FORT SILL, Oklahoma (Aug. 9, 2018) -- Coaches with the Oklahoma City Thunder Youth Basketball Program conducted a clinic for Fort Sill children Aug. 2, at the Youth Center here.
The free, hour-long clinic taught basketball fundamentals, but also emphasized team building, said Michelle Matthews, Thunder Youth Basketball Program manager.
"We have an on-court mantra of kids playing with HEART: Hard work, Encouragement, positive Attitude, Respect, and Teamwork," she said. "We feel that has as much weight on the court as it does off the court.
"If kids go through life and giving it their all, being respectful, and have a positive attitude, then good things will happen; same thing on the court," said Matthews, who played collegiate basketball at Oklahoma Wesleyan University in Bartlesville.
The clinic accepted children ages 8 to 18, who were registered with Child and Youth Services (CYS), and limited itself to 70 participants, said Brooke Wilson, CYS Outreach director.
"It was something new to get them out of the house for a fitness activity," Wilson said. "The kids were excited because it was the Thunder."
She noted that the event was filled within two weeks from the date registration opened.
Coaches split children into groups by age: 8-9; 10-11; 12-14; and 15-18. Several coaches put the children through a series of drills, including ball handling, shooting, agility, footwork, and defense.
Courtney Thompson, 12, a MacArthur Middle School sixth-grader, was among the athletes who participated in the clinic.
"It was cool," said Thompson, "meeting everybody, having fun and bonding with other people."
Staff Sgt. Elizabeth Kleimola, Fort Sill Dental Activity acting first sergeant, signed up her son, Paul, 11, for the clinic. She was one of the dozens of parents who watched the clinic from the bleachers.
"He's really into basketball, so I thought it would be a really nice event for him to attend and get some physical activity," Kleimola said. "It was awesome, especially how the kids were in their age group, so no one would be a lot larger than the others kids."
Fort Sill is one of 20 camps the coaches conduct over the summer throughout the region, Matthews said. They were going to hold a clinic the next day at the Lawton Family YMCA, and have been at Fort Riley, Kan., and at Tinker Air Force Base, Okla.
"We trying to give back to the community, that we are," she said.
Coaches high-fived and shouted words of encouragement during the drills. Signs with the HEART themes were strategically placed at the corners of the basketball courts.
"We look for coaches who carry that good character on their shoulders, front and back," said Matthews.
Matthews said the clinic was for the children to enjoy basketball.
"We'd like to see a little bit more confidence when they leave the gym, a little more self-awareness," she said. "We want them to say: 'Hey, this is something I can do, this sport is fun, and I'll continue playing.'"
Wilson said CYS is looking to conduct another basketball camp with the Thunder and include younger children.
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