NBC Camps Year Round Basketball training is the perfect way to have the best season of your life. This year, get ready with our three levels of training. D1-- High School elite is Varsity Academy's training for high school athletes. D2- is training for athletes age 9-13. Because this group is varied in skill break out sessions based on ability will be available. D1-- for athletes ages 6-9 helps give young athletes the best skills at a young age.

Training is available in the state of Washington in Puyallup, Spokane, Walla Walla, and Yakima. In Canada the training is available in Alberta in the cities of Calgary, Lethbridge and Sherwood Park.

For more information about this amazing program visit www.varsityacademy.com or www.nbccamps.com/va for more details.

NBC Camps offers year round basketball instruction in Washington and Alberta called Varsity Academy. Cities include Spokane, Yakima, Walla Walla, and Puyallup and in Alberta, Lethbridge, Calgary and Sherwood Park (Edmonton). Varsity Academy has three divisions. D1 is the High school elite program for freshmen-senior grades (ages 14-18) D2 is our division for those ages 9-13. D3, only available in Spokane, is for young athletes ages 6-9.

For more information about Varsity Academy visit www.varsityacademy.com for complete details including registration.

Visit the latest NBC Camp site blog at www.nbcwhitworth.blogspot.com
Check out the latest camp schedule, award winners, and more.

Be sure to visit our blogs at Rocky Mountain College in Billings, Montana at www.nbcrmc.blogspot.com
Our Alaska Pacific University camp blog spot at www.nbcapu.blogspot.com
and our Pacific Union College in Angwin, California at www.nbcpuc.blogspot.com

NBC Campers from Italy are having a fantastic tour in the United States. NBC Italy director Timos Phillipou, his lovely wife Maria and son and daughter are showing a team of Italian campers the Pacific Northwest. They began their tour in Seattle with a visit to the Native American village and downtown Seattle. They came across the state to visit NBC Camps at Whitworth University and the North Idaho Camp in Coeur d' Alene. They plan to visit Portland and also to see Disneyland in Southern California. The boys were selected from the NBC Camps in Rome to tour the US for cultural experience.

NBC Camps founder and president, Fred Crowell shares in this video his passion for what you need this summer to become the best basketball player you can. Summer is the time to dramatically improve your basketball skills. NBC Camps is worth the investment you need to make if you want to be a basketball player. Check out what Fred Crowell has to say about reaching your dreams.

Sports Leadership Ministries, a 501 (c) (3) public charity in Spokane, WA, recently received a $5,000 corporate contribution from AXA Advisors, a financial consulting corporation. AXA helped sponsor a free basketball clinic in April at Lincoln High School in Lincoln, CA. The monies will also go towards summer camp scholarships for NBC Basketball Camps; specifically its sites at William Jessup University in June and Pacific Union College in July. These two NBC Camps sites are directed by Brett Lewis and Erik Carlson, and the camps are intended for boys and girls ages 8-18.

The clinic and camps will help fulfill the mission of Sports Leadership Ministries and impact the lives of many campers. SLM is designed to create unique opportunities to impact both the youth and adult world through the avenue of sports in a positive way. SLM believes that competitive athletics can teach important life lessons necessary for corporate and individual success. Even the poor student, the lazy worker, the disrespectful child, the gang member, suicidal behavior, drug addiction, and a host of other potential social problems can be successfully addressed through the avenue of sports.

For more information regarding corporate or individual contributions, please call SLM at (509) 232-6490 or email tellisward@nbccamps.com. For more information regarding the two camp sites, see www.nbccamps.com.

Coach T
Shout Out

Professional Advice

I can hardly believe that it's been nearly one year since I started as the new Director of Women's Basketball at NBC Camps. One awesome initiative underway is the formation of a Women's Basketball Advisory Board. This group of knowledgeable individuals will periodically provide useful basketball tips, encouragement and insight specifically meant for YOU! This month, I am ecstatic to unveil words of wisdom from a tremendous professional athlete --WNBA veteran & Gold Medal Olympian, Ruth Riley! Check out what she has to say...

What Coaches Look for in Great Players, by Ruth Riley

Looking back on my basketball journey I often wonder, what did college recruits really see in me? Growing up, I have always been tall, but quite honestly my coordination and skills came a lot later in life. I have always wondered, what made them pursue me when I knew that was so far from great? As I reflect on the different teams I have played on, from college, to the pros, to the Olympics here are a few thoughts I have about what coaches really look for and value in players.

When it comes to young players, coaches evaluate their immediate skill level: shooting, passing, decision-making, dribbling, etc. With the rare exceptions of players like Candace Parker, with remarkable skill level at a young age, coaches are more interested in POTENTIAL! It is not necessarily about the player they see you are, but rather the player they think they can help you become. You must keep in mind that potential can accomplish nothing on its own (We all have the potential for some form of greatness),the player must also be hard-working, and have a coachable attitude. Over the years I have seen many players with good skills and an amazing amount of potential become average players at best, because they didn't want to work on their game or they didn't respect what their coaches were telling them. I have just started my 8th year in the WNBA and I am still working to improve my game!

I am blessed to play everyday against the best basketball players in the world. If you look at every roster in the league, you will see the names of a couple players who definitely aren't the most talented players, but who work extremely hard, are constantly improving their game, and have a great attitude. If your dream is to play basketball in college or in the WNBA and you don't think you are good enough, don't be discouraged. My point-guard, Becky Hammon is a perfect example of someone who has overcome an unbelievable amount of adversity to be successful! At 5'6",people have said that she is too small, that she isn't quick enough, but she didn't let that stop her. She wasn't drafted in the WNBA, worked her way on a team, didn't play much for her first few years in the league, and is coming off an MVP type season last year!!

Greatness can be achieved by anyone who has the right attitude, is willing to be coachable, who works hard, and never stops believing in themselves!!

What valuable insight from Ruth! Remember to check out http://www.nbccamps.com/ often to hear more from the advisory board and don't forget to email me at tellisward@nbccamps.com anytime with questions or your own shout out!

Coach T
Director of Women's Basketball
& Whitworth Site Director
June