UpDate - Vol. 13, No. 37, Page 1
July 7, 1994
Student athletes learn new skills during sports camps

     More than a thousand children and young adults interested in
learning a sport or improving their skills are participating in 12
different sports camps at the University this summer.
     The camps provide an opportunity for participants to sharpen
their techniques and gain a new perspective of their sport, said
Joanne Abbruzzesi, supervisor of operations in the Department of
Athletics.
     One benefit of the camps is the individual attention participants
receive. This detailed assistance may not occur during a regular
season, and the summer help at camp contributes to the student's
overall learning experience, Abbruzzesi said.
     Each camp director, usually a head coach from the University,
hires a staff, which consists of high school coaches and college
students who have either played or coached in a particular sport for a
considerable number of years.
     Carol Miller, University field hockey coach and director of the
summer field hockey camp, said she thinks the camps have been
successful because drills are constructed to meet the needs of every
age group.
     Her participants range in age from 8-year-olds to college-age
students, and they are broken down into groups according to ability
and age. Miller said one of her goals is to accommodate and challenge
every student who attends her camp by matching drills to ability and
by introducing the newest techniques.
     "My ultimate goal is to instill a passion for the game in
everybody who  comes out to participate," Miller said.
     The camps also help showcase the University, its programs and
people.
     "There are many returning participants who establish a
relationship with the University. The camps are an opportunity for
them to find out what goes on at the University and what goes on in
athletics," Abbruzzesi said.
     Alexis Molin, a 13-year-old student from Townsend, said she wants
to learn more about basketball and improve her skills so that one day
she will be able to play basketball for the University.
     Barbara Viera, head volleyball coach and professor of physical
education, said she has coached many people at her camp who have gone
on to play for her at the University. Currently, at least five UD
volleyball players are alumni of summer camps on campus.
     Directing a camp, Viera added, also helps contribute to the
development of the sport of volleyball. Coach of the volleyball camp
since its beginning in 1977 at Cape Henlopen State Park in Lewes,
Viera said that she has seen several changes over the years.
     "The players were coming to camp with less skills than they have
now," she said. "There has been a quick, high-level change. It has
been enjoyable to be a part of that change."
     According to Edgar N. Johnson, director of athletics, summer
sports camps started at the University in the early 1980s. Initially,
there were only camps for the sports of soccer, volleyball and
football.
     Last summer, there were 11 sports camps with a total of 1,600
participants. This year there are a dozen camps, some with multiple
sessions. Day camps are offered for diving, field hockey, cross
country, soccer, tennis, a combination "all sports" camp and girl's
lacrosse, which is new this year.
     Boy's basketball, girl's basketball, girl's shooting, football
and volleyball are offered as overnight camps, and participants stay
in Pencader and Dickinson residence halls.
     Johnson said the camps are successful because participants, who
have an initial interest in the sport, realize that by participating
in camp they are able to take advantage of the University's excellent
facilities and the area's most knowledgeable coaches.
     Not only do the participants gain a good learning and coaching
experience, but they also learn to conform to the highly structured
aspect of the camp, which is designed to teach them responsibility and
independence as well. This, Johnson said, will remain with them when
their week-long camp experience is over.
     Attending girl's basketball camp for her second year was Rory
Kemp, a 13-year-old from Milford. Kemp said because she has learned to
be independent and responsible as a result of the instruction, she
will practice basketball more on her own when camp ends.
                                                    -Suzanne Gallagher