Volunteer-led Champaign Park District youth basketball season to start in fall
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The Champaign Park District (CPD) is gearing up for its fall basketball season with children as young as three years old invited to sign up. For the youngest dribblers, the CPD sports staff runs the clinics. When it comes to the older children, though, the contribution of volunteers makes a major impact.
“Volunteers make up a huge portion of this league,” says Cody Flowers, sport coordinator in charge of the basketball leagues out of CPD. “All coaches are volunteering their time.”
For the Youth Hoops basketball season in 2021 to 2022, CPD hosted more than 180 students. Teams practice once a week and have games every Saturday. The volunteer coaches do everything that paid coaches would do in their positions: they communicate with the parents of the team about practice and game times and handle any challenges that might come up.
“I rely heavily on their commitment,” Cody says. “We had 20 volunteer coaches this past season giving back to the community.”
Older students in high school or college who are interested in volunteering would be a great fit for becoming a CPD coach, Cody says.
“They bring energy, especially if they have a background in basketball or sports in general,” Cody says. “The kids respond well to them as well.”
In addition to Youth Hoops, CPD runs basketball clinics for the same age range—first through eighth grade—with the next session coming up in November.
“This program is designed to be an introduction camp for the Youth Hoops season, running fundamental drills, games, etc.,” Cody says, adding that the clinics are a newer program added back in 2021.
Because the basketball clinics have less students—the maximum is 50 individuals—Cody says the CPD sports staff are able to manage the sessions. Volunteer coaches will offer much-needed support, though.
“I will be asking volunteer coaches of previous Youth Hoops seasons to help run the camp as well,” Cody says.
The basketball clinics act as preparation for the Youth Hoops teams, and the program grows significantly at that level. The goal for this year is to have more than 220 students participate this year. With that growth, Cody says, the need for volunteer coaches also grows.
“The league would not be possible without their efforts,” he says.
For more information on becoming a volunteer coach with the Champaign Park District, contact Cody Flowers at [email protected] or 217-819-3983.
For more information on the Champaign Park District’s youth basketball program, visit https://champaignparks.com/programs/youth-sports/youth-basketball/.
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