Kids Learn Basketball Basics at Camp

By Kelly Cannon | [email protected]

For the past 15 years, former NBA coach Barry Hecker has taught kids the fundamentals of basketball in his own basketball camp. This year, the camp will be held from June 6 to 9 and is open to kids in grades three through nine.

The camp is put on every year through a partnership with Sandy City. Recreation Manager Kevin Bybee said Hecker has a contract with the city.

“He came to the city to use the facilities,” Bybee said. “The city does a 70/30 split with Hecker getting the 70. The city’s 30 helps pay for the facilities and the promotion.”

Bybee said the camp seems to be popular, with around 30 to 40 kids each year.

“The feedback is always positive,” Bybee said. “People really seem to enjoy the camp.”

The camp focuses on basketball skill development such as footwork, passing, dribbling and shooting. It also focuses on individual development of making the child’s game better.

The camp is open to both boys and girls. Participants are asked to register for the camp by June 3 in order to get an accurate idea of how many will be at the camp.

“It’s important when you run camps to have an idea of how many you’re going to have,” Bybee said.

Hecker has previously worked with the Memphis Grizzlies, the Cleveland Cavaliers and the LA Clippers. He brings with him over 40 years of basketball experience at the professional, collegiate and high school levels. He was also the head coach of the men’s basketball team at Westminster College for two seasons in the 1970s.

The Barry Hecker Basketball Camp is just one of several sports and activities camps sponsored by Sandy City this summer.

“We try to have all the important sports and individual sports so kids have the opportunity to play during the summer,” Bybee said. “We try to provide as much as we can for the residents of Sandy.”

For more information about the Barry Hecker Basketball Camp and all the other sports and activities camps provided by Sandy City, visit http://sandy.utah.gov.