We love the holidays here at NBC Camps. We want to help you find great gifts for the people you love. We believe one of the best gifts you can give is a week at NBC Camps including Intensity Station, amazing staff, an encouraging environment, a reinforcement of values like respect, gratitude, hard work, integrity, goal setting, mental toughness, grit, and faith.
More than ever before, we need to help our youth become unshakable people of skill and character. We promise to do our best to make this the best summer in our history. Give the gift of transformation this Christmas: a week at NBC Camps.
Dare to Be Great!

SPECIAL HOLIDAY OFFER
If you sign up before December 12th for camp, with a $150 deposit or full payment, not only will you get camp at last year's price, you can pay only $5 for our ($24.95 retail price) Pure Shooting DVD. We will mail you the DVD and an NBC Certificate for you to wrap for the ultimate present.

SLM-- CAMP SCHOLARSHIPS
Thanks to generous supporters, Sports Leadership Ministries has provided camp scholarships to hundreds of individuals who could not otherwise afford such an opportunity. Did you know that despite the portrayal of the current economy, people are still faithfully giving to worthy causes? Impacting our youth is indeed worthy! See what Abby said about this summer..."Everything I've learned is making such an impact on my life. From the friends I choose to hang with, to my attitude on the court. Thank you NBC Camps for giving me the opportunity to be the best I can be."
Please help us continue to be a blessing to families by financially supporting SLM. All donations are tax deductible and can be mailed to Sports Leadership Ministries, 10003 N. Division, Suite 100, Spokane, WA, 99218. Learn more about SLM endeavors and volunteer opportunities at www.sportsleadershipministries.org.

Clinic update

If you attended one of my initial clinics you may be eligible to attend this clinic at no charge for the clinic!

You can come to the Crowell Clinic October 31, November 1, and November 2 at no charge if you paid in full the $495 price of the original clinics and if you bring one full paying coach with you to this clinic. If you paid $395 or less (as many coaches paid), then you pay the difference. For example, if you paid $395, then you can pay $100 and bring a fellow coach.

If you have questions or would like to discuss any details of the clinic, please feel free to contact me. I look forward to seeing you.



Fred Crowell
Founder/President of NBC Camps
America's Finest Sports & Life Skills Camp

"When you refer us to others, you give us the privilege of changing lives in a challenging world."


Details of 2008 Crowell's Coaching Clinic in Spokane, WA:
http://www.nbccamps.com/camps/basket_ball/camp_sub/crowell.htm


If you are registering and paying full price you can register here: http://www.ussportscamps.com/Camp.aspx?camptype=1&camp=4555&sport=NBCC&vendor=9&sportno=5


If you qualify for a reduced or complimentary tuition, please call to register 1-800-406-3926, ext #1

The Player-Centered Approach
by Coach Linda Calaicone, New York City, NY

"I'll play volleyball because it's a lot less running than cross-country and it's easier than soccer." This was a common philosophy in the minds of the volleyball players at my current school. In 2006, when I accepted the job as Head Varsity Volleyball Coach at Columbia Preparatory School in New York City, it was quite a different environment compared to where I had been. In the early 2000's, I had the opportunity to assist a State-Ranked team full of young women whose dedication was so strong it was almost tangible. Needless to say, 2006 brought some new obstacles I wasn't quite used to encountering.

Over the past 3 seasons I've searched for ways to have CP volleyball players refocus their drive to participate, increase their desire to play, and take pride in what they put they energy into. But how? How can I get them to want to be there, to want to play the sport, to want the camaraderie of their teammates and to want to learn and improve themselves? The August 2008 Issues of JOPERD (The Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance, Volume 79 No. 6) featured an article by Adriano DeSouza and Judy Oslin called "A Player-Centered Approach To Coaching." DeSouza and Oslin cite a myriad of research findings that support a less "Coach-Centered Approach" (CCA) to coaching and more "Player-Centered Approach" (PCA). They state that a PCA could increase your players' court engagement, communication, competence and motivation (pgs. 24 & 25). Well it was worth a shot!

The primary focus of PCA is to have players take an active role in the decision making process - less lip service from coach and more on-court critical thinking from players. DeSouza and Oslin provided tables, outlines and templates for a PCA season (which could be adapted to suit other sports). They encourage creating a safe environment for all players to share their input, even providing a "post-practice questionnaire" (pg. 27) to cultivate more authentic, relevant and realistic team assessment.

We as coaches, try not to constantly dictate when a drill will end. Coaches explain the drill, and then players start. Once the team is performing the drill with some consistency, an ending goal is decided. We, as a team, know that we can move onto a new drill; once we have performed all aspects of the current drill a specific, agreed-upon, number of successful repetitions. They count out-loud, each play that they think is successful. If the team doesn't consider it a successful repetition, the team figures out how to fix it and continues. In this simple transfer of decision-making, the team has learned to hold themselves, and each other accountable for the team's improvement. More importantly, they've raised their expectations and have begun redefining our definition of "success."

Be That Girl
by NBC Volleyball Director Christy Swagerty-Vilas, San Diego, CA

Let's finish your high school season and start your club season by being a great teammate. Sure, we all love volleyball and we all like at least some of our teammates. But imagine your team differently; add to that group of 8-15 girls a catalyst who drives forward to make herself better by making her teammates better.
At the Anchorage camp this summer, Coach "Lars" gave the campers and coaches the "Morning Word of Wisdom" (MWOW) on the final day of camp. She challenged all of us to "be that girl." What girl was she talking about? It was that girl who always gave her best, that girl who everybody loved, that girl who was the best teammate -- regardless of how good she was or wasn't at volleyball.

There are three great ways to "be that girl" on your team this year. The first is through RESPECT. Respecting your teammate is done through your actions. Think about your facial expressions and body language after a teammate makes a mistake. Do you look or act frustrated then try to take over for them? Or do you respect their position and ability by supporting them in the next play? When we respect our teammates as people, we will also eliminate the team killers like gossip, frustration with others, and rudeness.

Start today: one way to show respect is through listening.

The second way is through APPRECIATION. Think about who your friends are for a moment. Are you friends with people who appreciate you or people who don't like you very much? Most of us would say we had appreciative friends. People like to be appreciated, and we all know we can find at least one thing, if not many, in others to appreciate. Find the positive in everyone and tell them you have found it. Only good things can happen if we make "spotlighting" a regular part of our team culture. Talk to your coaches or team captains about including spotlighting weekly and/or after games.

Start today: one way to show appreciation is through kindness.

The final key to being "that girl" is through COMMUNICATION. One thing coaches always find themselves saying to their teams is, "Talk more!" Volleyball players can never talk enough on the court, yet some of us know we hardly speak once we start playing. There is no need to yell or bark at your teammates, however, it is crucial to your team's success that you speak clearly and sensibly whether you are on or off the court. There is always something to say: call the ball "in" or "out," where the other team is hitting from (outside, right side, middle, back row), where your hitters should hit to (line, angle, tip), regular reminders (cover, defensive base, how the other team's server hits the ball), and all the in between encouragements to teammates. Players who communicate well will get noticed by teammates and coaches and will "be that girl."

Start today: one way to better your communication is through eye contact.

A special thanks to Coach Lauren LeQuire (Coach "Lars") from the Anchorage, Alaska camp for the whole idea of "that girl" and being an inspiration to us all (go Aggies!). NBC Volleyball hopes you finish and start your seasons strong and we see "that girl" at camp in summer 2009.

If you're interested in a basketball program that's more than just a supervised open gym time, a program that cares about teaching life skills while it teaches basketball, check out Varsity Academy D3.
Division 3 is a program for kids who enjoy basketball, want to have fun and meet new friends. We will challenge the kids to work hard, play with intensity, and have a great attitude. Skill development and quality instruction mixed with fun and games makes for a unique experience and an atmosphere where kids will learn

Age Boys and Girls ages 6 to 9
Dates TUESDAYS ONLY
November 11, 18, 25, 2008
Location and Times Tuesdays 4:00-5:30 pm
The Warehouse 800 N. Hamilton
Cost $60
Click here for flier
includes all 3 gym times and t-shirt
What to Bring BasketballBasketball shoes and clothingWater BottleMedical Release completedDownload at: http://nbccamps.com/pdfs/Med_waiver1.pdf

NBC Camps is proud to announce the opening of Varsity Academy Alaska, NBC Camps year round basketball training program available now in the great state of Alaska. Beginning Oct. 19th at the AT&T Sports Center, athletes in the Matsu Valley and Anchorage area will have an amazing opportunity to improve their skills in an environment of encouragement and excitement. Staff for this includes Jon Coon 1st team All-State and McDonald's Honorable Mention All-American and assistant coach at Colony High as well as Chandice Cronk, a Wasilla HS Grad and 04 Gatorade Player of the Year, Two time All-Conference at Santa Clara.

For more details about this great program visit www.nbccamps.com/va

For a flyer click here.

To register go to nbccamps.com/register or call 1-800-406-3926

Coach T Shout Out---Born Confident

With basketball season officially underway soon, I sincerely hope that over the summer you challenged yourself athletically and took time to dig a little deeper to discover who God wants you to be on & off the court.You've heard the expression "natural-born leader", but are characteristics like leadership and confidence really in our DNA from birth? Some people even mistakenly associate the term confidence with arrogance or cocky. In my opinion, confidence should invoke a much more positive connotation, and my friend and former WNBA colleague, Lynn Barry would agree. Lynn is a basketball aficionado, William & Mary Hall of Famer, Academic All-American Hall of Famer, former assistant director of USA women's basketball, wife and mother who's advice is worth reading about...
Confidence... Is it in you?

by Lynn Barry

When the game is on the line, do you want the ball in your hands or are you more likely to defer to someone else? When you walk into a room of strangers, do you introduce yourself to the group or do you head straight for the corner and hope no one saw you come in? Do you welcome the challenge of a difficult test at school or do you find yourself paralyzed with fear because you are not prepared? Athletically, socially, and academically, confidence is important for success. Webster's dictionary defines confidence as "belief in one's abilities; the fact of being or feeling certain; assurance."


How can you gain belief in your abilities? How can you become more confident? Is confidence something you are born with or can you develop confidence on your own? Preparation and practice are two ways to gain confidence. Preparing yourself properly for situations that you might encounter in sports, academics, or social environments can help you meet those conditions with added poise and self-assurance. Preparation can be mental, physical and even spiritual. Going over situations in your mind and coming up with possible ways that you might respond could be a way of preparing mentally. Praying to God for strength, self-confidence and peace of mind as you handle certain circumstances can be reassuring.


Finally, physical preparation, especially where sports are concerned, can be tantamount to achieving confidence in any situation you face. Physical preparation means practice, repetition, goal setting, dedication, determination, focus...all the things you have heard over and over for your entire life. Now you must decide how important these things are to you. You must believe that these qualities, attributes and work habits will make your dreams come true. To gain confidence in your abilities as an athlete, you must be willing to put the hours of practice in that are necessary to give you a level of comfort in any situation or critical game environment.

Practice means working on your skills until they are automatic, testing your talents against worthy opponents, taking the instructions that your coaches are giving you seriously, and taking the time to do a little extra work when everyone else has gone home. For example, do you stay after practice and shoot 100 free throws? Do you do the Chapter Test and the Chapter Review in your Math book before a test, even though the teacher didn't assign it? Do you practice in the mirror introducing yourself to others and offering them a firm handshake and a smile?


Performing with confidence in pressure-filled situations can become easier with practice. My husband is Basketball Hall of Famer Rick Barry. He won an NBA championship, was the championship series MVP, and was voted as one of the 50 greatest NBA players ever. He is convinced that pressure does not exist in game situations if you are confident in your abilities. If anything, confidence makes you thrive in tough situations. You want the ball because you believe that you can excel. You are confident in your ability to make the big play and are willing to take the chance that you can make it happen. Rick gets very upset when sports broadcasters say that an athlete "has a lot of pressure" on them. He believes there is no pressure if they are confident in their abilities. The situation that they are being asked to perform in is "critical", but with confidence, pressure does not exist. You welcome these opportunities as chances to excel, not situations to fail. Of, course the minute your confidence starts to waver; you will feel the weight of the world on your shoulders! A great athlete who is confident in her abilities, doesn't feel pressure, she feels excitement about the opportunity to put the long hours of training and preparation into effect. A prepared, confident athlete does not feel pressure, athletically, academically or socially. Is it in you?


What sound wisdom to reflect upon from Lynn Barry! Remember to check out http://www.nbccamps.com/ often for more sound advice for "Girls Only" and remember that I welcome your questions or a personal shout out anytime at tellisward@nbccamps.com.


Heart, Soul & Sport,
Coach T
Director of Women's Basketball & Whitworth Site Director
October 2008

Sports Leadership Ministries proudly presents a valuable, self-investment opportunity for you to be challenged and inspired this fall. This year's seminar, featuring NBC Camps Founder & President, Fred Crowell, will be held Wednesday, November 19, 11:30 AM--1:00 PM at the Davenport Hotel. 10 S. Post Street, Spokane WA. Bring a friend, co-worker, relative! Tickets are $30 per person, payable in advance or at check-in by cash, check or credit card. Please contact Gail Wright at 509-232-6490 to reserve your seat no later than November 14.

NBC Camps is offering a discount for 5 or more registrations. These registrations can be for family, friends, or someone attending multiple camps. If you can collect five or more registrations, you will receive $10 discount per registration. This money can be applied to each registration or to one person or divided accordingly. To receive this discount, all registrations must be mailed in one packet to the NBC Camps Central office at
NBC Camps
10003 N. Division Suite 100
Spokane, WA 99218

Click here and print out this form. Mail it in and save! There is no limit on the amount of registrations that may be collected. This discount may also be used in conjunction with the Early Bird Discount.

Come to camp in 2009 for last year's price. Anyone who signs up for camp with a full payment or a deposit of $150 may attend for the cost of last year's price. Sign up by January 16th and save! Also, if you sign up by December 12, we will mail you a certificate to wrap for under the tree for Christmas.

NBC Camps is offering a volleyball clinic for beginner and intermediate players ages 8-13 at the Warehouse in Spokane on October 25th from 6:00-9:00. Led by NBC Camps' much loved volleyball directors Jamie Smart and Doris Norris, this is an event not to miss. Get ready for your club team or your volleyball season with a morning of skills and drills that will motivate you. Cost is $39 per person. Register online or call 466-4690 to register by phone.

Click here for clinic flyer

Please note the clinic has been changed from 9:00-12:00 to 6:00-9:00 pm.

NBC Camps is excited about offering a National traveling team tour--Male/Female (ages 14-19) to the East Coast or Midwest. This will include games, skills instruction, sight seeing and homestays. A perfect opportunity for athletes who want to experience a travel team together with the values and amazing staff NBC Camps offers

If you are interested in this travel team experience, please contact Tour Director Bonnie Tucker at bonnie@nbccamps.com.

NBC CAMPS is proud to present The Crowell Coaching Clinic beginning November 1st at 9:00 am. There is an optional day starting on Oct.31 which includes watching Tony Bennett's practice at WSU.

Optional Day: October 31 Friday Noon
Arrive Ramada Inn-Spokane Airport
Philosophy of Basketball-Fred Crowell
WSU Men's Basketball Practice-- Pullman
(Watch-Observe-Learn the Tony Bennett System)

November 1 (Saturday) 9:00 a.m.
Clinic at Whitworth University
System of Basketball-- Coach Jim Hayford
Lunch with Hayford and Staff

Afternoon with NBC Staff
Fred Crowell presents:
9 most important Individual skills to teach your players.
Coaching 3 most important factors during the game!
Coaching how to make basketball's most important statistic "The Foul" work for you.
Creating opportunity and making free throws.

BONUS SESSION
The philosophy of basketball:
--teaching your players how to live above the line.
Presentations brought to you by Dr. Shann and Jennifer Ferch

Amazing ALL YOU CAN EAT BBQ
You won't want to miss this

Sunday 9-11 am
Optional Inspiration time
Place to be announced

Cost for entire weekend which includes Saturday lunch and Saturday BBQ
Cost for one person-$275, cost for two $25.00 and for three is $600.00
(No charge for the fourth person in your group)
(Coaching clock hours available)

Register by October 20th and receive an NBC t-Shirt
Please contact:
Diane Biglin at (509) 466-4690 (800) 406-3926 x 0