Summer sports camps get kids moving

Counselor Mark Jackson '06 referees a game of pillow polo.

asketball, football, tennis, soccer, even archery and cricket--participants in University sports camps this summer can take their pick from these and other sports offered through the Department of Athletics and Recreation. Directed by University coaches, the weeklong camps give youth ages 9 to 18 a chance to sharpen their skills in a specific sport or simply have a great time socializing and staying active.

"The camps offer kids the opportunity to learn more about a specific sport in a healthy, active environment," says Jane Possee, associate director of recreation. "And it's also a chance for young people to get exposure to the college environment in a well-supervised program."

In addition to the specialized, single-sport camps, the University offers an instructional all-sports camp, led this year by Barbara Hartwig, coach of women's track and cross country. A longstanding tradition on campus, the camp features a creative mix of activities such as Frisbee golf, hockey parachute games, and team handball that are designed to be fun and healthy and to emphasize the importance of teamwork.

More than 1,100 young people are participating in this summer's camps, and with a student-instructor ratio of 8-to-1, Possee says parents can feel comfortable, knowing that their children are getting in-depth instruction.

While many programs such as tennis and boy's basketball grew this year, the soccer camp has been an increasingly popular choice in recent years. Offering sessions for both boys and girls, the camp teaches the basic technical skills of passing, dribbling, and footwork as well as tactical skills for offense and defense. Men's soccer coach Chris Apple, who instructed the boy's session this year, says that the camp benefits not only the participants but the University as well by giving a higher profile to the sports programs offered on campus.

Possee encourages faculty and staff to consider sending their own children or grandchildren to the camps. "I always tell employees that the camps make great holiday gifts for those athletic kids or grandkids in the family," adds Possee.

Registration for next summer's camps begins in early spring. To learn more, visit www.rochester.edu/living/athletics/camps/index.html.

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