LIVERPOOL – With spring right around the corner, Liverpool’s youth basketball spring session will soon be starting.
The program is set to kick off at South Queens Middle School April 8.
Amanda Fisher, vice-president of the Queens County Basketball Association, says this is the fourth consecutive year the spring program has been offered in South Queens.
Coaches will include Gerry Faber, Chris Folk, Owen Charlton and Ben Hatt (a youth volunteer coach).
Fisher says the coaching staff is fantastic.
“Gerry Faber works incredibly hard to deliver this program. I credit Gerry for getting this program off the ground and keeping it going,” she said in an email. “Chris Folk has stepped in this year, which is fantastic.”
Chris’ partner, Julie Folk, has taken over registration.
Hatt has been with the program since it began, said Fisher, and has been wonderful.
“He has a strong grasp of the game and the kids love him,” she said.
Fisher said the association is always looking for more volunteers.
Why join?
Fisher encourages children and youth to come out and give the program a try. The focus, she says, is skill development. Children and youth will learn the game’s fundamentals and have fun.
The program follows a consistent format, said Fisher. The hour starts with a welcome and chat about the skills everyone will learn that day. Next, there’s a warm up, progressive skill development and a cool down. The hour ends with another chat and a cheer.
“Basketball is a fun sport whether you play competitively or recreationally. It’s a sport that doesn’t cost as much as some others,” said Fisher.
“As a team sport, you learn so many valuable lessons about leadership, communication and teamwork. These are skills that extend beyond the hardwood court to everyday life.”
About
“The Queens County Basketball Association recognized the need for a youth basketball program in the Liverpool area,” said Fisher about how the program began. “We were able to find qualified volunteers for the Steve Nash Youth Development program and also our own program.”
Fisher says it’s important for the Liverpool area to have a program like this. She describes basketball as a great sport that children and youth should have the opportunity to learn and play.
“There is a long history of participation and success in basketball here in Queens,” she added. “The response from the community has been amazing.”
The session for five- to seven-year-olds will take place from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., and the session for eight- to 12-year-olds will run from 12 to 1 p.m. The cost is $50 and people can register their children on site from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on April 8.
At the end of the season, children and youth will get a basketball. The season will wrap up in June.
To learn more about the Queens County Basketball Association, visit https://www.facebook.com/qcbasketball/?fref=nf.
