Youngsters hoop it up at Y’s basketball clinic

Youngsters hoop it up
at Y’s basketball clinic
BY CLARE MARIE CELANO
Staff Writer

PHOTOS BY JERRY WOLKOWITZ staff Youngsters practice their dribbling skills during a basketball clinic sponsored by the YMCA Community Center, Freehold Borough, on Nov. 6-7. Tied shoelaces (bottom left) were optional.

FREEHOLD — At least 60 local youths decided to spend their days learning even though school was not in session on Nov. 6-7.

Keeping up with tradition on the two days when New Jersey schools close while teachers meet at their convention in Atlantic City, the YMCA Community Center sponsored a basketball clinic and offered children a constructive and fun way to spend their time off.

Of course, it wasn’t all work and no play. Outreach Director Mel O’Neal made sure there was pizza, T-shirts and plenty of give-aways for the participants. Children in second through eighth grade learned to play the game at Freehold Borough High School, which has hosted the clinic for seven years, according to O’Neal.

Using the gymnasium and other rooms, the children learned more about the game at 10 basketball "stations" that they visited in 18-minute periods. According to O’Neal, the clinic offered defensive strategies like rebounding, shot blocking and boxing out, and offensive skills such as dribbling, passing and shooting.

Raymond Blyden of Freehold shows Caitey Leif, 9, of Marlboro, how to hold a basketball and position her hands for a free-throw attempt.

The instructors included Raymond Blyden, an AAU basketball coach with 23 years of basketball experience. He said he "likes to teach and loves the kids at he YMCA." He’s been helping out at the clinic for five years and plans to keep coming back.

Frank Bohn also volunteered his time. He is the president of the Colonial Basketball League and his son, Frankie, 12, was a participant at the clinic for the fourth year in a row.

Jim Danella coached at the clinic and brought along his children, Kristina and Jimmy. Danella coaches in the Colonial Basketball League and with Manalapan recreation and AAU basketball.

Once again, O’Neal had boys and girls from Monmouth County high schools coaching the participants at the clinic.

Keyron Sheard shows Ben Pelligra, 8, of Marlboro, the proper way to shoot a layup during a basketball clinic sposored by the YMCA Community Center.

Bohn’s daughter Nadina, 17, of Freehold Borough, who attends Colts Neck High School, was a student coach once again. She has helped out at the clinic for three years and before that she was a participant.

"The kids really like it and it gives us something to do on our days off," she said.

Nicole Sanchez, 17, of Freehold Township, a senior at Freehold Borough High School, said she loves "getting out and hanging out with the little kids." Sanchez taught the children run-off screens at her basketball station.

Jennifer Johnson, 16, of Freehold Borough, a junior at Freehold Borough High School, has been helping out since her freshman year. She taught dribbling at her basketball station.

The youngsters really seemed to really enjoy the quick pace of the clinic. Moving from station to station, they appeared to thrive on the idea of what was coming up next.

Caitey Leif, 10, of Marlboro, was attending for the first time and she was having a great time.

"Instead of watching TV, I’m getting to play against the coaches," she said.

Josh Cooper, 11, of Marlboro, loves basketball and said he had a great time at the two-day clinic.

Tom Parke of Freehold Borough came to the clinic to watch his son, Matthew, 8, play basketball. This is the first year Matthew has attended the clinic and Parke said he loved it.

"He had such a great time yesterday, he couldn’t wait to get back to it again today," Parke said.

Sherry Ferrick of Marlboro, mother of Brandon, 10, and Adam, 7, said the hoops clinic was "awesome" and that her children were having a wonderful time.

"Every year we offer kids something positive to do during the two-day teachers convention in November. We are also very glad there are quite a few folks who are interested in the well-being of kids," O’Neal said, referring to the adult and teenage coaches. "The children all had a great time. They came early and stayed late. We always consider an event a success when kids have a good time."