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Pictures and article courtesy: Daily Siftings Herald/Mark Bivens |
Friday, July 14, 2000
Reynolds has the right camping ingredients
Ouachita Baptist University head basketball coach Mike Reynolds was putting the finishing touch on what is the longest running basketball camp in Arkansas Thursday afternoon, where 113 campers had been shooting, dribbling, passing and learning for as many as 16 hours a day since Monday. Reynolds knows the key to success. It's a simple one. It's individual attention. The OBU camp staffers dose out plenty of it.
"We have kids in the camp whose fathers came to the camp," Reynolds said, noting the reputation the event has throughout the region. "Coaches, campers, they keep coming back." Reynolds said some camps essentially out-grow their usefulness.
"Some big camps, the players get lost in the numbers," Reynolds said.
At the OBU camp, Reynolds shoots for a ratio of one coach to every 12 campers.
"When you look at it, that's a good coach-to-player ratio," Reynolds said. "They're given a lot of one-on-one attention. It's a pretty good environment. We just don't want to lose our individual touch with the players."
Former OBU coach Bill Vining started the camp in 1964. That, Reynolds said, created some friction. There were accusations that Vining was using the camp as a recruiting tool. But the camp weathered that storm and Reynolds confessed the camp is a good way to introduce players to Ouachita Baptist University basketball and the campus.
Players from Louisiana, Missouri and Texas are common at the camp, but Reynolds said most are from the Central Arkansas area.
"We've got players from Hot Springs and Arkadelphia," Reynolds said. "Benton has always been real good to us. Gurdon usually has some."
What's a day at the OBU camp like? It's like a long day. Reynolds opens the gym at 6:30am and the lights are turned off at 10:30 pm.
"You can play literally 16 hours a day," Reynolds said of those gym rats who can't get enough of basketball.
The camp teaches fundamentals, team concepts and features team games and individual competition. But there's more. There's time away from the court, if that's what a camper desires.
"We have free time to enjoy swimming, racquetball and tennis," Reynolds said. Of the 113 campers this week, 105 stayed in the dorms. They leave, Reynolds hopes with a heart for OBU basketball. Reynolds said his wish is for the campers to keep an eye on the Tigers' basketball program throughout the season. That's always been a goal of the camp coaches.
Not much has changed in the 36 years since the camp was founded.
"We've modified it a little bit," Reynolds said. "We emphasis something, then we play. It's shooting, passing, dribbling, defense and talking basketball. Everyday we set goals we want them to achieve in hustle and attitude."
Fun and games. That's been a successful ingredient at OBU's camp.
Happy Campers: Campers of this week's Ouachita Baptist University Basketball Camp from Arkadelphia were: (front row, left to right) Quentin Lambert, DeAnte Davis, John Mark Taylor, Brian McClure, (back row) OBU coach Mike Reynolds, Bradley Hill, Allan Ford, Kevin Williams, Chad Dixon, Patrick Hill and coach Donald Williams.
Get your online application for team or individual camp!
Contact Edith Warren for ticket information: 870-245-5181
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