOR 100 CAMPERS – TWO COURTS
In order to handle 100 campers in stations in a two court facility you can:
(1) If the gym is large enough, you can have 10 stations of 10 campers.
In that case, you would need one hour and 40 minutes built into the
daily schedule for stations.
OR
(2) You can have three periods of 30 minutes each and rotate as follows:
a - The SEC League runs 3 stations on Court 1. The Big Ten runs 3
stations on court 2. The ACC goes into a 30 minute classroom setting
in which you combine good basketball videos with some lecture work.
b – After 30 minutes, leagues rotate. The ACC goes to Court 1, the
SEC goes to Court 2 and the Big 10 goes to the classroom.
c - After 30 minutes, leagues rotate. The Big 10 goes to Court 1, the
ACC to Court 2 and the SEC goes to the classroom.
It is important that you have a very good coach handling the classroom
sessions. If lecture is to be the main activity, a good head coach will be needed.
Even if the main activity is film, it usually takes an experienced coach to point
out portions of the video that are “teachable moments”. It is not good to just run
a video and the coach in charge just sit back and relax. The video should be
stopped at times and fundamental technique or mistakes should be pointed out
to the campers.
If you are lucky enough to have 3 courts, you should able to handle 100
campers easily even without a classroom session.
CLASSROOM CURRICULUM
When you have camper numbers that would require a classroom setting
you must make certain that the classroom session is very valuable to the
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campers and that the time is used to give them a better understanding of the
game. This requires advance planning for the sessions to be meaningful to the
campus.
What type of activities would be good for these classroom sessions?
1 – Videos of Basketball Fundamental Instruction.
Do not be one of the camps that use the video sessions for just “time
fillers” with no instruction whatsoever. To avoid this, pre-screen the videos and
use only those that either have good instruction in the video or one that your
instructors can stop and discuss various fundamental points from the video.
A good example of poor video sessions is the showing of a game
film without instruction. A good instructor will stop the game film often and
point out both good and bad things in the film that contributes to the camper
understanding of the game. The video can be stopped on a careless pass and a
discussion of passing can ensue. Other mistakes, like failure to block off on a
defensive rebound, improper footwork, or taking a bad shot are good
opportunities to stop and discuss the fundamental mistake.
2 - Classroom Lecture.
Experienced coaches must be used for classroom lectures to be
meaningful to the campers. Even with good coaches doing the speaking it is
always best to give the coach a particular topic to speak on. They should be
given this topic prior to camp so that they can adequately prepare.
At my highly successful camps at Stetson University we often used a
“Learn the Game” lecture series. The first day we might have a lecture on the
various defenses in the game, another day the various offenses, and another day
a detailed look at how to run the fast break. An experienced coach led the
lecture session and usually resulted in the campers getting a better
understanding of the game of basketball.
3 - Visiting Lecturers.
Local college coaches or assistant coaches may agree to speak to the
campers. This is always good if the local coach is well known in the area.
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4 – Strength Training Information
Campers are usually very interested in how they can put on strength.
If a weight room is available the group can be taken there and demonstrations
done to show them how to properly train. Other types of individual
development information, such as agility exercises, can also be used at this
time.
5 – Question and Answer Session
A session where campers can have questions answered concerning
basketball can be good if led by an experienced person, not necessarily a
coach. If you have a college player on your staff, he can be made available to
answer questions about college life as a basketball player A financial aid officer
at a local college can answer questions about how financial aid is awarded, and
an admissions officer might discuss how to prepare for admission to college.
Lecture sessions must be designed for the particular age group that
is to be in the classroom. Older campers will understand far more than the
young ones. More advanced basketball techniques such as methods of
screening or some form of game strategy can be used for older campers
while the young campers should receive instruction of only the basic
basketball fundamentals of shooting, passing, and dribbling.
PREREQUISITES OF A GOOD STATION
Regardless of the numbers attending the camp, there are some absolute
requirements for a station to be a quality station:
1. A station must be supervised by a quality teacher. Head high school
and assistant coaches usually can do a good job, especially if the Camp Director
has printed a drill booklet and given them guidance as to what should be taught.
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If college players are used at a station, the Camp Director must give
them some advance instruction and closely supervise what they are teaching.
Some college players can be very good, others very poor if not supervised
closely.
Whether or not they are experienced or inexperienced coaches, you must
insist that they be enthusiastic at their station. It is very difficult for a coach to
be a good teacher of a station if he is not enthuastic.
`
2. Enough space and enough equipment must be available for the
station. When space is limited, quality teaching may suffer unless you take
steps to make extra space. For example, using an outdoor court, using the gym
lobby, a classroom, or any other space that you may be able to put a station that
does not require a goal.
3. Specific drills must be planned for each station by the Camp
Director or perhaps his assistant. Printing a drill booklet to be handed out to
the coaches can help tremendously in obtaining quality instruction and thus
making good stations.
`
4. Lines at a station must not be long lines. No matter how many you
may have at a station (which you should strive to keep it 10 campers or under),
make sure you organize drills so that there will be no long lines and that plenty
of skill practice is being afforded each camper.
Look at this example:
Your station is the jump shot off the dribble. You have 10 players at the
station. Would it be best to have one line of 10 taking turns driving to the
elbow, OR splitting them into two lines of 5 and take turns driving to each
elbow? Of course two lines are better.
5.
Use as many balls at the station as are practical. Though you
may strive to have a ball for every player, it is not always the best thing for drill
instruction. Usually, two or three balls per drill allow the drill to move smoothly.
It will depend on the drill. A ball-handling drill might require a ball for every
player at the station.
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6.The drill must be appropriate to the age level. Pay particular
attention to each drill to make certain it is practical for the age of the camper.
One age group may work on the spin dribble, another may work on the crossover, and the youngest may be working on a simple dribble.
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CHAPTER 9
OTHER FACTORS NECESSARY FOR A SUCCESSFUL CAMP
FACILITIES
When you decide to have a basketball camp, your first and most
important task is to find a suitable facility.
If you are a college coach or a junior or senior high school coach you can
usually rent your school’s facilities.
Many times, particularly on the college level, the administration will
allow you to have the facility on a rent free or cost basis.
If you are not associated with a school, it is more difficult to find an
available facility, but it can be done. Most facilities are eager to add income.
WHAT FACILITIES SHOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR YOU TO RENT?
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Local junior or senior high school gymnasiums.
Department of Recreation gymnasiums
Church gymnasiums
Private gymnasiums
College gymnasiums, though these will be the most difficult to rent
and usually charge higher rent
Local junior or senior high school gymnasiums. The easiest place to
rent is a local junior high or middle school gym.
This is because coaches at these schools are usually physical education
teachers, not career coaches, and most of the time do not run their own
basketball camp.
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This is not true with the high schools whose coaches almost always run at least
one week of camp and could see an outside camp conflicting with their own.
A drawback to junior high gymnasiums is that they are usually
smaller than high school gyms, which could limit the number of campers you
could accommodate. They may also have only 4 goals but, as we have
discussed earlier, this does not keep you from having 6 stations or more.
A plus is that these junior high school gyms usually charge less rent
than larger high school or college gyms. To make up for possibly having fewer
campers because of the gym size, the lower rent might mean that you could rent
it for two sessions.
Department of Recreation Gymnasiums. Many cities, even smaller
ones, now have good gyms solely owned by the city. In some cities, these gyms
are better than junior high facilities.
Often the Director of Recreation is very eager to have a camp in his/her
gym. This is because the Director is responsible for the recreation and sports
offerings at his building and an outside camp coming in helps fulfill that need.
These buildings may be as easy to rent as junior high gyms; however,
there are far more junior high gyms than recreation department gyms.
Church Gymnasiums. In recent years the trend has been for churches to
build their own gyms as part of the overall church property.
They have done that as part of their efforts to bring more youth into the
church membership.
Many, but not all, of these gyms are smaller than junior high gyms so
might not be as suitable for a camp.
Private Gymnasiums. There have been numerous private gymnasiums
built in recent years, usually in the larger cities.
They are built as a part of a profit making business and the rent for the building
will usually be high. If not high, the owner may want a price per camper as his
rental condition.
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College gymnasiums. College gyms are the most difficult to rent. This is
because the college coaches have their own camp and are wary of an outside
camp coming in that might cut into their profits.
The college gyms are not just used by one head coach, but head coaches
of other sports on the coaching staff.
The men’s basketball coach and women’s basketball coach will probably
have 2 weeks each booked. The volleyball coach may have 2 weeks booked. A
gymnastics coach may have it for at least one week.
So there are 7 weeks booked already without considering other outside
groups like cheerleading camps, gymnastic camps, and church groups.
Only 1 or 2 weeks may be available to you and those may not fit your
schedule or may conflict with a holiday period (like the 4th of july).
This is not to tell you that you will not be able to rent a college gym. It is
just more difficult than the other type facilities. There are actually many
basketball camps around the United States that are held on college campuses by
outside individuals.
Remember the college coach does not determine whether or not to rent
the gym to outside individuals. This is usually determined by someone in the
administration that has the responsibility for coordinating summer camps.
The author runs a well-respected basketball position camp, SHOOTING
STARS BASKETBALL CAMP, at Lander University in Greenwood, S.C. and
gets great cooperation from their athletic administration.
FACTORS TO CONSIDER IN RENTING FACILITIES
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Number of indoor courts available
Number of goals available
Number of outdoor courts available
Dressing Room space
Classroom (video) space
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The basic need for a successful basketball camp is a building with 2
full courts and 6 baskets available for use. If your goal is to have 100 campers
or more, your camp will run smoother if 3 courts are available. However, 100
campers can be accommodated with only 2 courts with the right organization.
Dressing room space is not essential since campers come dressed in a
day camp and dress in the dorms in an overnight camp.
INSTRUCTORS
The better your coach/instructors, the better your camp. However,
the best instructors may require too much salary for you to run a profitable
camp.
A general guideline is to have one coach for every 10 campers. This
can be adjusted the better your instructors are and the more college players you
might have available to work.
If you plan to employ 10 coaches, you might hire 5 head high school
coaches, 3 assistant coaches or junior high coaches, and 2 college players.
The head high school coaches will require the highest salaries with
the assistants and junior high coaches less, but more than, the college players.
KEY FACTOR IN HIRING COACHES:
The number one criteria for hiring coaches is their ability to teach
fundamentals. However, you must give consideration to those coaches who
will bring their players. If you have one coach who can bring 2 campers and
another who will bring 10 campers, it is simply good business sense to employ
the latter coach.
One method for assuring that your coaches bring campers is to pay them
a base salary, then add an amount for each camper they bring. You might pay a
base salary of $300 plus $20 per camper they bring. If they bring 3 campers,
they get paid $360….if they bring 10 campers they get paid $500. This method
of base pay provides motivation for the coach to bring campers.
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Of course all your coaches cannot b e paid on this basis. If you have a
head coach and his assistant from the same school, obviously you offer the
incentive to the head coach only. He then can divide it with his assistant if he so
chooses. On the other hand, you may have an assistant coach working and not
the head coach. You may find the assistant coach will work harder to get
campers to attend than the head coach. If so, he should be rewarded for his
efforts. Your base pay to the assistant might be $250 plus the $20 incentive.
INSTRUCTOR TRAINING
Though not absolutely essential, it will improve instruction if you give
your instructors a drill booklet a few days before camp begins.
In the booklet, you should have the daily schedule listed and the lesson
plans for each day. The drills you plan to use should also be listed.
It is important that all coaches use the same drills as other coaches in
their league. You cannot allow your coaches to use whatever drills they like.
You, as director, must be specific for you are the one who is ultimately
responsible for the instruction.
EQUIPMENT
The equipment you will need will primarily be:
(1) Basketballs. Plenty of basketballs should be available. One
basketball for each 2 campers is ideal.
(2) Ball racks or bags. When activities stop, it is essential that campers
put the basketballs they are using on the rack or in a ball bag. Otherwise, chaos
will reign with balls all over the court.
(3) Whistles. Many coaches/staff will have their own whistles; in fact,
when they are hired you should request that they bring their own whistles.
In addition, you should have a dozen whistles available in the event some
are needed.
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(4) Pennies. These are important for 5 on 5 play to distinguish between
teams (particularly when female campers are involved).
(5) Video Projector and screen. Showing videos of basketball
fundamentals enhance a camp in addition to creating space for additional
campers.
(5) Videos of basketball fundamentals. At least 4 good fundamental
videos should be purchased so that video content is available daily.
The above equipment assumes that a scoreboard clock is available from
the facility.
AWARDS
Awards and recognition are an extremely important part of a quality
basketball camp experience.
The more campers who receive awards the better. Remember, every
camper would like to be recognized and all parents would like their son or
daughter to be recognized.
I have seen camps where virtually every camper received an award of
some type.
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Trophies are the most popular award. Many homes are filled with
trophies that were won at basketball or other type camps.
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Certificates can also be used as awards. An attractive four color
certificate can be designed and the number of awards that can be
given is virtually limitless.
Young people prefer trophies, but later in life they tend to collect dust.
An attractive certificate can always be framed, put in their room and remain
there for years to come.
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A “Camper of the Day” award can be given each day at the end of
the day in each league. It presents an opportunity to recognize the less
skilled campers.
The less skilled camper will win no award involving competition;
therefore, the “camper of the day” is great for these campers.
One “Camper of the Day” can be recognized in each league and it
becomes the responsibility of each commissioner to select one each day.
Purchasing a few “gold medals” to present to each when he/she is called
out will be inexpensive and will pay dividends.
Another form of recognition can be more verbal and can receive a similar
response from the camper who receives it. For example, a camper who makes a
best “hustle” play can be recognized in front of the entire group and might be
given the opportunity to be “first in line for lunch” or “first in line at a water/
drink break.”
You can also wait until the conclusion of the camp that day to recognize
the camper since “proud parents” may be present.
Any time a camper does something outstanding, particularly if other
campers see it happen, can be another opportunity for camper recognition.
And it does not have to be a “serious” award.
For examples:
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A camper makes a halfcourt shot just before the end of a period or
game. He can be called out at the end of the day (night) and
recognized as “the long shot camper of the day.”
A camper dives after a loose ball and bangs into the scoring table or
something else that adjoins the court. He can be recognized as the
“floor burn champion” or perhaps another name you or one of your
coaches can dream up.
A camper dribbles the ball off his foot and it goes out of bounds. He
can get the “big foot” recognition.
A camper that makes a winning basket at the end of a game can be
named “Mr. Clutch” at the end of the day.
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There are numerous other opportunities during the day that provide
similar opportunities to “recognize” a camper. It just takes an innovative staff to
enable limitless recognizable moments.
If you do not think this type of recognition is important, look at the face
of a 9 year old when you call him out as the “best pass of the day camper.” And
watch the chest of his father expand.
End of Camp Awards: As many awards you can give at the award ceremony
at the end of camp the better.
All awards should be given in each league.
Among the awards you can give:
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Team champions (both 5 on 5 and 3 on 3)
Most Outstanding Player (or MVP)
Free throw champion
Jump shot champion (the “string music” award)
“Knockout” champion
Hot Shot champion
Assist award
Best defensive
Best rebounder
Best ball handler
Dedication award
Unselfishness award
Most improved
Best attitude
DISCIPLINE
Any camp must have a certain amount of discipline for it to run
smoothly.
Allowing campers to come in late, for example, would disrupt the
teaching process in the camp.
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The camp must have a set of rules and methods to assure they are
followed.
Among the rules that must be established AND enforced are:
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When assembly is called, campers assemble immediately.
Campers must be on time for all sessions.
When a coach is talking, campers must remain quiet.
When campers are moving from one station to another, they must
run, not walk.
Boisterous and noisy conduct on breaks is not permitted.
Fighting will not be tolerated.
What type of penalty can be used?
(1) Running
(2) Push-ups
(3) Not allowed to play in games if conduct is extremely bad and continuing.
(4) Camper can be expelled from camp in extreme cases.
Discipline for overnight campers
Additional rules must be established for overnight campers.
 Getting to and from the dormitory to the gym or cafeteria.
Survey the streets involved in getting to each. Do they walk along a busy
highway? Do they cross a busy street?
It may be that you must establish the exact route to and from the dorm
and cafeteria.
It may be necessary to have assembly at the dorm and a coach walk the
campers to their next location. This will vary from camp to camp and depend on
safety issues.

Bed check. All dorm rooms must be checked at night by an
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assigned coach. A time should be listed on the schedule for each camper to be
in his/her room for bed check. Campers cannot be visiting other rooms after that
time.
 Lights out. A time for all lights out must be listed on the schedule
and enforced.
This can be a problem at overnight camps. Invariably some campers will
keep their lights on after the scheduled time for lights out. When this happens,
some form of punishment must be enforced the next morning and it is
important that the punishment be enforced in front of the other campers.
 Leaving campus. It is important that campers not leave campus or
the site of the camp at any time (unless accompanied by an adult supervisor).
 Adult supervision. At any time campers are in the dorms, adult
supervision must be present.
Campers will get involved in boisterous conduct if no coach is on hand to
supervise. And boisterous conduct can result in (1) injury to a camper and (2)
damage to facility property.
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CHAPTER 10
SPONSORSHIPS, ADVERTISING, AND PUBLICITY
Doing a good job on securing sponsorships and making certain you use
all advertising and publicity channels available will be the “icing on the cake”
as far as profits from the camp are concerned.
SPONSORSHIPS
In most communities sponsorships can reduce expenses for running a camp and
therefore, add to the profit line.
TYPES OF SPONSORSHIPS
There are numerous opportunities available to sponsors for a basketball camp.
Many businesses and individuals in a community will only be pleased to help
sponsor a camp that will provide service to local students.
Types of sponsorships opportunities:
1, Naming Rights
2. Signage
3. Printing
4. Trophies/Awards
5. Scholarship opportunities
6. Product
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Where do you begin?
Start out by establishing a basic price structure for sponsorship opportunities.
For example:
Camp Name…………………………………….$1,000-$2000*
Signage………………………………………….
500/250
Brochure Printing………………………………
Cost
Trophies/Awards……………………………….
Cost
Scholarship Opportunities……………………. Cost of camp
Product (Balls, T shirts, Drinks)………………
Cost
 Amount will vary dependent on the community, local interest, and the
size of the business. Larger regional banks, for example, have larger
budgets than smaller local banks. If one of the Presidents of an area bank
is very interested in the local high school games he will be a great
candidate for a naming (or other support sponsorship).
Once you have established your basic price structure, make a list of the local
businesses AND local individuals who normally sponsor school activities.
Develop a price sheet and other information about your camp, make the
appropriate appointments, and present the sponsorship opportunities to all of the
key businesses and individuals on your list.
Timing of your Presentations
Any sponsorship opportunities should be offered during the first 3 or 4
months of the year. This is because businesses tend to spend a large portion of
their budgets early in the year.
If you plan an early fall camp and you go to the potential sponsor in
September you often will receive an answer like “we like your idea but we have
already spent our budget for the year.”
For a “spring break” camp in late March or early April, you must begin
seeking sponsorships by early January.
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For May-June camps you should start seeking sponsorships by February 1.
For July camps, by March 1.
For August or Fall camps by April or May.
LOOKING AT EACH TYPE OF SPONSORSHIP IN MORE DETAIL
Naming Rights. The business that will receive the most exposure during
the camp is the one who will agree to the naming rights. When the business
name is attached to the camp, the name is used on all brochures, all
advertisements whether print or media, many PA announcements during the
camp, and receives the largest share of the credit for the camp being held in the
community.
The naming sponsor should receive, and should expect to receive,
increased local business because of its camp involvement.
The price for naming rights will vary by community and by size AND
interest of the business. In smaller towns, you might have to settle for $500 as
the price for naming rights whereas in larger communities and larger
businesses, you may be able to obtain several thousand dollars.
Signage in Gym: The most common sponsorship is for a business to
purchase a sign to be placed in a prominent location in the gym facility.
The more prominent the location, the more you may be able to
obtain from the sign.
A sign taped to the scoring table in the facility usually commands the
highest price since it will be seen constantly during 5 on 5 game play in the
camp and affords a good background when pictures are taken and awards
are presented.
Other signs may be placed on the walls of the gym, at the entrance way to the
gym, on ball racks, and possibly on the gym floor itself.
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Visit a local sign painter and offer him signage in exchange for his painting all
of the signs that are sold.
Brochure Printing. You have two options in getting the cost of the printing of
your camp brochure donated.
The first is to ask a local printer to provide them for you gratis. He may say he
cannot do that, but he will give you a special price.
Let’s say he agrees to print them for $400. The second option then is for you to
sell ads in the brochure that would pay this cost.
Since you may be distributing 2 to 3 thousand brochures in the surrounding
area, it may be possible to get one business to absorb the entire cost of the
brochure.
Trophies/Awards Getting a sponsor to pay for trophies/and awards is an easy
sponsorship to obtain provided the name of the business or individual is placed
on each trophy/award.
2011
SUNSHINE BANK
OUTSTANDING PLAYER AWARD
JOE SMITH BASKETBALL CAMP
Before you seek someone to pay for the trophies, determine (1) what trophies or
awards you will need and (2) the total price. You need to know this total price
before contacting someone to pay for them.
Occasionally you will have a sponsor tell you they will purchase and
deliver the trophies to you. Your answer should be that you have selected the
type trophies the camp will need and his only responsibility is to pay for the
trophies that YOU purchase.
I experienced this one year and allowed the sponsor to buy the trophies.
They were so inexpensive that I was almost ashamed to present them to the
award winners. I did not let that happen again.
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SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Banks and larger local businesses (such as insurance companies and real
estate companies) are prime candidates for providing scholarships to camp for
those potential campers who are in need.
You may be able to sell a large regional bank five scholarships. If the
cost of your camp is $200, that means they will give you $1,000 for five
campers.
You allow the business to participate in the awarding of the scholarships.
The business may want to run some type of promotion in which their customers
register their son or daughter for a drawing.
Of course, the winners of drawings are not necessarily those in need.
If the business really wants to pay for the needy campers, you can assist
them in finding potential campers who could not ordinarily afford to attend.
By going to churches, YMCAs, and charity organizations, it will be easy
for you to give the business the names of those potential campers that would
definitely need a scholarship to attend.
The more scholarships you can sell, the less full paying campers you have
to attract.
PRODUCT DONATIONS
What products will you need for camp?
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Basketballs
T-Shirts
Awards
Reversible jerseys or Pennys
Drinks for Breaks
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Basketballs. Contact your local sporting goods store and ask them to donate
balls. They may not donate them, but they may be willing to work a deal with
you to provide balls. They may agree to give you one basketball for every
basketball you buy.
So you determine you need 40 basketballs for the camp. They give you
20, and you buy 20 at a cost of approximately $25. You do not need the
expensive balls that are used by high school and college teams.
You have $500 tied up in basketballs, but that is a first year expense. You
keep all of your basketballs for another year and, assuming you lose 3 or 4
basketballs which is almost inevitable in a camp situation, you will only have
$100 tied up in basketballs your second year.
Another good possibility on balls is to sell businesses on having their
name on the basketballs. There are a number of companies that will put
business names on the basketballs. In doing this, you may eliminate the cost of
balls, or even make a small profit from them.
T-Shirts. Most camps give every camper a Camp T-Shirt. The name of your
camp is attractively printed on the front of the shirt.
This gives your camp year-round advertising for most of the campers will
wear these shirts during the school year.
How do you avoid the expense of these T-Shirts? By obtaining a sponsor
whose company name will be placed on the back of the shirts.
You find out what a local T-Shirt printing company will charge you per
dozen for shirts and screen printing.
Let’s assume the cost by the dozen will be $72 ($6 per shirt). You will be
able to get some, if not all, of your shirts paid for by local advertisers.
Remember this also about T-shirts. You can sell camp shirts at a profit,
so you need to order enough for all attending campers and those observers that
would like to buy a shirt.
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You buy a shirt for $6, sell it for $15. You sell 30 of them and you have
made $270, which can go toward some other camp expense (or to your profit.)
Reversible Jerseys, Tshirts, or Penneys. You will need reversible jerseys,
Tshirts, or pennys for the campers to wear when they are playing 5 on 5 games.
Reversible jerseys and T shirts can have advertising on the back but it is
difficult to get advertisers to pay for penneys because they are not worn all of
the time…only when the team is playing, and the usual mesh material is not
conducive to good advertising. Reversible jerseys and T shirts can be worn in
individual drills.
If you use Tshirts for game competition you will need different colors for
each team. This may sound complicated but it is not. If you have 4 team
leagues, you simply divide your T shirt order into 4 and order 4 different colors.
Few camps do this, but it will add a touch of class to your camp if you do.
Penneys are relatively inexpensive, so if you plan to use penneys rather
than reversible jerseys or Tshirts it is best to absorb their cost in your first year
expenses. You keep them from year to year so you avoid this cost in the future.
When you have Tshirts printed for camp, make sure you do not put the
date on the shirt. By not doing so, you will be able to use any unused shirts for
the next year’s camp.
Some camps play “shirts and skins” in their 3 on 3 and 5 on 5 play
andprovide pennys only for the girls. DON’T play “shirts and skins”. It adds a
lack of class to your camp, which you cannot afford if you plan to be
successful.
Drinks for Breaks or Lunch. Most camps provide drinks for the campers at
breaks and, in the case of an all-day camp, at lunch also.
Drinks are easy to get donated by local fast food restaurants like
McDonalds, Burger King and Wendy’s. They will provide drink mixture that
you will mix with water to make the drinks.
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You will have to provide coolers to mix and serve the drinks and also you
will need paper cups. Strive to get coolers donated (or loaned) and the cups
donated.
ADVERTISING
Since your ability to earn profit will depend a great deal on how many
campers you have, you must do an excellent job advertising and marketing your
camp.
The objective is to avoid using paid advertising, but concentrate on as
many free advertising sources as possible.
Your advertising will come primarily from six methods:
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
Camp Brochures
News Releases
Speaking at Elementary & Middle Schools
Personal Contact with coaches in area
Signage
Email program
Give-aways
BROCHURES
An attractive camp brochure is important not only to let prospective campers
know about the camp but the brochure can serve as an “image” of the camp if it
is done properly.
You will have a choice of one, two, or four color brochures.
The more colors you have, the more impressive the brochure and the
more the potential camper (and his/her parents) will be impressed.
This does not mean that you have to produce a four color brochure for
your camp to be successful.
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With the right graphics and photos, you can print an attractive brochure
with less colors.
The fact still remains, however, that a four color brochure can be most
impressive.
Number of brochures to print. The number of brochures you will print
will be determined by several factors: (1) Your budget; (2) Ease of
dissemination, (3) The number of campers you feel you can draw and (4)
whether or not you can get the brochures donated as discussed under
sponsorships.
Of course, your first priority here is to seek donated brochures. The best
chance is one of the printing companies in your area. If you get the brochures
donated, you can print more than you would were you paying the full cost.
Remember, you are doing a service to the youth of the area, and some
printing companies may be eager to be a part of it.
Putting an ad on the back page of the brochure is certainly a small price to
pay for donated brochures. Other ads can be placed on the inside of the
brochure so that a profit from the brochure may be realized.
How easy will it be to disseminate the brochures? And
where?
You can pass them out at schools, clubs, and other organizations that may
be willing to help. You can give some to coaches at the various schools in
various schools in the area. The YMCA or Boys Clubs are good places to leave
brochures.
Most businesses will allow you to put some brochures by the check-out
counter that interested campers (or their parents) can pick up.
If you have facilities for a larger camp, and particularly if it is an
overnight camp, you may want to mail a brochure to every coach within a 100
to 200 mile radius.
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Of course, postage is expensive, even bulk mail rates, so you would only
use the mail when you felt the camp would have the ability to draw campers
from a considerable distance.
College coaches, regardless of the size of the college, can usually draw
campers from throughout their state or region and thus may mail the brochure to
every coach in the state or adjoining states.
Developing a mailing list. It will require a significant amount of work
on your part to develop a mailing list if you plan to use the mail service.
The first year is, of course, the hardest. You have no previous base. But
after the first year, you have all the names and addresses of the campers who
attended the first year and you can make sure you get a brochure to each.
Email Addresses. In this age of email, it is imperative to get the email
addresses of any camper that attends. Then you put your brochure online and
you can email it to everyone on your list. A good email list could prevent you
from having to use the mail system at all, although it is usually good to
send a camper a brochure in the U.S. mail.
As far as the total number of brochures, you would need at least 2 to 4
thousand so that you can saturate the potential market with them. You do not
want to skimp on this part of the advertising.
Even if you cannot get them donated, it costs very little more to print 3
thousand than it would 2 thousand.
POSTERS AND SIGNAGE
In your negotiations with your printer you arrange to have a number of
attractive posters about the camp printed that you can post in high traffic areas
in the community.
Look for businesses that have changeable signs in front of their
businesses and ask them to put information about your camp on their sign.
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Motels, banks, real estate companies and insurance companies most have
changeable signs and many of them will work with you in posting information
about your camp. Best of all, it will be free advertising.
NEWS RELEASES
You should write at least two news releases to be distributed to local
media, one release given out approximately 2 months prior to camp, the other
approximately two weeks prior to camp.
Deliver the news releases personally to local sportswriters and radio and
TV hosts who will usually be very glad to use the release in an upcoming
edition. In fact, you probably can get any of the talk-show hosts to invite you to
be a guest on his/her show where you can discuss all of the aspects of your
camp. This is a tremendous “free” way to advertise.
In addition to the local radio and TV personalities, be on the lookout for
any internet bloggers or sites that service your camp area.
Examples of news releases can be found in the Appendix.
PERSONAL CONTACT WITH COACHES IN AREA
Develop personal relationships with the coaches in your area.
The better relationship with the coaches in the elementary, junior, and
senior high schools in your area the more help you will get from them in
encouraging potential campers to come to your camp.
Just dropping a brochure to the coach at the school is really not enough to
develop a relationship.
Go by the school several times to speak with the coaches. Invite them to
meet you for lunch on weekends. Invite them into your home. The better
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relationships you can develop the more help you will receive and the more
campers you will have attend.
SPEAKING AT ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS
Offer to speak at physical education classes in area schools. Contact
the schools in your area and offer to do a free basketball clinic in one of their
classes. Especially make this offer to the upper elementary grades and to the
junior high or middle schools.
The majority of your campers will probably come from these schools.
Most of the physical education teachers will be willing to cooperate with
you and will welcome someone speaking during their classes. Your program
might give them a welcome break from class instruction.
You do not have to speak for the entire period. You can develop an
enthusiastic talk that could be delivered in 10 to 15 minutes and be very
effective.
EMAIL PROGRAM
Collect as many email addresses that you can the first year.
You can have sign-ups at the physical education classes where you speak. You
might be able to have sign-ups at one of the other sporting contests at the area
schools. Use your ingenuity to obtain as many email addresses as you can.
After collecting addresses, send announcements about your camp several
times a year. Send a Merry Christmas email. Send emails 2 or 3 months ahead
of camp and follow them up every 2 weeks to build interest.
Instead of just sending the recipient basic camp information, include brief
suggestions on how they can become a better player.
Sample Emails.
These may give you some ideas as to what to write to the campers:
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Sample 1 (To be sent to the potential camper several months prior to camp)
Dear Billy:
We want you to know that we are having our annual basketball camp on
June 18th through the 22nd.
Shooting will be one of the things we emphasize and I suggest that you
shoot as much as possible leading up to camp.
As you practice (and I hope you will a lot), be sure you develop the habit
of keeping your eyes on the target and that you follow through on every shot.
I look forward to having you with us at camp. We will have fun!
Bill Smith
Camp Director
===================================================
Sample 2 (Sent 6 weeks prior to camp):
Dear Billy:
It’s only six weeks before camp begins! I hope you are as excited
about it as I am.
Make sure you are doing some full court running as you prepare
for camp. Being in good condition is part of being a good basketball
player. The better condition you are in, the better you will be able to learn
the basketball fundamentals we plan to teach you.
Six weeks will pass quickly, so get ready!
Bill Smith
Camp Director
P.S. Be sure to get your application in soon to reserve your spot.
We could fill the camp prior to the opening. We do not want to take too
many campers for it might affect our quality of instruction.
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===================================================
Sample 3 (Sent 3 weeks prior to camp):
Dear Billy:
One of the first things we will do at camp will be to place you on a
team for the week.
Besides fundamentals, we will stress teamwork and the value of
being on an unselfish team.
In addition to 5 on 5 play, there will be other competitive
opportunities for you and your team. We will have relays, shooting
contests, and other fun activities.
I look forward to seeing you on June 10th.
Bill Smith
Camp Director
P.S. If you have not registered for camp, please do so by June 1.
We cannot guarantee you a spot after that date.
========================================================
As you see by these sample emails, you do not want to constantly stress
the dates of the camp. You want to build up the camper’s excitement about
coming.
First, Bill Smith stressed working on shooting. Next, he stressed getting
into condition and third, he emphasized the importance of team play (which
may impress the parents more than the potential camper.) And the P.S. in the
last two emphasized the importance of getting the application in early.
Grouping Emails. After your first camp, group the campers into each of
the dates they will graduate and save their mailing addresses and email
addresses for each group.
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For example, a 12 year old in 2010 will probably graduate in 2016.
Therefore, you put his/her email address in a saved email folder named
“2016”.
A 14 year old camper would be placed in the 2014 folder while a 10
year old would be placed in the 2018 folder.
In this way you can keep all of the addresses until the beginning of the
year of their graduation and you can send camp information to them each year.
Once they enter the 12th grade, you will drop them from your lists.
Each year you should send a brochure to each via US Mail and keep in
contact with them via email.
GIVE-AWAYS
Various “give-away” promotions can help you add attendance to
your camp.
1. Email collection give-away.
Have contests and give away one free tuition for the camp.
Require the potential camper to fill out a short form with his/her
email address and home address on it and drop it in a box or canister.
You distribute boxes to various businesses within a 20 mile radius
of your camp.
You collect all of the entrants and draw one entry and award the
winner a free week at camp. Then, you add the other entrants to your allimportant email list and send them periodic emails as discussed above.
2. Radio Station give-away.
You can make an arrangement with a local disk jockey or talkshow host to allow them to give away some product for your camp in
exchange for free advertising.
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You could give away one tuition at the end of a 3 or 4 week
program at the station. Or you could give $25 discount coupons or free
camp Tshirts.
Most radio people are eager to get products to give away for they
feel it increases their listening audience.
3. T-shirt give-aways.
Camp T-shirts can be purchased inexpensively. When you speak at
various school classes, make sure you give away 3 or 4 shirts. The kids
will be overjoyed at receiving them and the free advertising you get from
them wearing the shirts will be invaluable.
4. Ball give-aways.
You can advertise in your brochure that you will give a basketball
to every camper.
This may sound expensive, but you can buy 100 balls on it for
about $6 each.
But the best thing is you can put a business name on the ball and
have the business pay for all or part of the ball. If you are not successful
in getting a sponsor for the balls (which is unlikely), you can add $6 to
the cost of the camp to pay for them.
When a kid knows he will be given a basketball it increases
his/her interest in attending.
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CHAPTER 11
BUDGETING AND ASSURING PROFITABILITY
Your first step in running a camp is to find a facility.
Your next step is to establish a camp budget that will make certain your
expenses do not exceed your income.
You want your camp to be of value to the young people in the
community, but you also want the camp to be profitable to you.
Since your profit will be the difference between the expenses and
income, your budget will determine the cost you will set for attending the
camp.
ESTABLISHING A BUDGET FOR A DAY CAMP
In our budget projections, we will assume that you will have facilities
that will accommodate 100 campers. We will assume here that your day camp
will run from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.
In order to make maximum profit from the camp you must conduct the
all-day camp since that will enable you to charge a higher camp tuition fee. For
a 9-12 Day Camp you might charge $150 but for a 9-4 Day Camp you may be
able to charge $250.
You must determine a budget for the following suggested categories:
Facility Rental
Staffing
Brochure & Advertising
Trophies/Awards
Equipment/Product
Miscellaneous Expenses
Travel
Computer supplies
Miscellaneous staff
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Facility Rental: This is easy to establish since the facility will have
given you a rental price for the entire camp. We will assume in this example
that the rent has been set at $1,000.
Staffing: Your budget for hiring coaches may vary somewhat dependent
on the number of experienced coaches you employ.
My recommendation is that you hire 12 coaches, one for each 10
players…6 head high school coaches, 4 either assistant high school coaches or
junior high coaches, and 2 college players. If you pay the high school coaches
$400 each, the assistants or junior high coaches $300 each, the college players
$250 each, and a high school player to serve as a manager, $200, your staff
budget will be $4300. So, establish your staffing budget at $4500 in the event
you have to pay one coach more and pay for some secretarial assistance.
Brochure and advertising: You will want to get the basic brochure and
advertising costs paid by a sponsor. You can seek this prior to printing your
brochure. Therefore, if you do not get a sponsor, you get a quote from the
printer for your brochure. We will assume in this example that you were able to
get some, but not all, printing costs absorbed. Therefore, you set $500 as your
budget for brochures and advertising.
Trophies/Awards: Again, you will know in advance whether or not you
are able to get the trophies sponsored. In this example, we will assume you have
them sponsored so you do not budget for trophies. Getting someone to pay for
trophies/awards is one of the easiest sponsorships to sell.
Equipment/Product: Basketballs and camp T shirts will be your main
equipment needs.
You need to provide 40 basketballs for the 100 campers. A local sporting
goods store will likely agree to be a sponsor by giving you one basketball for
each basketball you buy.
You will have to pay for 20 basketballs at approximately $25 each for a
total of $500.
It is customary to give each camper a camp T shirt. These can be bought
for $72 per dozen (or less) with screen printing.
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You will need at least 10 dozen, one for each player with some left over
for coaches and staff members. Sponsors can probably be obtained to pay for
them in exchange for their business name on the back. But for this budget, let’s
assume you get only ½ of them sponsored leaving you a charge of $360 for the
others.
Penneys are inexpensive and can be bought for approximately $30 per
dozen. You should need 4 dozen for a cost of $120.
Combining the balls, t shirts, and penneys gives you a total of $980.
Miscellaneous Expenses will primarily be the cost of your travel to seek
sponsors, visit schools, secretarial supplies and to otherwise advertise your
camp. Set a budget of $500 for that.
YOUR FINAL BUDGET:
Facility Rental………………..$1,000
Staffing………………………. 4,500
Brochures/Advertising……….. 500
Trophies/Awards……………...
0
Equipment/Product…………… 980
Miscellaneous………………… 500
TOTAL……………………….$7,480
DETERMING CAMP TUITION FEE:
Now that your budget has been set, you can set the price you will charge
per camper to attend.
Divide the total budget of $7,480 by the projected 100 campers. This
gives you a cost per camper of $74.80.
To reach the goal of $10,000 profit, you would add $100 to the cost per
camper and arrive at a camp tuition price of $175 per camper.
The $175 is not an exorbitant cost, but depends on the area of the country
that you plan to have the camp.
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One area of the country might be receptive to a two or three hundred
dollar day camp. Another might find $175 too high.
In each case, the items in your budget will probably be increased or
decreased.
An area that would be receptive to a $250 fee would be in an area that
would charge more rent for the facility and the staffing and other expenses
would be higher. The reverse is true if the area would not support a $175 fee.
Prior to establishing the final camp fee, check what other camps are
charging in your area. This will give you an idea of whether or not the price
you set is too high or too low.
This budget example requires you to have 100 campers to attend if you
are to reach the goal of $10,000 profit.
Attendance of 100 campers is not an unrealistic number. Many camps in
the country have far more than 100 campers.
Start planning your camp early, advertise it properly and follow the
techniques described in this book and there is little reason you cannot get 100
campers at your camp.
What if for some reason you only attracted 80 campers. You would still
make a profit of $7,500, not bad for 5 days work.
But think positively. You attract 100 campers the first year…do a great
teaching job pleasing most all the parents, and you attract 120 campers the next
year….profit of $13,500.
And then, what is wrong with having 2 weeks of camp, or 3. There are
camps in the country that run 6 to 8 weeks in the summer months. And there are
coaches making considerably more than $10,000 on camps.
How does it sound having two weeks of camp and making $20,000.
It can be done with a lot of pre-camp work and good quality instruction.
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SETTING YOUR BUDGET FOR AN OVERNIGHT CAMP
Setting a budget for an overnight camp is quite different because you will
have to budget for room and board and, unless the camp is located in your
familiar home area, it will be very difficult for you to obtain sponsorships.
You will have the same basic categories for your budget with the addition
of the room and board.
Facility Rental. If you are renting a college facility, you can expect the
rent to be higher than perhaps a middle school or high school gym rented for a
day camp. If you are renting a private school that has dormitories and a
cafeteria, you may be able to get the facility rent at about the same cost as at a
day camp.
A private boarding high school or prep school is anxious to fill their
dorms during summer months and may consequently keep the gym cost down.
We will estimate that the facility rental will be $3,000, which of course is
dependent on the area of the country.
Room and Board. The college or high school you rent from will have a
standard cost for all meals.
You can cut down your costs by not starting the first day of camp until
the afternoon thus requiring only dinner on the first day of camp. You also
should end your camp on the fifth day before noon so that your only cost that
day will be breakfast.
You will then have to pay for dinner on the first day, all three meals on
the 2 , 3rd, and 4th day, and breakfast on the last day.
nd
Expect to pay $5 for breakfast, $7 for lunch, and probably $8 for dinner.
Therefore you will have a meal cost for the five days of $73.
The dorm facility will probably cost you $20 per night per camper, thus
you have a four night cost of $80 per camper. A total room and board cost of
$153.
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Staffing. You will need the same number of coaches for an overnight
camp as a day camp. However, an overnight camp means that the instructors
will put in considerably more time at the camp than at a day camp. Therefore,
you can expect to pay more for your staff.
In addition to salary you will have to budget for their room and board, a
cost you would not have in a day camp.
You will need to pay your head high school coaches $475, your assistant
or middle school coaches $375, and your college counselors $300. You add the
cost of room and board for each. These salaries are higher than in a Day Camp
since the coaches live in the dorm and eat in the college cafeteria. Of course,
they will receive their room and board above the basic salary.
Brochure and Advertising. An overnight camp requires that you attract
campers from two or three hundred, or more, miles from the location of the
camp. Therefore, you will have to print more brochures and incur more mailing
costs.
Brochures will be your primary source of advertising since you cannot
put posters or buy ads in newspapers in all of the drawing area.
You should mail brochures to every junior and senior high school
coach in perhaps a 300 or 400 mile radius and make phone calls to many of
them to make sure they know about your camp.
If you get into the overnight camp business, you should start a camp
website which can help you advertise the camp in a far greater range. Our
www.basketballsbest website has advertised our Shooting Stars Camp
worldwide and we have had campers from Spain, Belgium, England, and all
over the United States attend our camp. One team from Spain brought their
entire team to the camp. This would not have happened had we not had a
website to advertise our camp.
Do not be afraid of starting a website. So many people know how to
develop a website today that, if you do not know how, you can easily find
someone to help you, probably from the local high school.
Trophies/Awards. It will be more difficult to get a sponsor for your
trophies and awards. You may have to incur the entire cost. If you are having
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the camp 200 miles away from where you live it will be difficult to convince
your local merchants to buy the trophies/awards for you.
I recommend that you develop a four color certificate and use them
as your awards rather than trophies. This will be far less expensive.
Equipment/Product. As with the case of trophies, it will be difficult to
get someone to sponsor the equipment/products.
Miscellaneous. These expenses will be slightly higher than at a day
camp. You will have to build into the budget any expense you have in going to
the camp location to make arrangements for the camp.
YOUR FINAL OVERNIGHT CAMP BUDGET
Facility Rental………………….$ 3,000
Room and Board……………….$18,289
(100 campers plus 13 staff @ $153, $1,000 sales tax)
Brochures/Advertising…………$ 2,000
(Brochure printing & mailing)
Trophies/Awards
$ 400
Equipment/Product
$ 1,100
(40 basketballs, whistles, etc.)
Miscellaneous
$ 500
Total Budget
$25,289
NOTE: Camp insurance has not been included in the budgets for many coaches
may have their own personal liability insurance and most parents of campers
have their own medical insurance. See Appendix for a method of handling the
cost of camp injuries. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE SOME FORM OF
LIABILITY WHETHER IT BE THROUGH YOUR OWN PERSONAL
POLICY OR A REGULAR CAMP LIABILITY POLICY.
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DETERMING CAMP TUITION FEE:
Now that your overnight camp budget has been set, you can set the price
you will charge per camper to attend.
As with the day camp, divide the total budget by the projected 100
campers. This gives you a cost per camper of $253.
To reach the goal of $10,000 profit, you would add $100 to the cost per
camper and arrive at a total camp cost of $353. You can easily charge $375 for
the camp and increase your profit margin to $12,200.
The $375 is not an exorbitant cost for an overnight camp that includes
room and board. However, there are areas of the country that you may have to
charge less and areas that you may have to charge more. It all will depend on
how much you have to pay for facility rental and room and board.
Follow the general rule of cost per camper plus at least $100 for your
tuition cost and you will make the $10,000 profit if you achieve your goal of
100 campers.
Again, prior to establishing the final camp fee, check what other camps
are charging in your area. This will give you an idea of whether or not the
price you set is too high or too low.
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CHAPTER 12
CAMP FUNDAMENTAL DRILLS
Good fundamental drills conducted by competent coaches are the core of
a good basketball camp.
Basketball camp drills cannot be as complicated as regular team
drills for a high school or college team. This is because of time constraints.
You simply do not have time to put in a more complicated drill; doing so takes
away from camper participation. Therefore, your drills must be simple and
easily taught.
The time spent on drill work will vary according to the length of the
camp:
Half-day camp: 1 ½ hours of drill work.
Full day camp: 2 hours in a.m., 1 hour in the p.m.
Overnight camp: 2 hours in a.m., 1 hour in the afternoon, plus a lecture, 1
hour of team fundamental contests in the evening.
Important points for conducting drills in camp:
1. Drills must be simple and easily taught.
Drills for basketball camp are different from drills that a coach may use
with his team. A coach’s team drills may require considerable time to teach the
drill to the players. But after he/she has taught the drill, it can be used throught
the season. A team coach has that time to teach. A camp coach does not have
that time as he/she may have 10 minutes of instruction time for a skill and needs
a simple drill to enable getting players into drill action as quickly as possible.
2. As mentioned earlier, long lines must be avoided. Having 10
players in a passing drill with just one ball is a poor drill.
I saw one NBA team’s camp one day when they had 20 players at a
basket and one ball. The coach in charge was running “hot shot” competition in
which a camper had one minute to complete his shot score. That meant that 19
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other campers were doing nothing….and that each camper got to shoot one time
in approximately 30 minutes. What horrible organization! And the campers had
paid more than an ordinary camp.
3. Every drill must be closely supervised by an instructor.
4. Instructors must be enthusiastic and use a lot of praise in conducting
drills.
5. Instructors must not sit down during the drill.
6. Instructors should tell a camper what he must do to perform the
fundamental correctly rather than negatively criticize him for not being able to
do it.
7. Instructors should be dressed in a coaching outfit (shorts and camp T
shirt) and should not wear a cap or hat while on the court. Coaches
must “set the image” for the camp.
8. Coaches must wear proper basketball shoes. I have seen coaches try to
instruct with “flip-flops” on
Coach working closely with players on how to play the post position (in
Shooting Stars Big Man Camp at Lander University). Notice that only 8
campers are at the station.
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Girls are working on receiving the ball under the eye of an experienced
coach. This is an example of a station at midcourt that does not need a
basket.
A camp setting is not the place to “chew a player out.” Remember, each camper
is paying to come to camp and expects to be taught fundamentals in a positive
manner. “Chew him out” and he/she won’t come back next year.
SPECIFIC DRILLS:
LAY-UP DRILLS
Drill #1. Basic 2 line lay-up drill.
The simplest drill in basketball but needed
to teach correct lay-up fundamentals.
#1 cuts for basket and takes pass from #2
for lay-up.
#2 cuts in, takes ball out of net, then passes
to #3 for a lay-up.
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#1 goes to end of left line and #2 goes to end of the right line.
Lay-ups continue for the allotted time, then lay-up shooting starts on the left
side.
Shooting line can be moved to cutting down the middle and later moved to
cutting along the baseline.
This drill is often used as a warm-up drill at the beginning of practice or
games. The degree of difficulty will vary according to age and skill level.
Players should be taught to shoot the right handed lay-up off their left foot
and the left-handed lay-up off the right foot. However, ages 9 and 10 will
probably not be able to shoot with the left hand and may have to be
allowed to shoot with their right hand from the left side.
Camp Teaching points:
(1) Aim at a spot 12 to 14 inches above the rim.
(2) Passers make a good, soft pass to the cutter.
(3) Cutter watches the pass hit his hands.
(4) Ball is taken up strong with both hands.
Basic lay-up angles for practice.
The higher camper skill level should
practice the different lay-up angles from
the 2-line lay-up drill.
The beginning player should only practice
the simple lay-up coming in from the right
and coming in from the left. The beginner
is not ready for the different angles.
Angles a, b, and e are the normal angles that are most often shot in the
drill. Angles c and d are more difficult since they will be coming along the
baseline. Angles f and g are even more difficult since g comes from the left
side and shoots with the right hand and f comes from the right side and
shoots with the left hand.
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Drill 2. Dribble/Lay-Up
One line at midcourt. First player
dribbles w/right hand to free-throw line
extended, switch dribbles to left hand
and dribbles to elbow. There he reverse
dribbles and drives for lay-up. He gets
ball out of the net and dribbles hard to
top of circle where he jump-stops and
passes to next player in line.
Change line to left side at midpoint of
the drill.
Camp Teaching Points:
1- Dribble low and with the outside hand at full speed.
2- Keep eyes looking forward, not at the ball.
3- Use reverse (pull dribble) with left hand at elbow, then drive w/right hand.
4- Take ball up for lay-up with 2 hands and lay ball high on the board.
5- “High jump” the lay-up (rather than “broadjump”).
6- Watch the jump-stop and pass back out technique. Insist on the camper doing
it correctly.
7- Emphasize dribbling at full speed for older players. Younger players may
need to dribble at a moderate speed until they better learn dribbling techniques.
This drill is good for warm-up also, but teaches several basic fundamentals
…dribbling with either hand, eyes up, reverse dribble, driving lay-up, jump
stop, and two-handed pass. It is good to use this drill daily.
Caution: Young players may not be ready for the reverse dribble. In this case,
they should switch dribble at the elbow. OR, they can just dribble straight to the
basket with their right hand.
THESE ARE THE ONLY LAY-UP DRILLS YOU NEED IN A CAMP
SETTING. DRILL 1 TEACHES THE BASIC LAY-UP WHILE DRILL 2
INCORPORATES THE LAY-UP WITH DRIBBLE TECHNIQUES AND
PASSING.
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JUMP SHOT DRILLS
Campers need to learn the jump shot from three situations:
(1) Stationary. This is the least practiced situation by most young
players. They go to free play in the gym or at the park and every jump shot they
attempt is off the dribble. Then, when they play 5 on 5 and get open for a pass,
they must take a dribble before they can shoot, which gives the defense time to
recover.
In addition, many younger players use the dribble as a form of
momentum to help them get the shot to the basket.
Players must be taught to square up and shoot quickly without a dribble.
Coach instructing stationary
Jump shot. Photo taken at
the Shooting Stars Point
Guard Camp at Lander
University.
(2) After a dribble. Players need to be able to “put the ball on the
floor” to beat their opponent and to be able to pull up ON BALANCE to take
the jump shot.
When a player pulls up for the jump shot, invariably it comes in midrange territory, perhaps 12 to 14 feet from the basket. This mid-range jump
shot is the biggest shooting weakness in basketball today.
Why? Because so many players spend time on (1) shooting the 3, and (2)
dunking the basketball. They neglect perfecting the mid-range jumper and fail
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to recognize that college coaches are scouring the country looking for midrange jump shooters.
(3) After a cut. When a cutter cuts to receive a pass in jump shooting
range, he must learn to stop his body momentum and to be able to go quickly up
on balance for the jumper. Sliding sideways causes a lot of missed shots.
A player will not learn the correct technique for shooting the jumper off
the cut without direction by a quality coach. He certainly will not learn it in free
play.
Coach working with campers
on a form shooting drill.
These campers are shooting
to each other. No basket is
needed in this phase of
teaching; however, this type
of drill must be closely
supervised for there is much
correction to be made
especially with younger
campers.
Drill 3. Stationary Jump Shot.
Passer makes good pass to shooter.
Shooter steps and get feet ready for shot
before the ball gets to him. Shooter
shootS WITHOUT dribbling. Passer
goes to end of line while shooter
retrieves ball and passes to next shooter
in line.
Camp Teaching Points:
1. Shooter gets feet in position before the ball arrives.
2. Passer makes good “shooter’s pass” to shooter.
3. Jump straight up for shot with eyes on target.
4. Follow-through!
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Though this is a simple drill, it is an extremely important drill for
campers. Most of them are used to taking a dribble before they shoot. To be a
good player, they must learn to take a pass and go immediately up for a shot
without the dribble. Taking a dribble causes them to get the shot off slower and
gives the defender another second to recover.
Drill 4. Jump Shot Off
Dribble.
2 balls in each line. Dribbler
drives hard to elbow and
shoots shot, retrieves ball,
passes to next player in
opposite line, and goes to
opposite line.
Players should fake baseline
before driving to elbow. At midpoint of the drill, the shooter can fake elbow
and drive to baseline for the shot.
Camp Teaching Points:
1- Dribble hard with outside hand. (Watch for the dribbler coming from the
right and dribbling with his right hand, which of course he cannot do when a
defender is guarding him.)
2- Stop, square shoulders, and go straight up for shot.
3- Coach closely observes footwork at beginning of the dribble and as the
camper stops for the shot. When the camper walks, it must be corrected.
Best way is to call the camper to the side and show him the correct footwork
while the other campers continue the shooting drill.
4- Other points from drill 4.
Drill 5. Jump Shot Off Cut.
Cutter fakes toward baseline
and cuts to FT line for pass
from P for
Jump shot. Passer goes to
shooting line, shooter to
passing line. Use 2 balls so
that a player is shooting
while ball is being retrieved.
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Camp Teaching Points:
1- Shooter cuts hard to FT line.
2- Stop, square shoulders, and go straight up.
3- Other points from previous shooting drills.
This is an important drill because it teaches a player to cut hard to the ball, get
his body under control with a quick stop, and go straight up for the shot. Many
shooters slide sideways on this shot and this fault must be corrected.
Drill 6. Jump Shot Off Screen.
3 lines, 2 balls. 1 passes to 2 and
sets screen for 3. 3 “V” cuts and
comes off screen for pass from 2
and shot. Players rotate clockwise.
Camp Teaching Points:
1-Good “V” Cut and close cut off
screen.
2-Good screening technique.
3-#2 making a “shooter’s” pass.
3-Proper shooting mechanics.
Coach is instructing a camper on
cutting off a screen for a jump shot
as in the above drill.
Notice that he is improvising by
using a garbage can as the
screener.
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Here a camper is being taught to
“curl” around a screen (with the
cone serving as a screener). Photo
taken at Shooting Stars Perimeter
Play Camp at Lander University.
1
Drill 7. Another Jump Shot Off
Cut.
and 2 pass to respective Posts,
fakes one direction, cuts another,
and take pass for shot.
Dependent on ages, players can
shoot the 3, or mid-range jumper.
to
Another option is for the shooter
fake the shot and drive.
This drill is more appropriate for
older players.
Camp Teaching Points:
1- Use good change of direction.
2- Cutting hard
3- Getting body balance at end of cut.
4- Go straight up for shot.
5- If shooter fakes shot and drives, coach closely watches footwork.
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PASSING DRILLS:
Drill 8. Full-court
Passing Drill.
Two players run fullcourt passing 2-handed
chest passes back and
forth.
At the end of the court,
they will run back down
sideline as other players
are coming downcourt
passing. They bring the
ball back downcourt
with them.
Use 2 to 3 balls on each
side of the court.
Camp Teaching
Points:
1-Crisp passes
2-Lead the receiver
3-“Watch the ball hit
your hands”
This is an excellent camp drill. Players can be running downcourt on both
sides of the court. It works well with 10 players on each side, meaning 20
campers are active during this drill and getting a lot of full court running.
Campers can run straight ahead while passing OR they can face each other and
slide step downcourt. The former is the type of passing that would be used on
the fast break. The latter is simply used to improve slidestep ability.
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DRILL 9. CHEST AND
BOUNCE PASSING DRILL
Simple chest passing drills are the
easiest to organize in a basketball
camp.
You have the possibility of putting
as many as 50 players at a time on
the court passing back and forth to
each other.
Here are some examples: 4 players
in a group, 8 players in a group, 10
players in a group and a circle of
players. It is up to the camp
director how he would like to
organize the passing drill.
Regardless of numbers, players
make a chest pass to a teammate
and the passes continue. After chest passing to the midpoint of the time
scheduled, change and make bounce passes.
Regardless of whether players are facing each other in single lines or are
facing each other in a circle, the passing can be made competitive. (1st group to
make 20 passes, etc.) Campers like the competitive nature of these latter drills.
You can easily add the Two-handed overhead pass to this drill.
Camp Teaching Points:
1. Emphasize crisp passes.
2. Emphasize follow through on the passes.
3. Pass to the chest area.
4. Keep the palms of the hands off the ball.
5. Receivers must “look the ball into their hands.” (This is extremely
important since so many passes are fumbled because the receiver took his eyes
off the ball before it got to him. This error occurs more in younger players, but
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is no less important for older players. Even many college players take their eyes
off the pass before it gets to them.
Coach is working with
campers on a two-man
passing drill similar to the
above drill.
A key point here: the
coach is “coaching”, not
just standing around like
a poor instructor will
sometimes do. \
Something that shows up well in this picture are the names of the camp
teams in the background that clearly show where campers will go for
assembly.
Drill 10. 3 Man Passing Drill
1, 2, 3, and 4 have balls. An X
defender is between them and their
passing partner.
1 passes by X to 5. #5 will then
return pass by X to 1.
All other threesomes are passing
also. When defender deflects the pass, the camper passing the deflection
must go on defense.
This is a simple drill but should be used on a regular basis in camp
or in team practices. Many players cannot pass by a defender and this drill
gives them great practice in doing so.
Camp teaching points:
1. Players should fake up, pass down….fake down, pass up.
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2. Pass should be made with two hands. A one-handed pass should seldom
be used in basketball.
3. Campers should strive to pass to his/her partner without looking directly
at him/her.
4. Passes must be crisp. Slow passes are easily intercepted.
PIVOTING DRILLS
Drill 11. Basic Pivoting Drill
Player in front of each line takes
hard dribble out, jump stops, makes
full pivot, then passes back to the
next player in line.
After pivoting, players go to the end
of their line.
Players should start with a jump stop
before making either a front pivot or
a reverse pivot. At midpoint of drill, players will change to a one-footed stop
and initiate either a front or rear pivot.
This drill does NOT require a basket and enables you to teach large numbers of
campers at the same time. Lines can be formed full-court and lines can be
formed on both sides of the court.
THIS IS A SIMPLE DRILL BUT VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE
YOUNG PLAYER. IT IS AMAZING HOW MANY PLAYERS DO NOT
KNOW HOW TO PIVOT AND HOW TO USE THE PIVOT TO
PROTECT THE BASKETBALL.
As campers get more proficient at pivoting, add a defender for the
dribbler to advance to. The defender can attempt to steal the ball while the
camper with the ball keeps pivoting to protect the basketball.
A camp should make every effort to improve a camper’s footwork.
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The following pictures illustrate coaches working with post players on
correct footwork.
Coach is working with
camper on post footwork
drills.
This is a drill used in Post
Position camps rather than
in regular basketball
camps.
Here, the coach is working
with a post player on the
all-important “drop step.”
Another drill from a Post
Position Camp.
Campers are being
instructed on offensive
moves when they receive
the ball on the baseline,
particularly against a zone
defense.
Post players often get the
ball behind a zone defense.
Good footwork can result
in a score..bad footwork in
a turnover.
DRIBBLING DRILLS:
DRILL 12. FULL COURT DRIBBLING.
Lines are formed at each end of the court.
Front player in each line dribbles downcourt and hands ball off to the player at
the front of the downcourt line.
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New players from each line dribble downcourt and hand off.
Dribbler goes to end of line.
Drill can be done by teams as shown here, or with 2 or 3 teams mixed.
Continue down and back action for time allotted.
Camp Teaching Points:
1. Dribble at full speed downcourt. (For
beginning players, some half speed
work may be needed.)
2. Keep eyes off ball and downcourt.
3. Dribbler “pushes” the ball, does not
“bats” the ball.
4. Use easy hand-off to next player in
line.
5. Dribbler uses right hand only at
beginning of the drill, then on coach’s
signal begins using left hand.
REMEMBER….Dribbling drills can be
used without a basket.
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DRILL 13. CROSS COURT DRIBBLING DRILL.
Lines can be formed according to numbers.
In this example, we have 16 players on each side of the court (which could be
three teams.)
Front players on the right
dribble cross-court and hand
off to the first players in line.
New players dribble crosscourt and hand off to next
players in line.
Various dribble moves can be
used according to coaching
instruction…Control dribble,
Speed dribble, Switch
dribble, Change of Pace,
Pull-back Dribble, etc.
This is a simple drill but great
for camp situations. As many
as 50 players could be
handled at one time in this
drill.
Camp Teaching Points:
(1) Players dribble at speed determined by coaching instruction.
(2) Keep eyes off ball and downcourt.
(3) “Push” the ball down to the floor. Avoid “batting” it.
(4) Make easy hand-off to next player in line.
(5) On coach’s signal, players change hands…then change type of dribbles.
(6) When players use various dribbles, watch closely that they do not
“carry” or “palm” the ball.
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DRILL 14. SWITCH DRIBBLE
DRILL
THIS IS THE BEST DRIBBLE
DRILL FOR CAMPS.
Line of players as shown. 3 and 4
players can be in line instead of 2 as
shown.
Xs represent chairs. (This is often
called the dribble chairs drill.)
1s dribble downcourt, making a
switch dribble at each chair.
After switch dribbling with the right
hand, they advance dribbling with
the left hand and switch dribble at
the next chair.
All 4 lines advance and hand off to
2s who dribble back downcourt and
handoff to 3s, etc.
As the dribbler begins, player in opposite line holds up his hand with 1, 2, 3, 4,
or 5 fingers held up. Dribbler in each line must call out any change of numbers
that may occur. THIS FORCES THE DRIBBLER TO KEEP HIS HEAD UP
AND LOOK DOWNCOURT.
MAKING THE DRIBBLER CALL OUT NUMBERS MAKES THIS
DRILL THE BEST CAMP DRILL FOR TEACHING DRIBBLING.
Camp Teaching Points:
1. Head up, eyes downcourt.
2. Dribble low with knees slightly bent.
3. Make a “sideways” switch dribble (as shown) rather than zig-zagging the
chairs.
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OTHER DRIBBLING DRILLS:
DRIBBLE TAG: Can be run full or half-court. Each player has a ball. One
player is “IT” and dribbles after any player in the group. Once touched the
touched player becomes “IT”. Game can be varied by allowing only dribbles
with the “off” hand.
DRIBBLE WAR: Each player has a ball. On the signal “GO”, all players try
to knock another player’s ball away and out of bounds. When a player loses
his/her dribble in this manner, that player is eliminated from the game.
Play until one player remains. Start out full-court and, as players are eliminated,
move to half-court, then to inside the 3 point line, then to the lane when it is
down to two players.
DRILL 15. CHANGE OF PACE
AND IN-AND-OUT DRIBBLE.
1 and 2 advance to chairs, 1
dribbling with right hand, 2
dribbling with left hand.
First dribble they execute will be the
change-of-pace dribble. Dribbler
stops at chair, then explodes to the
next chair, stops, then shoots lay-up.
1 will shoot right-hand lay-up while
2 will shoot left-hand lay-up.
More advanced campers can work
on the “in and out” dribble at the
halfway point of the drill.
In working on the “in and out”, Line
1 camper dribbles to chair, moves
the ball to the left side with his right hand, then pulls it back and drives fast at
the next chair. Line 2 camper dribbles to chair and moves the ball to his right
side with his left hand, pulls it back and drives to the next chair.
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CampTeaching Points:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Stress head-up and looking downcourt.
Watch to make sure camper does not use his off hand on the move.
Emphasize keeping the knees bent on the dribble.
Full speed after the last chair.
Make the lay-up!
DRILL 16. LARRY
BROWN FULL COURT
DRILL.
I consider this drill the
best camp drill of all.
It enables a lot of full court
running,dribbling,footwork,
passing, and shooting.
This is the wing lay-up
phase of the drill.
Rebounders throw ball on
board, rebound, pivot, and
make outlet passes to #1 &
#2 who dribble hard downcourt to FT line area.
Dribblers jump-stop and
make passes to cutting
wings who shoot lay-ups.
As soon as the dribblers
cross mid-court, the next
rebounders throw ball on
board, rebound, and make outlet passes to next players in outlet lines.
Lay-up shooters go to the rebound line and the rebounders go to the outlet line
thus providing all players opportunity to rebound, run the floor, dribble, jumpstop and pass to a teammate for a shot.
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THE ABOVE DIAGRAM IS THE FIRST PHASE (LAY-UP) OF THE
DRILL. THE OTHER PHASES WILL BE SHOWN IN THE HALFCOURT FOR SIMPLICITY PURPOSES.
DRILL 17. GUARD LAY-UP
PHASE OF LARRY BROWN
DRILL.
In this second phase of the full court
drill, the dribbler makes a pass to the
cutter R, fakes left, and cuts for the
basket taking a pass for a lay-up.
R goes to the outlet line while #1 goes
to the rebounding line.
DRILL 17. WING JUMP SHOT
PHASE OF LARRY BROWN
DRILL.
#1 passes to wing for a jumpshot.
#1 rebounds and goes to rebound line
while jump shooter goes to outlet line.
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DRILL 18. GUARD JUMP SHOT
PHASE OF LARRY BROWN
DRILL.
#1 passes to wing, makes short cut
left as if to screen, then cuts back for
pass from R and a jumpshot.
R rebounds shot by #1 and goes to
outlet line. #1 goes to rebound line.
Camp teaching points:
1. Make a good outlet pass. Many coaches prefer this pass to be a 2-hand
overhead pass.
2. Outlet receiver takes pass, looks, and then goes hard on the dribble.
3. Rebounder runs wide and hard down the sideline.
4. Dribbler must make a good pass to the wing, not a sloppy pass.
4. Watch concentration of lay-up shooters.
5. Make sure jump shooters are going straight up rather than sliding.
This is a great camp drill because it gets a lot of running with fundamentals and
campers tend to get tired. When they go home they tell their parents, “Wow, the
coaches really worked us hard.”….That’s what the parents want to hear! (But
do not neglect the teaching part of the drill!)
Additional fundamentals can be added to the drill. For example, you can add a
screen on the ball by #1 passing to R and setting a ball screen for R. However,
the first four phases diagrammed above are usually enough for a camp
setting.
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DEFENSIVE DRILLS
DRILL 19. 1 ON 1 DEFENSE
Players line up on both ends of the court
as shown.
Dribblers 1 and 2 zigzag dribble down
court at moderate speed.
Xs must use defensive footwork to stay
in front of the dribbler.
When dribbler reverses direction,
defender must swing his arm and use a
“swing step” to stay in front of the
dribbler.
Camp Teaching Points:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Defensive footwork with special emphasis on the “swing step”.
Defender keeps a wide, low base.
No reaching with the hands.
“Show hands.” Defensive players who constantly reach with their hands
usually get into foul trouble.
Note that this is another drill that does not require a goal.
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Coach working with campers on 1 on
1 defense. Photo taken at the Michael
Jordan Basketball Camp in Santa
Barbara, CA.
============
Probably the number one defensive fundamental you can teach campers is
defensive footwork.
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Mass defensive footwork drills, like the one shown below, can be taught to
a large group and are very good for handling large numbers of campers. It
also does not require a goal.
DRILL 20. SIMPLE SHELL 4 ON
4 DEFENSIVE DRILL.
4 players in the perimeter. 4 defensive
players guarding them.
Offense moves ball slowly around
perimeter.
Coaches check defensive position
after each pass. (Can slow the passes
down at the beginning by not allowing a pass until a coach blows a whistle,
giving the coach time to make defensive position corrections).
Goal is to teach campers to move defensively on every pass, the “jump to the
ball concept.”
Concept of team basketball and help defense is important and this drill is
excellent for teaching this concept.
NEXT PHASE OF SIMPLE SHELL: STOP PENETRATION
Drill 21. 4 on 4 Stop Penetration.
Offensive player is allowed to dribble
the gaps and is restricted to 2 dribbles.
After receiving a pass, the receiver can
take 2 dribbles into a gap.
Here 1 has dribbled a gap and he is
stopped by X2. 1 passes to 02 and must
quickly recover to guard his man 02.
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02 can now dribble into the gap toward 03. 02 must be stopped by X3. O2
passes to 03 and X3 must quickly return to 03.
Object is for the defenders to learn the “help and recover” concept that is
extremely important to defensive man for man basketball. Defenders stop the
dribbler, then quickly return to their man.
IN A CAMP SETTING, THESE TWO PHASES OF THE SHELL
DEFENSIVE DRILLS ARE ENOUGH TO BE TAUGHT. MANY OF
THE CAMPERS ARE JUST LEARNING THE CONCEPT OF
POSITION AND HELP ON DEFENSE. DO A GOOD JOB ON THESE
TWO CONCEPTS AND THE CAMPERS WILL LEARN THE BASIC.
DRILL 22. 3 ON 3 BLOCKOUT.
Offensive players start no further out
than the free-throw line.
At start of drill, offensive players move
randomly and are defended by the Xs
(no switching).
Coaches pass to each other slowly and watch the
defensive shifts of the defenders. If they do not
“jump to the ball” on the pass, make correction.
One of the coaches shoots, and all offensive players block out and go for the
rebound.
Camp Teaching Points:
1. Defender stepping in and making contact with offensive player.
2. Using a front pivot is usually best to make contact with the opponent though
there may be situations where a reverse pivot is alright.
3. Arms wide and strong.
4. After a couple of seconds, defender must look for the ball and go after it.
(Some players get so intent on blocking out that they do not go for the ball.)
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Coach working with
camper on defensive
block-out.
Most campers except the
very young should be
exposed to defensive
block-out technique.
KEEP IN MIND THAT
MANY OF THESE
DRILLS WILL NEED
ADJUSTMENT FOR YOUNGER CAMPERS.
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APPENDIX
SAMPLE DAILY SCHEDULES:
BOARDING CAMP: (120 CAMPERS – 3 LEAGUES – 10 ON TEAM)
7:30 WAKE UP
7:50 INSPECTION OF ROOMS
8:00 BREAKFAST
8:50 ASSEMBLY (ALL TEAMS)
9:00 MORNING PRACTICE
10:55 BREAK
11:05 LECTURE/DEMONSTRATION
11:20 3 ON 3 LEAGUE
12:00 LUNCH
1:05 ASSEMBLY (ALL TEAMS)
1:10 FUN COMPETITIVE GAMES (HOT SHOT, ETC.)
2:00 SEC 5 ON 5 GAMES
BIG 10 - SWIM (OR FREE) PERIOD
ACC - “LEARN THE GAME” OR FILM SESSION
3:00 SEC - “LEARN THE GAME” OR FILM SESSION
BIG 10 – 5 ON 5 GAMES
ACC - SWIM (OR FREE) PERIOD
4:00 SEC – SWIM (OR FREE) PERIOD
BIG 10 - “LEARN THE GAME” OR FILM SESSION
ACC - 5 ON 5 GAMES
5:00 ASSEMBLY (ALL TEAMS)
5:05 DINNER
6:10 ASSEMBLY (ALL TEAMS)
6:15 LECTURE/DEMONSTRATION
6:30 SEC 5 ON 5 GAMES
BIG 10 – FILM ROOM (INSTRUCTIONAL FILM)
ACC – FREE PERIOD
7:30 SEC – FREE PERIOD
BIG 10 – 5 ON 5 GAMES
ACC - FILM ROOM (INSTRUCTIONAL FILM)
8:30 SEC - FILM ROOM (INSTRUCTIONAL FILM)
BIG 10 – FREE PERIOD
ACC – 5 ON 5 GAMES
9:35 FINAL ASSEMBLY (ALL TEAMS)
1045 BED CHECK
11:00 LIGHTS OUT
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SHOOTING STARS BASKETBALL CAMP
BOARDING CAMP (100 CAMPERS, 2 LEAGUES (ONE 4 TEAM
LEAGUE, ONE SIX TEAM LEAGUE) – 4 FULL COURT FACILITY
7:30 AWAKE
7:45 BREAKFAST
9:00 ASSEMBLY (ALL TEAMS)
9:10 WARM- ALL TEAMS)
9:20 MORNING FUNDAMENTAL PRACTICE
11:00 3 ON 3 LEAGUE
12:00 LUNCH
1:30 LECTURE/DEMONSTRATION
1:50 INDIVIDUAL SHOOTING CONTESTS
2:45 SEC - 5 ON 5 LEAGUE GAMES
ACC – FREE PERIOD/OPTIONAL SHOOTING
3:45 SEC – FREE PERIOD/OPTIONAL SHOOTING
ACC – 5 ON 5 LEAGUE GAMES (6 teams, 3 courts)
4:50 ASSEMBLY (ALL TEAMS)
5:00 DINNER
6:30 ASSEMBLY (ALL TEAMS)
6:40 TEAM FUNDAMENTAL CONTESTS
7:25 SEC – 5 ON 5 GAMES
ACC - FREE PERIOD OR FILM SESSION
8:30 SEC - FREE PERIOD OR FILM SESSION
9:35 ASSEMBLY (ALL TEAMS)
9:40 RETURN TO DORMS
10:45 BED CHECK
11:00 LIGHTS OUT
TEAM TRYOUTS
 Commissioner takes his group to the assigned court.
 Line players up by size.
 40 players are divided into four teams of 10 and assigned a basket.
Sometimes numbers require 20 players per basket.
 A coach is assigned each team.
 Warm-up with lay-ups.
 Conduct 3 on 3, 4 on 4, or 5 on 5 and evaluate each player.
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 It is the commissioner’s responsibility to move players between teams
in an effort to even out each team’s talent base.
 Once teams are set, give each team a name and make sure all players
on the team know the name.
 Coach should fill out two team roster sheets, one for him to use and
one to give to the Camp Director. Correct spelling of the names are
important particularly if a certificate is to be issued each camper.
 If it is a boarding camp, get each player’s room number.
5 ON 5 LEAGUE PLAY RULES
1. Each half is 25 minutes (20, 24?) long running time. (We have found
that the first half of 18 minutes and the second of 24 minutes allows for
substitutions every 6 minutes and gives the last 6 for free sub.)
NOTE: Games in Day Camps will be much shorter.
2. Substitute every 5 minutes (6 minutes in 24 minute half).
3. Man to Man defense is required at all times. No zones.
4. Two 30 second time-outs per half.
5. Regular free throw rules apply and clock stops on free throws in last
minute of play.
6. Three-minute half-time.
7. Number every player on the team before the game. ALWAYS substitute
by the numbers.
8. Clock stops during substitutions, but it is NOT a time-out.
9. Possession does not change at the end of each substitution period.
Possession changes only at halftime.
10. In an effort to keep play going and not stand around shooting freethrows, treat fouls as follows:
Common foul on defense: Score one point, offense keeps ball and put it into
play immediately.
Shooting Foul: All missed shots, score one point and keep ball. Play
immediately.
Foul on two point shot made, score two points, add one point, and defense puts
ball in play immediately.
Three point shot made, score three points, add one point, and defense puts ball
in play immediately.
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CAMPERS WANT TO PLAY AS MUCH 5 ON 5 AS POSSIBLE.
THEREFORE, WE HAVE FOUND IT BEST NOT TO SHOOT FREE
THROWS EXCEPT IN THE LAST MINUTE. THE CLOCK IS A
RUNNING TIME SO TIME TAKEN TO SHOOT FREE THROWS
TAKES UP TOO MUCH TIME FROM ACTUAL 5 ON 5 PLAY.
HOWEVER, SHOOT FREE THROWS IN THE LAST MINUTE OF
PLAY AND STOP THE CLOCK. AT THAT TIME, ALL NONSHOOTING FOULS ARE 1 AND 1.
11. Technical fouls will count as a personal foul and the player will be
removed from the game for 3 minutes at the point of the foul. Substitute
the next player in the rotation. Shoot two free throws on all technical
fouls.
12. No pressing until last period of play. Younger players 8 and 9 years old
should never be pressed.
13. Only use the 3 point shot if the court is clearly marked. Never use it for
younger players.
14. Teamwork rule: Offense must make four passes before shooting
except on the fast break OR simply rule that the ball must be reversed at
least one time on offense.
Note: Your more skilled campers do not like any rule that forces
them to give up the ball, but remember your less skilled campers
want to get the ball also and they are paying the same amount as the
more skilled campers are. YOU MUST REQUIRE TEAMWORK!
15. OVERTIME: A jump ball starts an overtime period. Sudden death, first
team that scores a point WINS. (Sudden death is often required to keep
the camp on schedule. If you are not pressed for time, let the overtime
period be one minute.
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3-ON-3 LEAGUE PLAY GAME RULES
 Count scores by 2’s and 3’s.
 Both teams substitute on each score.
 If the shooter is fouled, he/she shoots 1 free throw for 2 points (or 1
free throw for 3 points if shot was a three pointer). No rebound on
free throws and alternating team gets the ball.
 Teams must take the ball back out past the three point circle on each
change of possession.
 On the second foul during the same possession, the player fouled
shoots 1 free throw for 2 points and the alternating team gets the ball.
 If at the end of the 5 minute game the score is tied, the coach
randomly selects a player from each team to shoot a free throw to
decide the winner. If both players make it, the coach picks the next
two players and so on.
 A team forfeits if all of their players aren’t at their designated baskets.
3-ON-3 LEAGUE FORMAT
 There will be approximately 10 teams in a league. Each team will
be numbered.
 Four players to a team
 Use all available baskets
 Five minute running clock games. The clock starts when the first
two teams start to play.
 Coaches referee and keep score at each basket.
 No coach coaches a team, but must make sure the campers
substitute properly after each score. Substitutions should be on a
rotation basis…..best player must rotate out also.
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SUBSTITUTION SYSTEM FOR 8 MAN TEAM (25 MINUTE HALVESRUNNING TIME)
Time
25:00
20:00
15:00
10:00
05:00
Game 1
12345
67812
34567
81234
56781
Game 2
67812
34567
81234
56781
23456
Game 3
34567
81234
56781
23456
78123
Game 4
81234
56781
23456
78123
45678
Game 5
56781
23456
78123
45678
12345
Game 6
23456
78123
45678
12345
67812
12345
67812
34567
81234
56781
67812
34567
81234
56781
23456
34567
81234
56781
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78123
SECOND HALF
25:00
20:00
15:00
10:00
05:00
02:00
23456
78123
45678
78123
45678
12345
45678
12345
67812
12345
67812
34567
67812
34567
81234
FREE SUBSTITUTION
SUBSTITUTION SYSTEM FOR 9 MAN TEAM (20 MINUTE HALVESRUNNING TIME)
Time
Game 1
Game 2
Game 3
Game 4
Game 5
Game 6
20:00
15:00
10:00
05:00
12345
67891
23456
68912
67891
23456
78912
34567
23456
78912
34567
89123
78912
34567
89123
45678
34567
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45678
91234
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91234
56789
34567
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91234
56789
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FREE SUBSTITUTION
91234
56789
12345
67891
56789
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67891
23456
12345
67891
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78912
SECOND HALF
20:00
15:00
10:00
05:00
01:00
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*SUBSTITUTION SYSTEM FOR 11 MAN TEAM (25 M INUTE
HALVES—RUNNING TIME
Time
Game 1
Game 2
Game 3
Game 4
Game 5
25:00
20:00
15:00
10:00
05:00
12345
678910
(11)1234
56789
10(11)123
678910
(11)1234
56789
10(11)123
45678
(11)1234 56789
10(11)123
56789 10(11)123 45678
10(11)123 45678
910(11)12
45678
910(11)12 34567
910(11)12 34567
8910(11)1
SECOND HALF
25:00
20:00
15:00
10:00
05:00
01:00
45678
910(11)12 34567 8910(11)1 23456
910(11)12 34567
8910(11)1 23456 78910(11)
34567
8910(11)1 23456 78910(11) 12345
8910(11)1 23456
78910(11) 12345
678910
23456
78910(11) 12345 678910 (11)1234
FREEE SUBSTITUTION
 I do not recommend 11 man teams; however, I recognize that
occasionally numbers and space can require it. If you do have an
eleven man team consider (1) playing games a little longer to make
sure No. 11 gets comparable playing time or (2) rotate who will be
No. 11.
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EXAMPLE OF CAMP APPLICATION (OR RESERVATION) FORM
CAMP APPLICATION FORM
Name___________________ Age___Ht.___ Wt.___Grade _____(Next Year)
Address______________________City/St/Zip___________________ _____
E-Mail Address __________________________________________________
School_________________________Coach’s Name_____________________
School Address___________________City/State/Zip____________________
I hereby request my son, daughter or ward be admitted to the Shooting Stars Basketball Camp and
authorize the Camp Directors to act for me according to their best judgment in any emergency requiring
medical attention for which services I shall pay.
PARENT/GUARDIAN’S SIGNATURE______________________________
Phone (Home)_____________________(Cell)_________________________
Mail Application and $100 non-refundable deposit to:
SHOOTING STARS BASKETBALL CAMP
849 N. GARFIELD AV.
DELAND, FL 32724
___________________________________________________________________________
Notice that the parent’s signature frees you from any medical expense
incurred by the camper; however, it does not free you from liability
insurance so make sure you are covered in that area.
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OTHER GAMES AND ACTIVITIES FOR CAMP
This section will list and explain varied basketball activities that can
be used in camp (time permitting) that can increase camper’s enjoyment
(and therefore increase your return attendance).
NIKE HOOP JAMBOREE
“MARCH MADNESS” TOURNAMENT**
(This was developed by Coach Glenn Wilkes Jr of Rollins College and used
at the “invitation only” Nike 9th-10th grade camp in Saint Louis, MO.
FORMAT:
 3 MINUTE GAMES, REGULAR TIMING WITH CLOCK
STOPPING ON ALL WHISTLES
 ALL GAMES START AT THE SAME TIME
 TEAMS ROTATE COURTS ACCORDING TO GAME SCHEDULE
 TEAMS VARY STARTING LINE-UP BY SUBSTITUTION
SCHEDULE
 SECOND TEAM LISTED ON SCHEDULE WEARS LIGHT
JERSEY.
 NUMBER OF GAMES TO BE PLAYED DEPENDS ON NUMBER
OF COURTS AND TIME ALLOTTED.
RULES:
 Regular NCAA rules. Example: Clock stops last minute after made
baskets.
 Both teams are in the bonus (first foul will be the 7th for each team.
Double bonus on the 10th foul.
 Free sub after the start of the game .
 Each team has 1 full and 1 thirty second timeout
 “Sudden death” (first team to score) to decide overtime games.
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MARCH MADNESS GAME SCHEDULE:
Court 1
2
3
4
5
Court 1
2
3
4
5
Court 1
2
3
4
5
Court 1
2
3
4
5
Court 1
2
3
4
5
Court 1
2
3
4
5
Game 1
Boston vs. LA
Chicago vs. Utah
Dallas vs. Portland
Detroit vs. San Antonio
Miami vs. Phoenix
Game 2
Utah vs. Boston
LA vs. Portland
Chicago vs. San Antonio
Dallas vs. Phoenix
Detroit vs. Miami
Game 3
Boston vs. Portland
Utah vs. San Antonio
LA vs. Phoenix
Chicago vs Miami
Dallas vs Detroit
Game 4
San Antonio vs. Boston
Portland vs. Phoenix
Utah vs. Miami
LA vs. Detroit
Chicago vs. Dallas
Game 5
Boston vs. Phoenix
San Antonio vs. Miami
Portland vs. Detroit
Utah vs. Dallas
Chicago vs. LA
Game 6
Miami vs. Boston
Phoenix vs. Detroit
San Antonio vs. Dallas
Portland vs. Chicago
Utah vs. LA
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LAST SECOND GAMES:
Short games add a lot of excitement and fun and can be played in a
short period of time on the schedule. These games are excellent learning
situations because most campers have had little experience playing late in a
game with the score tied.
FORMAT:






60 second games (flexible….count be 2 or 3 minute games)
Score is tied
All players have four fouls
Start games at FT line with a 1 and 1 (Flip coin to determine which
team shoots.
Teams vary starting line-up by substitution schedule.
Number of games dependent on number of courts.
“CUT-THROAT” 3 ON 3 GAMES
FORMAT:







Three lines under the basket
First 3 players in line come to top of circle and become the offensive
team.
Second 3 players in line become the defense.
Team A vs. Team B. If A scores, B goes to end of line and new team
comes on.
If B gets a stop, A goes to end of line, B goes on offense, and new
team comes on.
Keep same teams and one coach has to keep score of each team to
determine the winner at the end of time allotted.
Can also play 4 on 4.
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INDIVIDUAL CAMPER CONTESTS:
“KNOCKOUT”:
THIS IS THE NUMBER ONE CAMP GAME ALL OVER THE USA.
I have returned from camp lunch hour to find campers lined up ¾ court playing
the game. Campers really like it and it must be an important part of your
curriculum.
Knockout begins with a line of players usually at the FT line, but for older
campers at the top of the circle in 3 point range.
The first two campers in line each have a ball. On signal “GO”, the first player
shoots. As the ball is in the air, the 2nd player shoots. If the 2nd player can make
a basket before the first player, the first player is eliminated.
After each player makes a shot, the ball is passed back to the next player in line
and the passer goes to the end of the line. When a player is eliminated, he/she
goes to the sideline and the play continues until only one player remains.
“Super Knockout” is an adjustment some camp directors make. In this form of
Knockout, lines are formed at each basket and when players are eliminated
from a basket, they rotate to the next basket and continue play.
The most common method for determining a winner is to name the first basket
the “Winners basket” and, after a prescribed number of minutes, the one
player left standing at that basket is declared the winner.
“Keeping Score”. Play Knockout once or twice a day and keep a list of the
winners. Then, on the last day of camp, bring the winners together to play
Knockout for the camp or league championship.
FREE THROW CONTEST:
 One warm-up shot.
 Each camper shoots five free throws. Best of 5 is winner for the day.
In case of tie, those players continue shooting and when a camper makes one
and his opponent misses, the “make” is the winner.
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AROUND THE WORLD:
The object of the game is for individual campers to shoot from 5 spots
around the 3 point circle…..left corner, to left wing, to top, to right wing, to
right corner. Object of the game is to make a shot from each spot.
There are a number of ways the game can be played. Some of the most
common:





Campers shoot one series of around the horn and count how many
they make OR the winner can be the first player that makes a shot at
each spot.
Campers can shoot only 5 shots or the camp rule would require 9
shots meaning the shooter would go around the horn, then return to
the original spot.
Campers can shoot and, if they miss, return to the original spot. This
is difficult unless it is your better players shooting.
Campers can be given one bonus shot per spot when they miss the
first shot.
Campers can have an option: If they miss they can step back at the
same spot and wait for all others shooting at that basket to have an
opportunity to shoot OR they can be given a bonus or “risk-it” shot.
If they make the bonus shot they advance, but if they miss the bonus
shot they have to return to the original starting spot.
As you can see, the options in Around the World are only limited to the creative
imagination of the Camp Director or campers.
HORSE:
HORSE is perhaps the most well-know shooting game in basketball.
It is usually played by two players, but can be adjusted to include several more.
In the 2 player game, the first shooter attempts a shot. If the shot is made, the
2nd shooter must attempt a shot from the same spot. If that player misses, he/she
would get an “H”. If the 1st player misses, the 2nd player can shoot from any
spot he/she chooses. If the 1st player makes a shot and the 2nd player makes it,
the first player shoots again. If that player misses, the 2nd player will have the
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option of shooting from a different spot. Players continue until one of the
players has missed enough to spell out H-O-R-S-E.
In a multiple player game, If the 1st player makes the shot and the 2nd player
misses, the 2nd player gets an “H” and the 3rd player attempts the same shot. If
3rd player makes it, the 4th player must make it and so on. If the 3rd player
misses, the 4th player can choose the next shooting spot.
It is possible to have “HORSE TEAMS” with players alternating in line. The
game would be played the same as the normal Horse game, but the player
winning would represent a specific team and therefore his/her team would be
declared the winner.
“21”
The most common way to play the game is for the shooter to get 2 points for an
outside shot and 1 point for a lay-up.
Starting at FT line distance (or 3 point shot distance for older players) the
shooter attempts a shot. If it is made he/she gets 2 points and when the camper
gets the ball out of the net, he/she shoots a lay-up for 1 point. After shooting
both, the player goes to the end of the line.
When a shooter misses, he/she must catch the ball before its second bound and
shoot a shot from that spot, using no dribbles and one step. If the miss bounces
long before the shooter can get to it, he/she must shoot the long shot and gets
only 1 point.
Individual score is kept and the player getting to 21 points first is the winner.
“PIG”
This game is played similar to HORSE except when the letters PIG are spelled
out, that player loses.
Some versions of both PIG and HORSE require the following shooter to
duplicate not only the shot that has been made, but the move and type of shot as
well. In other words, if a player shoots a left-handed hook shot from the left
side and makes it, the next player must also shoot a left-handed hook shot from
the left side.
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“ONE-ON-ONE”
Many camps give a one-on-one championship to one player in each league.
The drawback to having a one-on-one champion is that it does take a
considerable amount of time unless you play very short games.
It is difficult for a one-on-one game to be meaningful unless you play to at least
5 points (or more if you have time in the schedule).
Rules for one-on-one start with how you determine who gets the ball and do
you play “make-it-take-it” or do you change possession each time there is a
score. The latter is probably the best for the camp setting.
Other rules you may need to use:
(1) Shoot a bonus free throw on the 3rd foul.
(2) Shoot two shots if fouled in the act of shooting and the shot is missed.
(3) If fouled on a made shot, shoot a one shot bonus.
(4) The winner is the first player to score 5 points.
(5) Basic rules of basketball apply.
HOT SHOT
“Hot Shot” is an enjoyable game for campers, but you have to be careful how
you administer it. Usually each player gets to shoot one minute and, if you
have a large number of campers, and just 6 baskets, there will be 6 campers
shooting and a large number sitting.
You should try to have no more than six players at a basket. Therefore, you may
have to have other fundamentals going on that do not require a basket for
instruction (dribbling, passing, pivoting, etc.) Then players can rotate from Hot
Shot to fundamentals.
Spots are placed or drawn with chalk on the floor around the basket.
Usually a spot about 10 feet on each side of the basket and out about half way
to the FT line. Shooters at these spots can be required to shoot a bank shot.
Spots on each elbow and about two feet back of the center of the FT line will
complete five spots.
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In addition, campers can shoot one lay-up on each side of the basket. Makes
count 1 point each.
Each spot has a designated point count. The bank shots will count 2 points, the
elbow shot 3 points and the longer shot at the FT line will count 5 points.
STAFF EXPECTATIONS
(Should be given out to coaches prior to camp.)
1.
2.
3.
4.
Be on time for all scheduled activities.
Be positive and enthusiastic with your coaching!
Promptly report any player absences at every assembly.
Be more concerned with teaching than winning! We will give no “Coach
of the Camp” award.
5. Be concerned with the safety and welfare of the campers.
6. Be neat and professional in your dress. Wear any camp apparel given to
you.
7. Use no profanity and do not demean any camper.
8. Be respectful of other staff members.
9. You will be required to officiate at times. Please give officiating a
spirited and fair effort. One thing that upsets parents is watching a coach
referee who is really not trying.
10. Absolutely no drugs or alcohol allowed on the premises.
11. Please learn the names of your players and use them.
12. Should a player need discipline, send the player to your commissioner.
13. Report all injuries to a trainer. Never force campers to play who are
injured.
14. Treat each camper as if he or she were your own child.
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EXAMPLE PRESS RELEASE FOR 2 TO 3 MONTHS IN ADVANCE
PRESS RELEASE
FROM:
Florida Sunshine Basketball Camp
841 NE Willow Drive
Edgarton, Georgia 33140
849-710-2211
FLORIDA SUNSHINE BASKETBALL CAMP SET FOR SOUTH DELAND MIDDLE
SCHOOL ON JUNE 18:
Coach Bill Smith has announced that the FLORIDA SUNSHINE BASKETBALL
CAMP will be conducted at South DeLand Middle School from June 18 to June 22.
The camp will be held from 9 a.m. through 4 p.m. daily.
The purpose of the camp is to provide basic basketball instruction to young players
ages 8 through 18.
All basic basketball fundamentals will be covered including dribbling, passing,
rebounding, and defense, with special emphasis to be placed on developing shooting ability..
In addition to individual fundamental instruction, competitive fundamental contests, a
3 on 3 league and a 5 on 5 league will also be included in the program.
Campers will be grouped by age and ability and will have two daily periods that will
stress basketball fundamentals.
A quality staff made up of local high school and middle school coaches will teach
throughout the week.
“We are pleased to have the opportunity to make a contribution to the basketball
development of young people in the area,” Smith said in making the announcement. “We
have worked hard to assemble a quality staff that I am sure will give excellent instruction to
the attending campers.”
Cost for the camp is $200 if registered in advance, $230 at the door.
Interested parents and players can receive more information by calling Coach Smith
at 849-710-2211.
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EXAMPLE PRESS RELEASE FOR TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO CAMP
PRESS RELEASE
FROM:
Florida Sunshine Basketball Camp
841 NE Willow Drive
Edgarton, Georgia 33140
849-710-2211
The Florida Sunshine Basketball Camp is scheduled to begin on June 18
at the South DeLand Middle School gymnasium in Edgartown, Geogia.
Coach Bill Smith, Director of the Camp, announced that a capacity
turnout of campers is expected.
The camp is a 5 day camp that will teach all of the basic fundamentals of
basketball, including passing, dribbling, rebounding, footwork, and defense
with special emphasis put on improving shooting technique.
“Though we will stress the other fundamentals, we intend to work with
campers on their fundamental shooting technique,” Smith said. “Regardless of
skill level, there is always room for a good shooter on a basketball team.”
The camp will begin at 9 a.m. and run through 4 p.m. daily. Campers
should bring their own lunch. Drinks will be provided by the camp.
In addition to fundamental instruction, campers will enjoy various
fundamental contests, 3 on 3 play, and a 5 on 5 League.
Cost for the camp is $200 in advance, $230 at the door if space is
available.
Campers can register and get more information by calling Coach Smith at
849-710-2211.
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BOARDING CAMP INFORMATION SHEET
(TO BE SENT TO CAMPERS WHEN YOU RECEIVE THEIR
RESERVATION)
======================================================
SHOOTING STARS BASKETBALL CAMP
IMPORTANT REGISTRATION INFORMATION:
DEAR SHOOTING STARS CAMPER: This acknowledges receipt of your
registration for the camp at Lander University. Any balance can be paid at
registration at camp. The following information should answer most of your
questions:
REGISTRATION: Registration is scheduled in the lobby of Horne Arena
between 2 and 5 p.m. on July 10. Dorm rooms will be assigned at that time and
meal tickets issued. A $20.00 refundable deposit for your room key will be
required.
FIRST MEETING: The first meeting of all boarding campers will be held at
5:15 p.m. at the Arena. Day students will not need to report until 6:15 p.m. at
the Arena.
HOUSING: Campers will be housed in the Lander University dormitories.
ROOMMATES MAY BE SELECTED ON ARRIVAL.
MEALS: First meal will be dinner on July 10…Last meal will be breakfast on
July 14.
WHAT TO BRING: Lander University will not provide sheets and towels.
Bring single bed sheets, a light blanket since the rooms are air-conditioned, a
pillow, and plenty of towels. You will need several changes of gym clothing for
practice and games.
OFFICIAL REVERSIBLE JERSEY: You will be issued a reversible jersey on
arrival for use in games.. A $10 deposit will be required for the jersey which
will be returned to you when you return the jersey at the conclusion of the
camp. You will be given a Shooting Stars Camp T-Shirt.
CAMP CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES: Championship games will be played on the
morning of July 14 with the final Camp Championship Game scheduled for
approximately 10:15.
PARENTS: Parents are invited and encouraged to watch any of the sessions
throughout the week.
OFFICIAL HOTEL: The Jameson Inn has been named the official camp hotel.
Call 864-942-0002 and ask for the special Shooting Stars camp rate.($70).
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THOSE ARRIVING BY PLANE: The camp will meet flights into the
Greenville-Spartanburg Airport on July 10 only (arrive by 3:30 p.m.) and return
to the Airport on July 14 for a charge of $50 roundtrip. (Make no departing
flight earlier than 2:30 p.m. We cannot guarantee transportation back to the
airport for earlier flights. Provide plane arrival time, a $50 check, and flight
number in writing by July 1.
CAMP MAILING ADDRESS: 849 N. Garfield Ave., DeLand, Fl 32724
Telephone: 386-748-9160.
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