Youth Center hosts basketball clinic

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Malissa Lott
  • 366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho --  Children from Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho attended a basketball clinic at the Youth Center to learn the basics of the sport July 15.

The children were taught basic skills, ran drills and had the opportunity to practice the techniques they learned.

"The purpose behind the basketball clinic is to introduce and enhance youth basketball skills," said Erin Arel, 366th Force Support Squadron Youth Center sports and fitness director. "The most important part is teaching the children that basketball and sports are fun and to instill a life-long love for sports and physical activity."

Teaching the sport to the children was more than a volunteer opportunity, it was a chance to share the sport they love.

"I love the game of basketball and I have played it my entire life all the way through the collegiate level," said Senior Airman Devin Brown, 366th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron aircraft armament technician. "I love mentoring and teaching the game to the kids and the smiles on their faces when they learn something new."

The Youth Center has been working with base children since 2005.
"I think the most positive significance of this clinic is the ability to put the skills they learned into practice," said Arel. "It's easy to learn a skill in slow motion and break it down. In this clinic the children were able to play a game at the end of every day and were able to put everything they learned into a fast-pace environment."

The goal of the clinic was not only teach the basics, but to instil the passion of the game as well as other sports.

"Basketball and sports clinics in general do not just teach the children the actual sport," said Airman 1st Class Hailey Frerich, 366th Equipment Maintenance Squadron munitions operations crew member. "It teaches them team-work, discipline, listening skills and hard-work. It also allows them to see if they could possibly be passionate about the sport."

The coaches reward was seeing the children succeed.

"My favorite part of running this clinic is seeing the smiles on the faces of the youth when they make a shot or nail a particular skill," said Arel. "For me it's all about the achievements they make."

This clinic is more than an opportunity to teach the children the best parts about the sport, but a chance to fulfill dreams.

"It will help me because I am pursuing a career in coaching basketball," said Brown. "This clinic will also help me with patience in case I have to start out coaching youth. Plus I have a son of my own to teach."

The volunteers quickly realized the children weren't the only ones learning a lesson.

"You'd be surprised how much you learn by coaching kids," said Frerich. "They remind you to take it slow, and appreciate the little things."

Helping these children while they learn to love basketball gives volunteers a sense of satisfaction.

"I think the youth center is amazing and the kids there will be more advanced than their peers," said Brown. "I would love to go and help coach the children as much as possible."