Thanksgiving With UPBasketball
3 Minute read
By: Andrea Aruino
Just this past week, UPBasketball hosted its annual Thanksgiving Break Camp led by Coach Hannah Johnson. Many of UPB’s camps focus on excelling our players skills including scoring, defense, ball handling, and film. Although Coach Johnson wanted this camp to be a little different with the focus being on having a “distraction” for everything. This meant creating an emphasis on defense and teaching players how to work under pressure. There were over 40 kids in attendance during this two day camp ready and energized to learn as much as possible.
“They bought into the culture we want to bring to our camps which is energy, effort and having fun,” Coach Johnson said.
Each coach was ready to deliver knowledge which came in the form of skill development, shooting, and scrimmaging. Nine hours over the course of three days, allowed coaches to work closely with each player by meeting them where they are at and building from there. Whether they had been there before or were stepping in for the first time, every athlete entered the gym with the same mission: show up with good energy and leave with something new learned.
Coach Johnson could feel the energy through every defensive stop, assist, and shot made. By focusing on “distractions” the coaches were able to magnify each player’s strengths and weaknesses when it came to in-game situations. Understanding when to shoot or pass the ball was crucial during this camp. Not only were they honing in on their foundational skills, but they were also building their IQ. Having a system that challenged them throughout the camp built their quick thinking skills, a necessary tool for succeeding as a basketball player. Creating a foundation to understanding how to react towards defense and how to play defense was a perfect segway into teaching players how and when to pass, shoot, or drive.
Their IQ was enhanced not only through reading defense and offense, but through film as well. Athletes become good by practicing daily and competing against top talent, but what separates great players from the best is the discipline to sit down and study film. At UPBasketball, coaches make sure to emphasize the importance of sitting down for hours if needed, to visually see the ways in which they can improve. It builds strategy and builds confidence in making decisions.
The Thanksgiving Break Camp is always a special one as it reminds the UPB staff of the amazing community our players, coaches, staff, and families have built within the gym. Nothing is possible without each person that walks in and out of our doors.
“I’m super thankful to our community for just supporting what we do here at UPB and trusting us to help them with this part of their life. Basketball teaches us so much about life and we are able to teach these kids so much through the game. I am thankful for the parents trusting us with that,” Coach Johnson said.
The UPBasketball family cherishes each and every player and family who has spent their time working with our team. Every year is spent learning and adjusting to the pace of the game in order to serve the community by teaching each player how to succeed in the current state of an everchanging basketball scene. Seeing such great turnouts for camps makes the team grateful and ready for the next.
“I hope the kids walked away from camp with a new mindset when it comes to the game, any sport that they play, or anything they do in life which is: you can only control your energy, effort, and attitude. Overall camp was great and the game is always evolving so there will always be new drills or new things to do. At the core, I love everything we do,” Coach Johnson said.
