Rain and Basketball: Panthers participate in youth sports camp

By Dr. Lionell Sabb, Sports Information Director

With the sun beaming down on a small recreation center in the foothills of the mountains on the island of Trinidad, youth ages 6-12 years old were already in a perfect line, performing dribbling drills in anticipation of the “Big Time College Players” coming to their facility from the USA to interact and show them the fundamentals of basketball, a game that is rarely played in their country. Players from Claflin University saw this as an opportunity to teach as well as learn from the youth.

 

The youth sports camp is designed “to expose the youth of the country of Trinidad and Tobago to sports such as basketball as well as other commonly enjoyed sports like cricket and soccer, to encourage them to explore options to become a productive citizen,” said Adrian Raymond, communications manager for Youth Sports Camps of Trinidad and Tobago.

 

Athletes from Claflin and Delaware State set up the clinic style format as stations where various skills were demonstrated and the youth were asked to perform each skill. Every participant showed total focus as the skill was demonstrated, and eagerly performed the skill to the highest level they possessed. Both the athletes and participants bonded quickly, as each group seemed as excited as the other to learn. The youth quickly began lay-up drills, shooting drills and defensive drills with energy and eagerness. 

 

Watching from close by were Karen Williams, assistant athletic director, and Dr. Timothy Autry, AD at Claflin. We were bombarded with questions from the staff as well as the youth assembled.

 

“What we are trying to do is keep guns and crime down in the community. We want to give these impoverished youth another outlet to be a successful person. And we are doing this through sports,” said the Sports Service Officer Fritzroy Daniel.

 

Just as the youth and athletes seemed to become a cohesive unit, the rain came. The athletes ran for cover as the rain became torrential. One youth asked, “Where are you going? Are you afraid of the rain?” At that time the rain was so hard that all ran for shelter. The rain cancelled any other chance of the clinic proceeding as it was held outside.

 

These kids are not blessed with the name brand sneakers that many youth in the USA are accustomed to. With over 150 youth, there were only two basketballs, one cricket ball and three soccer balls.

 

“There is a need for us to help support this effort,” Dr. Autry said. “We will see what balls we have and send them to you, Mr. Daniel.”

 

Although the rain prematurely ended the clinic, the time spent under the shelter with the youth and staff of Trinidad was priceless. The excitement in the eyes of the youth seemed to brighten the dark skies. It gave us an opportunity to bond with youth and promote the spirit of basketball. It also gave Claflin University a chance to pledge support to the cause of growing basketball here in Trinidad. Even the rain couldn’t stop that.