basketball match

Community Education will once again offer specialized training for senior and junior basketball players this summer. The Senior Basketball Camp will take place Aug. 3-5 for ages 13-18; the Junior Basketball Camp will be held Aug. 6-8 for ages 9-12. Whether it’s shooting, dribbling, ball handling or defensive/offensive strategies, these week-long camps will provide young basketball enthusiasts with the ultimate on-the-court experience. “In addition to practicing skills, participants will also learn about team cooperation and the value of hard work,” says Marilyn Forward, program developer at Community Education. Peter Benoite, head coach of Memorial’s Sea-Hawks men's basketball team, will coach this year’s basketball camps. Mr. Benoite took up the head coaching position with the Sea-Hawks after serving as an assistant coach with both the women's team (1999-2000) and the men's team (2005-2007). He also excelled as a student-athlete during his five years with the Sea-Hawks (1993-1998), leading the team to its best ever record of 16-4 in the 1996-97 season. Mr. Benoite brings a diverse coaching background to Grenfell’s camps. In addition to his time as an assistant, he has served as the head coach of the TG Renasas Landshut U20 Team in Germany, where he played professionally from 2003-2005. Certified as a NCCP Level III coach, he has also served on the coaching staff of the Newfoundland and Labrador Basketball Association's (NLBA) provincial Under-15 and Juvenile programs, and with a number of school teams. “These camps will be very inclusive,” said Mr. Benoite. “We’ll be working with youth with a broad range of skill levels, but the kids will progress at their own pace. We want to see them perform well, but we want them to enjoy themselves too.” Both Junior and Senior Basketball Camps are scheduled for three days (9 a.m.-5 p.m.). Senior (ages 13-18) is Monday to Wednesday, Aug. 3-5 and Junior (ages 9-12) is Thursday to Saturday, Aug. 6-8.