Players and staff from the Southern Design Sydney Uni Flames were kept busy over January as they hosted some of Sydney’s best up and coming juniors in basketball camps held in Manly, Liverpool and Sutherland.
Flames stars of the present (Katie Rae Ebzery, Sarah Graham, Lauren King, Vanessa Panousis) and the past (Trish Fallon) were on deck for an Intensive Skills Camp on January 17 for long-time Flames Association sponsor, Manly Warringah Basketball Association and their juniors.
Over 70 kids attended the day as players were taught fundamental skills and involved in more challenging complex drills.
“The Manly juniors were put through some tough and challenging drills at this camp,” explained Flames Community Operations Manager Trish Fallon.
“As a coach I was really impressed with how they responded and how quickly they learnt these new skills. The big turnout at this camp shows just how strong basketball is around the Northern Beaches.”
The next Sydney Uni Flames Skills Camp was held for the Liverpool Basketball Association on January 23, and was attended by 30 children coached by Alicia Poto, Rohanee Cox, April Sykes and Trish Fallon.
The four hour camp focused on teaching the basic fundamentals. Kids were split into age and skill groups, with rotation into set stations of shooting, defense, pivoting. The afternoon session consisted of 2v2, 3v3, 4v4 and finished with 5v5 games.
This camp marked the first time that the Flames have run a camp at Liverpool, but it certainly won’t be the last. Liverpool Basketball Association has already invited the Flames back again to host their second camp in the September/October school holidays.
Since the camp there have been significant attendances at home games from juniors of the Liverpool Basketball Association, most of whom had never attended a game prior to the camp.
“This was the first time the Sydney Uni Flames have ventured out to Liverpool to run a development camp, and it was great to see the local community support it,” said Flames Captain Alicia Poto.
It was so much fun and it reminded me of growing up and playing basketball out here. I love giving back to the local community and it’s even more rewarding when the same kids you taught days before are at your games supporting you. I can’t wait to get out there again.”
The Flames would like to make special mention of Liverpool Basketball Association Manager Scott Frater for working tirelessly in promoting the camp and his support in building the junior program – in particular the girls.
On January 29 the Flames held their third camp for the month, hosting a three hour Sydney Uni Flames Super Skills Clinic for Sutherland Basketball Association and 30 of their juniors.
The coaches on the day were Michelle Joy (who was a Sutherland junior), Tayla Roberts, Chloe Dalton and Trish Fallon.
The young Flames players put the juniors through a variety of skills and drills as part of the Sutherland Basketball Association’s ongoing support of the Flames program through the Association sponsorship program – Sutherland are sponsors of Michelle Joy.
“It means a lot to me to have the opportunity to work with players from Sutherland and give some time back to the association that developed me as a junior player,” said Joy.
“Their support helped me achieve my goal of playing in the WNBL and now it’s my turn to help the next generation of players coming through any way that I can.”
The Sydney Uni Flames are looking forward to another busy holiday period in April where they will be hosting a number of camps at NSW metro and country basketball Associations.
