Article Contributed on: 1/4/2009 6:56:40 PM
On January 2, 2009, Athletics & Beyond held its Winter Break Youth Basketball clinic at the Montbello Recreation Center for over 75 at-risk youth. Montbello Warriors basketball Coach,
David Carey facilitated the clinic as well as members of the Warriors varsity coaching staff. Players from the Montbello Warriors and Denver East basketball teams lead kids through drills. A&B's first group of high school student athletes assisted as coaches and mentors. As student representatives for A&B they are required to volunteer and give back to their community. Clinic participants came not only from the Montbello area, but also from Aurora, Centennial, Parker, Littleton and even as far away as Texas.
The clinic, open to boys and girls from ages 6 to14, focused on the fundamentals of the game of basketball (team work, defense, dribbling, shooting and rebounding). Denver Nuggets Community Ambassadors
Walter Davis and
Erving Johnson signed autographs and talked to clinic participants about the importance of getting an education and expanding their options beyond sports. Kids participated in a healthy eating presentation from
Grace White. The highlight of her presentation was the making of healthy smoothies participants were able to sample. Denver Nuggets, PA Announcer,
Kyle Speller, spoke about how he utilized his voice to explore other options when basketball didn't work out. Speller shared his life story stating he had originally wanted to be a professional basketball player.
The clinic ended with 5 on 5 basketball games and Speller as emcee for the slam dunk contests featuring players from the Montbello basketball team. Clinic participants received t-shirts, autographed cards, certificates and Denver Nuggets game vouchers.
The 2009 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, King Soopers (6th & Peoria), Martin Paralegal Services LLC 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.
Visit www.athleticsandbeyond.com for more information on our program and future soccer, baseball, football and life skills workshops.