September Basketball Camp

Fun, fun, fun!!

That sums up our basketball camp.  The kids had so much fun, more than half didn't want to leave.  We pride our camps on small coach to player ratios and with this camp, we lived up to it.  We had a hard cap of 40 attendees to keep the groups small.  Even with last minute (and welcomed) add on's we were able to maintain a proper ratio.  In this camp, UH made above expected money.  The money earned in our camps help scholarship players as well as keep the operating costs down.  This helps us bring basketball to many families without them feeling the crunch.  This is one reason our camps are important.  With money aside, we love running our camps.  All the volunteers are excited and enthusiastic.

Coach Fitz working with the older kids

It was a cool and cloudy morning at staff members arrived and set up outside.  Players started lining up early to get their new gold UH camp shirts and names put on their backs.  Excited faces and bright eyes entered the gym with balls and water bottles in hand.  Most didn't hesitate to use the few minutes before camp to shoot around and socialize.  While players got situated, Coach Greg used the opportunity to brief the coaching staff.  Camp was underway with the coaches addressing all the young players who sat in quiet anticipation.

Our younger players waiting for a pass

The camp ran smooth.  There were a series of group activities, both as one large group and smaller groups with rotations.  The coaches opened up camp with the normal drills going from one end of the court to the other.  They covered all the basics including passing, dribbling and rebounding exercises.  There was even conditioning including sit ups and push ups and running.  The camp had 2 games where 2 players won Jamba Juice gift cards and Uptempo Hoops car decals.  All this was before lunchtime.  With parents watching, I'm sure they were impressed with how much was covered in a short amount of time.  Many of the coaches helping out players one on one during all the activities. 

Lunch was held outside the gym in the food area of Conley Caraballo.  It is an enclosed area offering the freshness of the outdoors in a safe environment.  It was a beautiful day.  Kids ate in groups at the blue picnic tables.  You can hear laughter and discussions ranging from today's activities to the latest on Minecraft.  Parents are always welcome to stay the whole camp or just for lunch.  This time, there were a few parents out there having lunch with their child and friends.  Once lunch was done, it was popsicle time.  Yummy cold popsicles were passed out to all the children at the camp including the young siblings, who are too young for our camp.  Yes, parents were welcome to popsicles too.  Next, picture time!  By lunch time, some campers and volunteers left for other Saturday activities.  We try to grab them for picture time around the lunch hour.  Luckily most stayed and were able to be in the group picture.  Our pictures always end with a "show us your funny face" picture where the kids' personalities come out.

Female athletes recharging

It's popsicle time!

Onto the second half of camp.  For most kids, this is the best part of camp.  Here, more elevated skills are introduced.  These skills include more problem solving and team dynamics.  They are taught to work together because afterall, basketball is a team sport.  The coaches promote the "team" mentality and work on defense.  It's very good lessons for young kids, which will carry them through life whichever sport they choose.  The camp ends with forming small teams for 3 on 3 competition.  In these scrimmages, all they learned in today's camp is tested.  All the players passed the test.  They applied everything they learned in this short amount of time.  The scrimmages are challenging, but fun.  Many players are laughing and cheering as the coaches make competition fun. 

Some of our own UH players coming in for more training.  This is the love of the game. 

The day ends with more games for the players.  More prizes are handed out.  At the beginning of the camp players are encouraged to meet new kids.  At the end of camp, they are asked who new did they meet and what is their name.  Each player asked was able to name 5 new names.  That was wonderful.  Two prizes handed out are for the players (one girl and one boy) who showed enthusiasm during the camp and team play, some one who really represented the spirit of the Uptempo Hoops camp.  This is always a hard one because there are so many to choose from.  We would love to give a GC to each camper.  They all deserve the recognition.  Returning players the best reward for us.  The coaches' last words of encouragement include thanking the families and telling the children to continue what they've learned today.  One coach even mentioned "when you see each other, say hi".  We wrap up with one last picture moment of coaches and players. 

A happy group of coaches and athletes!

A special thanks to Muriel Irwin and Kat Otico for their help with the registration table.  They kept everyone moving along and helped get camp started on time.  Also, they helped with providing some supplies.  Thank you to Cecille Santos for helping with the lunch run for our volunteers.  More thanks goes to the UH players and teens who volunteered their Saturday to help out.  Also, the coaches, who always do a great job making this a positive experience for the young kids.  It's because of our volunteers we are able to make this happen and have return players.  UH does a great job of having enough people work our camps.  Lastly, thanks to the families and players.  Their support help make this possible and fun.  As I mentioned, we love running our camps.  We are already looking forward to the next one. 

In one email sent to me a parent stated:  "...really enjoyed the camp last Saturday. He didn't want to leave because he had fun learning and making new friends. I really liked how your coaches preach defense. "  ~~ W. Bembo.  This sums up the spirit of Uptempo Hoops and why we love running our camps. 

End of Season Picnic

End Of Season, But Definitely Not Over

The first to grab grub and chow down

What a beautiful day for a picnic in the park.  September was the perfect time to celebrate the end of an AAU season.  The morning was brisk, but opened up to a much more warmer afternoon.  Board members showed up around 11:00 am to set up and arrange the tables.  It was a cool morning, you can definitely feel that fall is here.  But this cooler than expected morning weather wasn't about to disrupt our picnic.  We were expecting a wonderful turnout and very excited.  The first to arrive was the Singh family, ready with warm KFC waiting to be eaten.  Soon after families started arriving, with food in hand and smiles on their faces.  Kids headed straight for the Spiderman basketball/slide combo jumper.  Parents greeted eachother and enjoyed the company.  The Yabut family fired up the BBQ and grilled delicious chicken wings.  There was so much food and too many to describe, but there was good variety. 

Football with the 7th grade and 4th grade teams

The park has a very large open grass area next to the two sectioned picnic area.  It's ideal for jumpers and outdoor sporting activities.  The open area allowed a cool breeze to blow through the party.  As the cool air drifted over the food table, it brought with it the smell of fresh tantilizing aromas.  There were enough pop up tents shading several white table cloth covered picnic tables.  Modern lively music played from an iPod and there were coolers of drinks surrounding the food table. 

Everyone enjoyed an array of games.  The jumper was never without kids jumping and sliding.  There was an exciting football game going on next to a fast paced volley ball game.  Boys engaged in a water fight with water guns.  Younger kids enjoyed the short walk to the playground and warm sand.  Many kids stopped long enough to grab a quick bite to eat or drink, but went right back to playing.  All ages, mixed together played and socialized.  It was as if the basketball season was still on and we were waiting for a tournament game; just killing time.  Many haven't seen each other in weeks.  Most have started basketball in other leagues or CYO.  However, coming together once again, it was as if no time has passed. 

They were all friends again.

Thank you Dr. Salins for all your support

Time flew today.  We presented our Gold Sponors with plaques:  Dr. Salins, Balentine Dental and RT Western.  Dr. Salins was present today to receive his plaque and provide Uptempo Hoops with a ice cream.  Kids cannot get enough ice cream as they all dove in digging through the ice to find their favorite flavor.  One of our Silver Sponsory, Maryann Rensch of Bianca's Boutique attended bringing chocolate chip cookies and a face painter. Children lined up to get tatoos on their limbs or masks on their faces. Our sponsors were very much welcome and appreciated.  They enjoyed the atmosphere and good food.  We are very fortunate to have the sponsors we have and look forward to long term relationships.  Thank you to Yvette Cruz and Alpine Awards for the beautiful sponsor plaques.

Board members were thanked with a gracious speech by our President, Rene Noriega.  I thanked the hard working coaches, the backbone of our organization.  They are the reason we've grown to be the success we are.  Muriel Irwin dedicated her time to find the right coach's gift.  She purchased personalized game boards where they can write up their plays during AAU games in UH style.  They glistened with the coach's name and "Uptempo Hoops" shining brightly.  It was the perfect gift.  Mrs. Irwin wasn't done.  She even spent time to make the players' certificates.  They also came out perfect in our team colors of blue and gold.  Players' names were written in black caligraphy and they looked very professional and sharp.  The teams broke up into their 4 groups and the coaches presented the players with their certificates.  Every speech more enduring than the previous.  Players gleemed with smiles as teammates clapped and cheered.  Families watched with love and pride as they see the success of their player. 

Mrs. Irwin's hard work.  Great Coach's gift. 

After the speeches were done, it was back to playing and clean up time.  Food was divided among families.  Most didn't wait til home, we just kept eating while we were there.  Everyone pitched in to clean up the picnic area.  Once the jumper was ready and deflated, the kids found other things to do.  The boys split up and played either basketball or baseball.   The girls found the sidewalk chalk and added their own inspiration to the pavement. 

Sidewalk art by siblings of the 4th grade, 5th grade and 6th grade teams.

This picnic was a time to show appreciation.  It was a time to reminice over the season.  Moreover, it was a time to strengthen the bonds of our families.  We could picnic anytime.  However, to have a picnic with this much emotion means so much more.  The families remember why they are part of Uptempo Hoops and the coaches are reminded why they coach these wonderful kids.  As stated earlier in the day, UH is expected to grow and we look forward to the talent which awaits UH.