DUBOIS – Some area children recently had the chance to build a foundation for athleticism and sportsmanship under the direction of a championship winning basketball coach. Head Coach David Bennett led the Penn State DuBois basketball team to their first PSUAC Championship last season. This month, he’s leading youngsters on a path to the life-long enjoyment of athletics.
Approximately 115 children participated in Basketball Camp at Penn State DuBois June 18 through June 21. The four-day camp hosted a morning group for children grades one to four, and an afternoon session for fifth through eight graders. In addition to Coach Bennett, players from the Penn State DuBois basket ball team also coached the campers.
“It’s never too early to stress fundamentals,” said Bennett, noting that the basics of basketball are the main focus of the camp. “Shooting, passing and ball handling are a big part of what we teach the kids,” he added. “It’s important because it gets kids interested and involved at an early age.”
Bennett hopes that the interest the young players discover here will stick with them, and that one day some of them might return to play on the Penn State DuBois Basketball team. But, it’s not just talent on the court that Bennett hopes to instill in the camp participants. He says becoming involved in athletics at a young age can also help to build character, and start kids on the right path in life. He believes lessons in sportsmanship and discipline learned on the hardwood can be valuable as these children pursue an education, and even a career. As Bennett said, the camp’s purpose is to “create a positive, fun atmosphere and give them the fundamentals they can improve upon on they’re own throughout life.”