Annual IVC basketball camp puts the ‘fun’ in fundamentals
IMPERIAL — The 2018 Imperial Valley College basketball camp, which ran for two weeks and concluded on Thursday, gave more than 40 local youths the opportunity to enjoy and learn the sport of basketball with guidance from college coaches and players.
Held at IVC’s DePaoli Sports Complex, the camp catered to both new and experienced players from ages 6 to 16 years old.
The camp’s first session, which ran July 30 to Aug. 2, had a maximum turnout of 60 players, while 40 turned out for the camp’s second session, held Monday through Thursday.
It was the camp’s 10th year in existence. Last year, the camp was coordinated by IVC men’s head basketball coach Andrew Robinson. This year, the reins were handed over to assistant coach Hector Vidosola.
Vidosola, who enters his first year with IVC’s basketball program, said the camp’s main focus was to provide an environment for attendees to enjoy the sport.
“The most important thing that we want out of this is for them to enjoy the time they’re here, and to get a feel and love for the game of basketball,” Vidosola said. “So they might try out for the team or keep on playing basketball as they grow.”
Vidosola, as well as players from the college’s basketball team, worked with camp-goers on the court to brush up on essential skills such as ball-handling, shooting, footwork and passing.
“For the older kids, we really tried to implement footwork and all the things that are necessary to succeed in basketball, so they can move on and play JV, and play varsity basketball and keep going with the game,” Vidosola said. “We also got a lot of kids who have never played basketball, so that’s why we try to make fun games just so they can start enjoying it and having fun.”
The tuition fee for the two-week camp was $65 per player. A typical camp day consisted of a warm-up session, a player development session, lunch, a team practice and scrimmages. The days concluded with about an hour of free time in the campus pool.
To conclude the camp on Thursday, a lay- up contest was held within each age group of campers to see who could rack up the most points within a set time.
Those who won in each group were awarded an official IVC basketball jersey.
Each camp attendee received a t- shirt, a certificate of participation and a basketball.
“I just wanted the kids to enjoy it and have fun, and I think we exceeded that,” Vidosola said. “Especially with them, after basketball, going to the pool and having fun over there, too. I can see they’re really enjoying it out here.”