Heidi Schneider, a four-year Ansonia High School basketball player, was encouraged to pursue the sport after attending a basketball camp in Derby when she was in 5th grade.
But there was nothing like that program in Ansonia — until this week.
Ansonia High School Girls Basketball Coach Patrick Lynch launched a free summer basketball camp this week for girls entering 5th through 9th grades in Ansonia, as a way to give the younger girls more exposure to the sport.
“I think this is great for them,” said Schneider, who graduated this year, and came back to help out at the new camp. “When I was little, they didn’t have anything like this.”
The goal, Lynch said, is to increase interest in basketball among girls, and provide another athletic opportunity for them over the summer.
“There’s just not enough girls playing basketball,” he said.
There have been about 18 girls on the varsity and junior varsity basketball teams at Ansonia High School over the past three years, he said.
The interest for the free summer camp was higher: 32 girls signed up.
The camp will run until June 22, but Lynch hopes to expand it in the future.
Next year, he hopes to have several week-long sessions throughout the summer, separating the groups according to age group and skill level.
“They can have 4th through 6th graders one week, then 7th through 9th graders another week. The older group could go a little longer.”
This winter, Lynch is also looking to expand the program. Plans to create an Ansonia/Derby Travel girls basketball team have been in the works for a year.
The idea is to have one team per grade for 5th through 8th grade girls.
Both of the city’s rec departments are behind it, said Lynch.
The Camp
The week-long camp runs from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the Ansonia High School gymnasium.
The day starts with a mini basketball boot camp. The campers run a few laps around the gym, stretch, and sprint.
Smaller exercises are also incorporated into each activity throughout the practice.
“A big part of basketball is being in shape,” Lynch said.
Then, the girls learn basic basketball techniques, including dribbling, passing and layups.
There are nine student counselors who volunteer their time to assist Lynch during the practices, all of whom played on the girls basketball team at the high school.
The counselors run drills with the girls, teach them how to shoot and correct their mistakes.
Role Models
Quanisha Finney, a counselor and one of next year’s captains for the Ansonia High girls basketball team, said she likes to see the girls improving their shooting and passes.
“I like helping little kids,” she said.
Two of the campers are Finney’s younger sisters, Dominique and Jacklyn, who are entering 7th and 6th grade, respectively.
The girls said they watched their older sister playing basketball and thought it was really fun.
Going to the camp has made them want to join the high school basketball team when they get older, Dominique and Jacklyn said.
Lynch believes the counselors’ presence is positive for the girls and gives them “somebody to look up to.”
The camp also has received positive feedback from parents.
Melissa Cook’s daughter, Casey, attends the camp.
“She really likes it,” Cook said. “I think they need more encouragement to get involved in sports.”
Ivy Sanders’ two daughters, Whisper and Ashanti, are also at the camp.
The family recently moved from Seymour, where the girls had been part of the city’s youth basketball team. The minute Sanders heard about this summer camp, she signed both of the girls up.
“It keeps them busy for the summer,” she said. “It’s something positive.”
On the first day of camp, Lynch said parents walked up to him, thanking him for putting the program together. That evening, he also received phone calls from pleased parents. saying how much fun their daughters had on opening day.
Sponsors
The fact that the program is free has spiked even higher interest, Lynch said.
The camp sponsors include Antonio’s Restaurant and Advanced Medical Supplies in Ansonia, and City Stitchers in Derby.
City Stitchers is giving the camp a discount on T‑shirts for the girls.
The shirts will be distributed on the last day of practice, and will read “Future Lady Chargers Camp.”
“Basketball camps are $200 or $300 for a week. Not everybody has the money to pay for these types of things,” Lynch said.
