Little bits about three or four things in the summer camp recreational sports world in Oconee County, Georgia this summer
Sorry to read about the fate of Patrick Cline in the Oconee Enterprise today (not available online) at the pool where he was banned from future Oconee Recreation Department matters. All I know of the seemingly mild-mannered Cline was from Cub Scouts a couple of years ago and soccer for at least four seasons and at the school where his son and my son attend, and he never struck me as the kind of parent or coach to act rashly. I respect any father who comes to the aid of his son, but you can never bump into any official, intentionally or otherwise. To call the Sheriff was a bit silly I think, but Lord knows I have had to call the Sheriff's Department for a few would-be fracases over the years at Herman C. Michael back when I worked there almost twenty years ago (!!!)
I would be willing to have Cline mentor or coach my son if the situation arises in the near future as I do not think I will be coaching soccer in the fall for the Oconee Recreation Department. I might do basketball again in the winter, but right now do not have the energy for soccer and my son is getting well beyond my somewhat limited coaching abilities on the soccer pitch.
My son is certainly talented enough in soccer to have been somewhat recruited by those in the know surrounding the Oconee Futbol Club last spring, but my boy vetoed playing for the traveling team. That was the first soccer season in the twice a year times for playing soccer he had not played for seven or eight seasons, but the break did his basketball jump shot a world of good.
He also did not dig the traveling basketball team at North Oconee HS and was none too keen on the way they tried to make him launch a jump shoot more like Sean Marion with the hands in front of the chest instead of the less blockable over the head. It will be interesting to see how the BB camp at Oconee County High School in a couple of weeks compares to the Athens Academy camp wrapping up tomorrow.
Big thumbs up to Athens Academy and Coach James Banks' summer basketball camp for kids keeping the emphasis on fun and playing the games with the rules like real basketball is in 2009 with fast breaks, three pointers and a clock that is not always running. This would be in big contrast to how Oconee Rec does things for kids in third and fourth grade. What is right for my son is not going to be right for a lot of kids, so do what you feel is best for your kid.
I would urge any summer day camp to have some sort of end of camp session where parents can come watch their progeny perform what they learned the last week. Also the whole ending of the week's camp session on a Thursday (OCHS, NOHS) versus ending on a Friday (for Athens Academy) thing is kind of odd in my humble opinion.
Also the Oconee County regular non-sports day camps need to allow the campers to purchase refreshments when they go on field trips to places like Stone Mountain. It is almost criminal to deny them fluids in the hot summer sun.
I sure hope the Oconee Recreation Department does not jack up the prices of the recreational soccer or football sign-ups for the Fall season as per the recent budget cop out of the Oconee County Board of Commissioners. That would be the best thing that could ever happen to the YWCO and Oconee Futbol Club if the Board of Commissioners directed hike of fees approaches the triple digits of OFC at least. I do not know when the YWCO will be moving their Athens-based soccer out here, but I suspect it will be sooner than later.
Keep working on those jump shots and bicycle kicks, kiddies! Soccer and basketball share a lot of the same footwork and fundamentals, and you can never run fast enough in either sport.
I would be willing to have Cline mentor or coach my son if the situation arises in the near future as I do not think I will be coaching soccer in the fall for the Oconee Recreation Department. I might do basketball again in the winter, but right now do not have the energy for soccer and my son is getting well beyond my somewhat limited coaching abilities on the soccer pitch.
My son is certainly talented enough in soccer to have been somewhat recruited by those in the know surrounding the Oconee Futbol Club last spring, but my boy vetoed playing for the traveling team. That was the first soccer season in the twice a year times for playing soccer he had not played for seven or eight seasons, but the break did his basketball jump shot a world of good.
He also did not dig the traveling basketball team at North Oconee HS and was none too keen on the way they tried to make him launch a jump shoot more like Sean Marion with the hands in front of the chest instead of the less blockable over the head. It will be interesting to see how the BB camp at Oconee County High School in a couple of weeks compares to the Athens Academy camp wrapping up tomorrow.
Big thumbs up to Athens Academy and Coach James Banks' summer basketball camp for kids keeping the emphasis on fun and playing the games with the rules like real basketball is in 2009 with fast breaks, three pointers and a clock that is not always running. This would be in big contrast to how Oconee Rec does things for kids in third and fourth grade. What is right for my son is not going to be right for a lot of kids, so do what you feel is best for your kid.
I would urge any summer day camp to have some sort of end of camp session where parents can come watch their progeny perform what they learned the last week. Also the whole ending of the week's camp session on a Thursday (OCHS, NOHS) versus ending on a Friday (for Athens Academy) thing is kind of odd in my humble opinion.
Also the Oconee County regular non-sports day camps need to allow the campers to purchase refreshments when they go on field trips to places like Stone Mountain. It is almost criminal to deny them fluids in the hot summer sun.
I sure hope the Oconee Recreation Department does not jack up the prices of the recreational soccer or football sign-ups for the Fall season as per the recent budget cop out of the Oconee County Board of Commissioners. That would be the best thing that could ever happen to the YWCO and Oconee Futbol Club if the Board of Commissioners directed hike of fees approaches the triple digits of OFC at least. I do not know when the YWCO will be moving their Athens-based soccer out here, but I suspect it will be sooner than later.
Keep working on those jump shots and bicycle kicks, kiddies! Soccer and basketball share a lot of the same footwork and fundamentals, and you can never run fast enough in either sport.
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