Three Sessions for boys & girls ages 5-14

Session I: July 26 - 30
Session II: August 2-6
Session III: August 9 - 13

Time: 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

* For extra individual instruction, a free optional session will be held on Wednesday afternoon of each camp week from 3-4 p.m. We will also offer one weekly free "early bird special" on ball handling with Coach Dino. The free early bird special takes place from 8:15 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.

Tuition: One week = $270, Two Weeks = $480, Three Weeks = $650 (Please see "Payment of Tuition" section for details on family discounts.)

Location: Kingswood-Oxford School. One of the many advantages of Kingswood-Oxford School serving as host site of the K-O Skills camp is that the facilities allow us to stay indoors at all times.

Skills Program
The Clinic provides each camper with individual instruction and a specific Skills Development program. Each week, a minimum of twenty-five skills are taught. For campers who attend all three sessions, a series of new skills will be taught in weeks II and III. On Thursday and Friday of each week, campers are tested on each skill and awarded a certificate with a "title." Titles range from "Future Star" to "True Skills Specialist." Test results are used to determine which skills need additional individual review. Review of these skills takes place on Friday. The Skills test is a fun teaching tool and is conducted in a low-key, educationally sound manner with a focus on positive reinforcement.

Multi-Week Campers
Each year, more than 50% of our registered campers attend more than one session. For those campers who attend either two sessions or all three sessions, additional skills are taught at each session.

K-O Skills Development Leagues
There are three leagues at the Clinic: the Patriot League, the Ivy League, and the Big East. Players are placed in one of these three leagues based on age and ability.

Awards & Contests
Awards are given in the categories of hardest worker and best sportsmanship. All-Star teams are selected in each division, and individual contests are held in one-on-one, three-point, and foul shot for both boys & girls in each division. A special award is given to the male and female camper in each division with the highest skills test score. Additionally, daily basketball trivia contests for prizes are held. Adolphe Coulibaly, native of the Ivory Coast and former varsity basketball player at Amherst College, and Patrick Peltier of West Hartford, will again draw portraits of famous basketball players. These wonderful portraits will be given out as awards in certain categories, including our two major award categories: Hardest Worker and Best Sportsmanship.

The Patriot League "Really Big Skills Show"
One of the best features of K-O Skills is our Patriot League, which is designed for beginners. Each day, Patriot Leaguers learn skills, play games, and work as a group in preparation for Friday's Patriot League "Really Big Skills Show," which is performed in front of a "packed house" of campers, staff, parents and friends. The "Really Big Skills Show" features all Patriot Leaguers demonstrating various skills in a choreographed production to music. "I can't believe how much our son learned and was able to demonstrate in the show. Super job!" (Letter from Patriot League parent.) "My 'Patriot Leaguer' had the best sports experience of his young life! Many thanks!!!" (Letter from Patriot League parent.) "The show rocks! Awesome!!" (Email from Camper.) "WOW!! I am so glad that I signed my son up for this incredible camp. His experience in the Patriot League could not have been better." (Email from parent.)

The Mini-Lecture Program
The mini-lecture program was initiated at the K-O Clinic in 1991. This program provides that all lectures are limited to 5-8 minutes per skill. Following each lecture, the campers are divided into small groups. Under the direction of staff, each camper practices the skill taught at the mini-lecture. Between four and six skills are taught each day, with follow-up instruction at the "teaching stations."

Two Very Popular Activities: Autograph Day & "The Sundae Shot"
One of the most popular Camp activities is "Autograph Day." Over a period of several months prior to Camp, Dan Doyle secures personally signed autographs from over 600 NBA, NCAA, NFL, NHL, and Major League Baseball players and coaches. Each Wednesday, these autographs are distributed to campers. Another very popular activity is our "Sundae Shot," which affords each camper the chance to win an ice cream sundae by making a shot. Last year, K-O Skills awarded a record-breaking number of sundaes!

UConn Tickets
Over the course of camp, Dan Doyle holds several contests, with the winners receiving complimentary tickets to a UConn men’s or women’s basketball game.

History Lesson
Each week, Dan Doyle personally prepares a New England basketball history lesson for all campers and staff. This year’s lessons will be taken from Our Game: A Story of New England Basketball by Bill Reynolds. This book has been published by Dan Doyle’s Hall of Fame Press, new entity of the Institute for International Sport (www.halloffamepress.com)

Draft Night
Draft Night is an important tradition at the K.O. Skills Development Basketball Clinic. Here is how Draft Night runs:

• Based on a pre-draft "lottery" that determines the order of selections, each team picks five players and one coach.
• Present at Draft Night are four "basketball experts". At the end of the draft, the experts quietly convene and select what they feel are the top four teams. Prizes are awarded to all four teams, with a special “Red Auerbach Award” presented to the top team/general manager.

Draft Night is a wonderful evening of camaraderie and enjoyable basketball activity. We have always gotten great feedback on the program. This year's draft night is scheduled for Tuesday, August 3 from 7:00 - 8:15 p.m. at K-O. Detailed information will be included in our June Basketball Camper mailing.

Emphasis on Fair Play
Dan Doyle is the founder of National Sportsmanship Day, which takes place annually on the first Tuesday in March (www.internationalsport.com/nsd). Last year, NSD was celebrated in over 13,500 schools in 105 countries. A primary focal point of the K-O. Skills Development Basketball Clinic is an emphasis on fair play and sportsmanship. All campers are encouraged to do their best, but do so in an atmosphere of respect for fellow campers. This issue is addressed on day one of each Session by Dan Doyle, including specific remarks on the Camp's "No Bullying" policy.

Basketball Trivia Contests
Among the goals of the K-O Clinic is for campers and parents to have fun! Daily trivia contests are held for the campers. At the end of each day, campers are sent home with a series of questions. The following morning, those campers who present the correct answers are awarded prizes.

On Wednesday of each week, the "Parents Trivia Contest" is sent home with campers. The following day, prizes are awarded to the parents with the most correct answers. In 2009, we had several "5-Star" performances by parents on the "Parents Trivia Contest." Our 2009 parent winners received prizes such as tickets to a UConn game, a specially autographed copy of "Values Of The Game" by Bill Bradley, and an autographed copy of Our Game: The Story of New England Basketball by Bill Reynolds. Similar gifts will be awarded in 2010.

Along with offering campers and parents an enjoyable activity, the Trivia Contests and other basketball discussions provide campers with a greater understanding of the history and rhythms of the sport.

Wednesday is Extra Help Day
Each Wednesday, staff remains until 4:00 p.m. to provide free optional extra help to any camper who would like to work on specific skills in preparation for the Skills Development Test. We also offer one free "early bird special" ball handling session per week with Coach Dino from 8:15 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. The early bird special days are announced at camp.

Plyometrics!
Each week at the K.O. Skills Development Basketball Clinic, we devote time to plyometrics techniques that help young athletes run faster, jump higher, and develop better agility. Our plyometrics program has become a staple of the K-O Skills Clinic.

Achieving Peak Performance by "Getting into the Zone."
As part of his research for The Encyclopedia of Sports Parenting, Dan Doyle has done extensive work with sports psychologists throughout the United States on achieving peak performance by "Getting into the Zone." Each week, Dan will talk about the various concepts of "getting into the zone" - all of which can be fun and productive.

Register Early!
For the last 17 years, we have been fully enrolled with waiting lists.

Special Registration Request of Parents
Please make sure to clearly print your email on all registration forms, since most camp communication is done via email.

Questions
If you have any questions, please contact Dan Doyle at 233-3500 extension 2296 weekdays, or email Dan at ddoyle@internationalsport.com.