While some spend their summer playing video games, laying on the beach, and going on family vacations, others dedicate their time and effort to improving their basketball skills.
July 6 marked the first day for Coach Dan Fife’s annual Fife Basketball Camp, which he began in the summer of 1996. The first week was for boys in grades 4-6. The youngsters gathered at Clarkston High School’s gym Monday through Thursday to work on the fundamentals of the game.
Former varsity basketball players, including Oliver Kupe, John Kast, and Julius Porter, attended the camp, along with current varsity players and coaches to assist and coach.
‘I pick each kid individually for my coaching staff,” Fife said. “I like to get the college kids to come back and coach, so that the little kids can see what they can become and set their goals early.?
Each day started off with the boys going to a different station, which included specific drills on dribbling, shooting, and defense. Here, coaches could work more personally with a small group of kids to practice critical aspects of the game and help them improve on their skills.
‘I like to stress the importance of rebounding, defense, and trusting your teammates. If they can do that, the points will come,? said Porter, in his fourth year working as a coach.
However, Porter doesn’t look at it as just a coaching job, but more as a chance to build relationships with the kids, as he knows they all look up to the players.
‘This gives me a chance to be a role-model to the boys and really give them a chance to be a part of the legacy that is Clarkston basketball,” he said. “Everyone is chasing one goal, and that is to make the varsity squad. It’s cool to know that I could aid them in fulfilling that aspiration.?
At the end of the week, players participated in a fun, but competitive tournament, in which six teams competed for the title of champion.
After the final game of the playoff, Fife had all the kids gather around him for a trophy presentation and motivational speech.
Fife stressed the importance of practicing basketball over playing video games or watching television. He encouraged them to stay active, both with basketball and other sports, and to work hard inside and outside of the gym, especially on dribbling, because ‘we can never have enough point guards.?
After a full week of basketball, Fife looks ahead to next weeks? group of guys. On Monday, July 13, grade 7-9 boys take over the gym.
‘Expectations change next week and their will be more intense practices. The older guys need to play basketball longer and we need to get them moving,? Fife said. “The boys should expect a tough week as they will not only put in over 33 hours of drills and scrimmages, but they will also come into the gym for an extra day of practice on Friday.”
So what is Coach Fife’s secret to keeping all of those teenagers motivated?
‘I like to reward kids who work hard, so all week I have them work towards the MVP, hustle award, and other smaller awards that give a chance for players to win trophies or basketballs.?
A summer of basketball wouldn’t be complete if Fife didn’t also focus on his upcoming year with the varsity squad. Previous to Fife Camp, Fife took candidates for his upcoming varsity team to the University of Michigan basketball clinic to play other teams from around Michigan.
‘It gives the boys a chance to work hard and see what they need to improve on. We’re going to be a young team next year and they need to know what it takes,? Fife said.
Clarkston’s success in basketball comes from dedication of players, coaches, and parents, all of whom ‘make Clarkston such a great athletic community,” he said.