Dirty Details

To help you know how to best pray for Blacktop Basketball Camp, here are some of the concrete details: 

The camp is going to run August 5-7, 2011 from 6:00-8:30pm on the outside (weather permitting) courts at IMPACT Ministries.  The first twenty minutes will be time for the kids to check in and have an open gym.  The next ten minutes will be a time to go over the rules and review what we learned the day before.  The first night will be when we introduce the coaches.  After that, we jump right in.


We will start by having 30 minutes of instruction and practice in basketball drills, followed by 15 minutes of Bible or life coaching.  We are trying to coordinate the lessons to what we just learned about on the court.  Then we will have another 30 minutes of basketball drills, and another 15 minutes of Bible and life coaching.  The final 30 minutes will be an open gym, except on the last night when we will have a dessert reception and awards ceremony, in which the kids' families can come.


On the first night, our first basketball drills will involve shooting- specifically, lay-ups and bank shots.  Then we're going to use 1 Samuel 15:1-23 to talk about the importance of obeying 'coach,' or any authority in our lives.  Then we're going to do a little more shooting (free throws) and also dribbling.  We will then talk about how the discipline it takes to become good at basketball is similar to the discipline it takes to succeed at anything.


The next night we will work on passing: chest pass, bounce pass, and the 3-man weave.  We'll use Colossians 3:12-14 to talk about the importance of teamwork.  We'll work on defensive moves next, such as blocking out, rebounding, and 2-3 and 3-2 defense.  We'll then talk about the Good Samaritan and sportsmanship.


The last night, we will work on offensive plays.  Then using the Bible as an example, we will talk about the importance of good communication.  We might also talk about anger management a little.  Instead of having another basketball drill session, we're going to let the kids have an open gym, so they can put everything they've learned into practice.  Then, before the awards ceremony, we'll talk about integrity.  


During the award ceremony, we want every kid to receive an award.  Of course we will have the MVP and Most Improved awards, but we're also going to have awards like Most Godly Example, and Best Follows the Rules.  We want to reward the kids for not just learning basketball, but learning how to apply the Bible in their lives.  It will be during the award ceremony that we give each kid a basketball, a T-shirt, which will be orange and has "Blacktop Basketball Camp" in large letter across the chest, and something like, "Using the love of a game to share the love of Christ," with a picture of a basketball on it.  The kids will also receive a playbook, which will be a simple folder with all the basketball drills we've covered as well as the Bible or life lesson that went with that basketball lesson, complete with the Scripture.  


We're not sure how the lessons will be taught, yet.  Right now, Kathryn and Kayla are both on mission trips, so it has been hard to communicate and plan the real dirty details.  Please be praying that we get the responsibilities divided up in a fair way that plays on all of our strengths (and also for Kathryn who is in Africa, and Kayla who is in the inner-city of Chicago)  


We are charging each kid $10 to participate in this camp, but that is mostly to show the kids the seriousness of the camp, not to raise money.  We are hoping that the money will help cover the costs of the basketballs and T-shirts, but that was not way we wanted to charge them money.  We do not want money to be an issue, so we are willing to give the kids scholarships (free passes) so there's a chance the kids won't pay at all.  We're currently writing letters to places like Dick's and Wal-Mart, looking for donations of basketballs.


To see a complete list of items will still need donated, please look on the left side of your screen.  You will see a complete list there.


All of the coaches thank you for your prayers.  It is only through the power of God will this camp be a success!