Sincerely

Reginald Grigsby,
AAU Southwestern District Chairmen
Girls Basketball

RIP Marques Jackson, founder of DFW Elite

A pioneer of AAU girl’s basketball in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, Marques Jackson, 46, passed Sunday morning after suffering from a heart attack. Coaches and players began tweeting thoughts of sadness and heartbreak Sunday afternoon as the news broke across the women’s basketball spectrum.

Jackson, the father of New York Liberty forward and former Texas standout Tiffany Jackson, was known all-around the nation for his unselfish dedication to the development of girl’s basketball and unwavering support of his players.

The club team he helped found, DFW Elite, rose to the top echelon of girl’s club basketball in the nation in just seven years. Its alumnae include: Brittney Griner, Destini Hughes, Cokie Reed, Brooklyn Pope, Tierra Rogers, Kathleen Nash, Kristen Nash, Brittainy Raven, Jordan Madden, Takia Starks and many more.

Next season’s college freshman include: Tiffany Moore (Texas), Akil Simpson (Southern Methodist), Kelsi Baker (Texas Tech) and the nation’s top point guard Odyssey Sims (Baylor). Baylor head coach Kim Mulkey’s daughter MacKenzie, who will join the Lady Bears next season, played on the DFW Elite T-Jack squad alongside Sims, Simpson, Madden and Moore.

Funeral arrangements for Jackson announced on the DFW Elite website dfwelitebasketball.com:

Wake Services
Friday, April 16th, 2010 at 7:00pm CST
Freedom Missionary Baptist Church
3715 South Westmoreland Road
Dallas, TX 75233
http://www.freedommbc.org/

Funeral Services
Saturday, April 17th, 2010 at 12:30 p.m. CST
Freedom Missionary Baptist Church
3715 South Westmoreland Road
Dallas, TX 75233
** Viewing of the body will be BEFORE the services starting at 11:00am. No more viewing after the start of the services.

Funeral Home
Evergreen Memorial Funeral Home
6449 Houston School Road
Dallas, TX 75241
http://www.evergreenfuneral-home.com

National Camp FAQ

Arrival Time – First Day of Each Session

Camp Orientation
Camp check-in will begin at 10:30 AM on the first day of camp. Our Camp
Orientation and NCAA Educational programs will start at 1:00 PM in the gym.
Please be dressed in semi-casual clothes. Late arriving campers should report to the gym. If your athlete will not arrive during the 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM
registration check-in period, please notify the National Camp Office of the
athlete’s expected arrival time. A lunch will be served that first day.

Departure Time – Last Day of Each Session

All parents, family members and friends are invited to our special parents’
program with camper participation at 5:00 PM on the final day of each camp in the gymnasium. Our awards ceremony and program will conclude by 6:00 PM

Clothing

Please mark your name in all clothing):  (4-5) assorted gym shorts; (4) T-shirts ; flip flops; (10 pr.) sweat socks; light jacket or sweatshirt; 1 pair jeans and casual top. Though not mandatory, YOU ARE STRONGLY
ENCOURAGED TO WEAR HIGH TOP GYM SHOES AND HIGH SOCKS to prevent needless ankle sprains during the camp week.

What You Should Bring to Camp

Sheets (twin beds), pillow light blanket (rooms are air conditioned), towels,
wash cloth, shower thongs, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, and any other personal hygiene items. Each player should bring her own refillable water bottle for hydration throughout camp. Minimal spending money is needed. Pay telephones and vending machines, offering miscellaneous beverages and snacks, are located within each dormitory. Campers may also choose to participate in the optional pizza night in which case she would, individually or with friends, order a pizza. Please note: These are only suggestions. each athlete will know best what items she needs for an overnight experience. Should your athlete wish to bring snack foods, she may do so providing all food is appropriately wrapped and stored. Please note that rooms at University of Texas-Arlington do not have refrigerators.

Items Not Allowed

Television sets; refrigerators; stereos (inexpensive radios are permissible);
expensive jewelry or watches.  Grigsby Sports Group, Inc. is not responsible if any items are stolen or lost.

Cell Phones

No cell phones are allowed at camp.They are a distraction in the gym during
games and lectures and in the dorms during our rest and recovery periods, bed checks and sleep. Camp phones are available to all campers, if necessary, in the gym and in the dorms. In addition, pay phones are available in the gym and dorm for campers’ social use.

Room and Key Deposit

Each camper will be required to leave a $60 room damage and key deposit upon check in at the dorm. The full $60 amount will be returned to each camper at check out, providing the dorm room is in the same condition and the room key has been returned. The vast majority of campers and parents will get a full refund. However, this deposit guards against any unnecessary dorm damage and lost keys. The National Camp, in conjunction with the university, is cooperating to insure the proper conditions for subsequent camps. This deposit can be made with cash or check (payable to Grigsby Sports Group). Please Note:Any key not returned prior to a camper leaving campuswill be considered a lost key. Therefore, no key deposit refunds can be issued to campers not immediately returning keys.

Staff Supervision

We have a ratio of 10 campers to one staff member during all phases of camp.
Ours is a system of constant roll calling, so we always know each camper’s
schedule. University of Texas-Arlington provide 24-hour security service.

Dorm Mother

The Lady Prodigy Basketball National Camp employs a Dorm Mom to supervise our dormitories when your daughter is not in the gym. Our Dorm Mom is on duty, and accessible by phone (refer to TELEPHONE section for phone number), from 2:30 PM – Midnight each day our camp is in session. Please note: our campers are supervised 100% of the time by our staff , our dorm Mom, our coaches and/or our support staff.

Athletic Trainer

We have professional Athletic Trainers on staff during the entire weed. All
medical needs, such as injury treatment, knee and ankle wrapping, will be
addressed daily. Those campers on medication should register their condition and medication with the trainers on the first day of camp. Should, however, a camper wish to self-administer her medication, she may do so providing this is the perogative of the camper’s parents. In either case, it is imperative our trainers are aware of all medical conditions and medications.

Refunds and Cancellations

No refunds will be issued once camper had paid the deposit. Should a camper
leave camp due to injury or other medical issues, a prorated credit may be given for the following year.All cancellations must be made in writing either by mail or by fax. Please call our office with any questions.

Housing

All campers are housed in the air-conditioneddormitories at University of Texas- Arlington. Room / Roommate assignments are not made until the day before each camp session begins. If a camper has made a room request, it will be accommodated. You will be contacted, in advance, should we have any questions regarding roommate requests.

Visitors

Parents and families are welcome at camp at any time during the week. of course, NO boyfriends or other visitors will be allowed.

Automobiles

The parents of any athlete who will be driving themselves to camp must notify
the National Camp office of such plans. Athlete’s keys will be checked at
registration and will be returned to the camper at checkout.

Questions

If you have any questions, please call us at (682) 554-5198. Thank you for your camp attendance.

Each Camper MUST bring their own Basketball*

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“Talent may get you there,” says Celia, who also holds a Master’s Degree, “But character is what keeps you.” Following the lead of the Women’s Sports Foundation’s Go!Girl!Go! Curriculum, Ms. Anderson will encourage the players based on these objectives:

• Getting active! Stay active for life
• Encouraging a wholesome lifestyle, a happy outlook and healthy self-image
• Promoting self-esteem, self-respect and self-confidence
• Endorsing acceptance and respect of others
• Becoming a most vocal advocate for a healthy lifestyle—getting inactive girls physically active
• Learning to become great leaders

To learn more about our curriculum leader, visit her website at www.celiaanderson.com

Education Camp Director Biography

Celia Anderson is one of today’s best and brightest upcoming authors. Her stories and articles both educate and inspire.

Ms. Anderson holds a Master’s Degree from the University of Arkansas which speaks volumes about her commitment to education. She is quoted as saying her love for higher education, books, and competitive spirit are what drive her most. She plans to continue her education eventually earning a PhD in Urban Higher Education.

The former basketball player for the Lady Razorbacks also played professionally in Greece before going on to work for New York Times bestselling author E. Lynn Harris. In the acknowledgments of his novel I Say A Little Prayer, Mr. Harris list Celia as a “brilliant young writer whom the world will soon discover”. Her years of dedication and hard work landed her first publishing deal with Random House in a compilation of short stories along side Mr. Harris to be published in the near future.

Ms. Anderson also teaches freshman level communication. She says teaching is one of life’s simplest pleasures, “I enjoy helping others take their lives to a different level. If you think it can’t be done, look at me. A simple girl from Little Rock, AR to a life that once only existed in my dreams. Like the saying goes, who are you not to be?”

Ms. Anderson’s first novel, Love, Ocean released January, 2009, and her second, Daddy’s Home, will release in 2010. Currently, she speaks across the nation to youth, writes and prides herself on being the best mother in the world to her only daughter, Gabrielle Simone.

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The Dangers of Being Too Good Too Early at Basketball

This might seem like an odd title to an article targeting an audience looking to become good at the game of basketball. After all, you are trying to become the best you can be so you might be asking yourself “why in the world is there danger in being too good? Isn’t that what I’m striving for?”

Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with being a dominant basketball player at a young age. In fact, if you are really good at a young age you have a huge advantage over your peers and you should consider yourself lucky. However, there IS a dark-side to being really good at an early age that doesn’t get talked about very often.

A few weeks ago I had the privilege of having a long basketball discussion with one of the better High School coaches in America today. The Coach I’m referring to is Robert Smith of Simeon High School in Chicago, Illinois. Simeon is one of the best programs in the country and every year is loaded to the gills with talent. Many players have gone on from Simeon to play in the NBA and every year they have a handful of players that go on to play Division I college ball.

NBA rookie of the year Derrick Rose played under Coach Smith at Simeon a few years back and some of the things that Coach Smith was telling me about Derrick’s rise to the top really hit home with the topic of this article. He said when Derrick was in the 6th or 7th grade he wasn’t really on the map like a few other kids in the Chicago area were.

He said that the first time he saw Derrick play was when he went to watch a game involving another kid that was getting all the hype around Chicago. He said that about mid-way through the game he began to realize that this Derrick Rose kid could develop into a better player than the superstar kid that was getting all the hype.

Coach Smith of course ended up being right. Derrick Rose had an amazing High School career, went on to be the best college basketball player in the nation the next year and then won the NBA’s Rookie of the Year Award last year.

The point I’m trying to make is that every year in every area of the country there are really talented kids that get pegged as the next superstar to come out of their area and more times than not they get passed up. It could be at the Jr. High level that they get passed up, sometimes it’s during High School and sometimes it’s that first year or two in college.

Sometimes when I hear about a young player getting a lot of recognition I feel sorry for them. It sounds strange I know but I’ve just seen it happen too many times. Most kids aren’t mature enough psychologically to handle all the attention and don’t see the world as it really is. This ultimately stunts their growth and they end up with a lot of regret as they enter adulthood.

If you happen to be a really talented young player don’t let this confuse you or get you down. Be proud of what you have accomplished and keep working hard. If you follow the advice in the next part of this article you WILL go on to meet your goals and turn out to be the player you and everyone else thought you’d be. It’s those players that aren’t reading this article that are in trouble!

Look outside your community. This is one that gets really talented players from smaller towns in trouble all the time. If you are really good and live in a small town it’s easy to get a big head. You get so use to dominating most of the other kids in your area you start to think that all competition is as inferior as everyone in your community.

You’ve got to constantly remind yourself that no matter how good you are in your area there are kids in surrounding areas of you that are better. You can’t just be satisfied playing at the level of competition in your area. You should get out and try to play in AAU leagues or get involved in tournaments in bigger regions on a regular basis. This way it will always be fresh in your memory how many other good players there are out there and that if you don’t keep giving it all you’ve got you’ll get left in the dust.

Realize that life as an athlete in Jr. High and High School isn’t reality. In most areas around the country the kids that dominate in school sports are somewhat idolized. They are very popular in most cases and get a lot of attention. If you find yourself in these shoes right now, great. There’s nothing wrong with enjoying this time but you really need to realize that when you are done with school these days will come to a screeching halt and you’ll soon realize just how unimportant you are. I know that sounds harsh bit it is what it is. Don’t think that because you are the highlight of your school newspaper that you are destined for greatness, you need to keep working harder than ever so that when you graduate you can stay competitive with all the other thousands of athletes that were worshipped in their schools and now looking to compete at the next level.

Don’t underestimate the power of hunger. Imagine for a second two similar animals hunting for food. One had a very good lunch a few hours ago and the other hasn’t eaten in 2 days. Who do you think is going to fight harder for the food? Yes of course, the hungrier animal. How does this apply to basketball? Let me explain.

Many young players get really good early on and forget what it’s like to hunger for greatness. They start to move past their peers and when they get far enough ahead it’s easy for them to start to relax. I’ve seen situations where kids were so further ahead of everyone their age as freshman it’s not even funny and then by the time they are a senior they have been passed up. All because the other kids were a lot hungrier and were working their tails off.

It’s easy to get content when things are going good. Never ever underestimate how badly other kids want to surpass your ability and be recognized as the great player on the floor. Let that be a constant motivator in taking your game to a level nobody can match.

Source: Andy Louder

Offseason girls basketball camp provides both amateurs and professional players an ideal opportunity to work upon and improve their skills. Apart from learning the nitty-gritty practicalities of the game, the players get a chance to discover their capabilities and weaknesses in these basketball camps. Furthermore, while playing with other equally talented campers in a highly competitive environment, the participants learn the importance of cooperation and coordination along with other qualities, such as team building and group dynamics. The also learn how to analyze, strategize and win matches. In order to ensure that the players get the best experience in the camp, certain things are essential. Let’s take a look at these girl basketball camps pre-requisites.

- Outstanding gym facility-

Every training session in the girls basketball camp is preceded by a warm up session. For these exercise sessions, a proper gym facility is important. In the well-equipped gym, the players would be able to exercise rigorously without injuring their muscles and ligaments.

- Proper equipments-

The camp should have adequate number of basketballs and other equipments so that all the players get a chance to practice properly and thoroughly. When proper equipments are present, it also becomes easier for the coaches to train the players individually.

- Well-trained and experienced coaches-

The presence of knowledgeable and experienced coaches will help the girls basketball camp to get the desired results. In simple words, the camp would be able to churn out players with outstanding skills and excellent leadership qualities. To make sure that every participant gets individual attention, the coach to player ratio should not be more than 1:5.

- Proficient staff-

The staff should be friendly, dedicated, enthusiastic and committed. In addition to stringently implementing the rules and regulations, the members of the staff should be able to provide support and encouragement to the campers.

- Stringent training schedule-

The training schedule should ensure complete development of the players. Apart from teaching the fundamentals of the game, the sessions should educate players how to think, plan and defend the game. It should have the capacity to ignite the latent capabilities of the players. Furthermore, it should also help to bring the participants together, and inculcate leadership qualities in them.

- Fail safe rules and regulations-

To keep the environment of the girls basketball camp well-organized and regimented, failsafe rules and regulations are essential. These ground rules help the coaches and staff member to implement discipline and persuade the participants to follow the training schedule and improve their skills.

A good coach is the backbone of elite girls basketball camps. The popularity, reputation and success of these camps solely depend upon the expertise and performance of the coach. He is the one who directs and strategizes the behavior of the entire basketball team.

In addition to teaching the ground rules of the game, he is responsible for persuading, motivating and stimulating each and every player to give it his best shot.Through his knowledge and experience, he is able to detect and evaluate the capabilities, strengths and weaknesses of the participants. On the basis of his findings, he prepares an extensive training program that helps the campers to discover their true abilities and play at their optimal potential.

Apart from working on the offensive and defensive skills of the players, the coach also supervises their physical and mental conditioning. Under his proficient guidance, the confidence, strength, stamina, endurance and patience of the participants redouble and they learn to excel even in the most challenging situations.

Not every good basketball player has the ability to become a competent coach. To be able to teach others, a person should not only have first-hand experience, but he should also have loads of patience, resilience, courage, determination and perseverance.

He should have the knack to deal with different kinds of students and challenges efficiently. Furthermore, he should always be ready to learn new strategies, methodologies, tricks and tactics. With respect to the players, the reputation of the coach is the most important selection criterion. In a short span of one or two weeks, only a dexterous coach would be able to teach the rudiments as well as the nuances of the game.

From the perspective of elite girls basketball camps, a good coach means more participants and more money. Often, these camps demand a higher fee depending upon the status of the coach. By putting in a little effort, the coaches can also improve their chance of getting into elite girls basketball camps.

There are a number of certification programs available that provide comprehensive on-court and off court training. Beside these, basketball coaching clinics are also a good way to brush up the skills. These clinics are sponsored by major corporations like Reebok, Nike and Converse, and they provide an excellent opportunity to interact with fellow coaches as well as learn some new approaches.

At times, these clinics also provide certificates, which prove to be quite helpful in getting entry to elite girls basketball camps.

Getting a girls basketball scholarship is certainly not an easy proposition. In addition to being highly talented, you should be well-acquainted with the requisites and pre-requisites of the game. Your skills, endurance, patience and stamina should be outstanding. Even while playing in a team, you should be able to showcase your proficiency, dexterity and competence.

Let’s find out how a girls basketball camp can increase your chances of getting a basketball scholarship.

- By participating in a good basketball camp, you can not only buff up your skills, but you also get a chance to work upon your shortcomings under the guidance of an experienced and knowledgeable coach.

- You are able to learn basics as well as the intricacies of the game. You can also improve your hand mechanics, throws, dribbling, jump shots, and the like.

- The stringent exercise and training sessions of a superlative girls basketball camp help you to hone up your physical as well as mental strength. With a good physical and mental balance, you are able to play at your optimal potential.

- Apart from on-court training, classroom sessions are also held in these camps. The chief objective of these sessions is to help you learn the fine points of the game through intensive video analysis and discussions.

- The well-trained coach provides you individual attention, and at the same time, helps you to coordinate and cooperate with other players of the team. To ensure that you innate talent and leadership qualities come to the fore, he creates specific strategies according to your strongest and weakest points.

- In a girls basketball camp, you also get a chance to play and compete with other equally talented participants. Such pick up games help you to maintain your form during the off season.

- You get a golden opportunity to impress your trainer, who in his turn can recommend you for the basketball scholarship.

- If you promote yourself properly, you can get the scholarship together with a place in the best AAU basketball team. All in all, a good girls basketball camp certainly improves your chances of obtaining a reputed basketball scholarship. Besides this, you get an opportunity to learn each and every aspect of the game. Moreover, as you play with veteran, professional and novice players, you skills, confidence and strength improves dramatically.

At the end of the camp, you will definitely be a better player and a better leader. Both are essential to attaining a scholarship.

What factors do you take into account to ascertain which basketball camp is the best for your daughter? Much of your decision depends upon whether your child wants to get trained to play professional matches or she just wants to have some fun. For fun and exercise, local girls basketball camps are the best.

These camps are either managed by local coaches or by dexterous high-school players. In such camps, your daughter will be able to learn the basics of the game as well as get all the fun. These local girls basketball camps are usually cheap and easy to find. On the other hand, if you child wants to learn the rudiments of the game as well as improve her skills and proficiency, then you would have to find the best camp for her. Here are a few factors that you should take into consideration while comparing girls basketball camps.

- Location of the camp-

How far is the camp from your residence? If it is a day camp, then you would have to drop in and pick up your daughter. You would also have to accommodate the changes in the training schedule. If the camp is close to your home, then a lot of commuting time would be saved, and it will be relatively easy for you to manage things. In the case of residential camps, your child would be staying in the camp throughout the training period. Hence, you wouldn’t have to worry travel time and distance. However, it is still advisable to select a residential camp that is close to your residence. During emergency, you will be able to reach the camp quickly.

- Competence of the staff-

The next important factor that you should consider while comparing girls basketball camps is the competence of the staff. Are the coaches well-trained and experienced? Do they have the expertise to buff up the innate talent of your child? Do they know how to handle students with different capabilities and aspirations? Do they have the ability to push your daughter to the highest level of excellence while being kind and respectful to her? These are some imperative questions for which you should find a feasible answer. Besides the trainers and coaches, you should also try to ascertain whether the camp is well-equipped to deal with the emergencies and accidents.

A good girl basketball camp ensures that a doctor and nurse are always available to deal with crisis adeptly. Furthermore, the security system in such camps is also up to the mark. Brochures and websites are good place to find up-to-date information about the camp and its staff. You can also talk to other parents to get first-hand information about the quality of service.

- Rules and regulations-

The rules and regulations of the camp should be clearly defined. Your child should get proper training in a fun-filled environment. You should know everything about the training schedules and exercise sessions. Moreover, there should be requisite rules for maintaining off-court discipline. All in all, the rules and regulations of the camp should help in the overall development of your child.

- Cost-

While comparing girls basketball camps, it is important to consider the cost. The price tag should be reasonable and affordable. Try to get a segregated price structure. This will help you to ascertain the hidden costs like food and transportation fees, insurance, equipment fees, and the like. Try to find out the facilities you are getting after paying a high price. Is your daughter getting proper accommodation, wholesome food and superlative training? This is a crucial question for which you should find a realistic answer before choosing a basketball camp.