Article Contributed on: 1/8/2008 9:43:27 PM
Montbello High School Coach
David Carey and members of the Montbello Warriors basketball team facilitated a clinic for almost one hundred at-risk youth on January 2nd and 3rd at the Montbello Recreation Center. Clinic participants came not only from the Montbello area, but also from Aurora, Centennial, Parker, and even as far away as California and Florida.
The clinic, open to boys and girls from ages 9 to 14, focused on the fundamentals of the game of basketball (defense, dribbling, shooting and rebounding). The clinic ended with a three-point shootout on Wednesday and a Slam Dunk contest (rims lowered to 6 feet) on Thursday.
Clinic participants received certificates and Denver Nuggets game vouchers, as well as other promotional items. Winners of the slam- dunk and 3-point shootout contests also received trophies, basketballs, and other items.
Seven-time CHSAA Basketball Championship Coach, Rudy Carey from East High School, and Denver Nuggets PA Announcer, Kyle Speller, spoke with clinic participants about life skills such as respect, attitude, determination, and goal setting. Speller shared his life story, telling clinic participants that he had originally wanted to be a professional basketball player, but had then needed to consider at his talents and explores other options when basketball didn't work out. Speller also acted as emcee for the three-point and slam dunk contests.
The 2008 Winter Break Athletics & Beyond Youth Basketball Clinic was sponsored by Athletics and Beyond, in collaboration with Denver Parks & Recreation (Montbello Recreation Center), Montbello High School and KSG Enterprise. The goal of Athletics and Beyond is to keep at risk youth involved with activities to help better themselves by promoting health, gamesmanship, education and work ethic.
Please visit
www.athleticsandbeyond.com for information on future soccer, baseball, football and life skills workshops.