SMS SUMMER ATHLETICS UPDATE…

 I hope everyone is enjoying their summer. My wife and I are visiting friends in Whistler… WOW … Beautiful! We have never been before and are having a great time. 

Reminders…

***This week, on Thursday, August 3rd, at 6:00PM, at the TCC in Kamloops, the TRU Wolfpack Men’s Basketball Team is hosting Boise State (Top Ranked NCAA School). Tickets are available online and I am sure you can get them at the door as well. For Tickets, go to the goWolfPack.ca … click on Sports, click on Men’s Basketball, click on News, click on the second article about the Boise St visit and ticket info can be found at the beginning of the article. 

***Hoops Are Hot in the Shuswap is this month at SAS Sullivan Campus. Information can be found on Facebook … Search for “Hoops Are Hot in the Shuswap” and registration information is on the page. 

First Week of September… Mr. Smith will be starting Volleyball Practices for Gr. 7 and 8 Students (Dates TBD). Mr. Smith will also be running a mini Basketball Camp for Gr. 5 - 8 Boys (Dates TBD). 

https://youtu.be/NKh-aAYI6oc   … This week’s Monday Mindset from Manu Watsa … Another fantastic message. I was always taught and coached as a young aspiring athlete… “What are you willing to give up?” … “What sacrifices are you willing to make in order to chase your dreams?” Without failure, those who make huge sacrifices to chase their dreams, open more doors and provide themselves greater opportunities in life. Now, Go Do the Work. 

SMS SUMMER ATHLETICS …

 Sorry Everyone… nothing new to report. 

Please check out the posts below from last Sunday and the Sunday before. I hope everyone is enjoying their summer break and I hope athletes are taking advantage of the summer to work on their skills and games. 

Please continue to check this Blog over the summer. Cheers

https://youtu.be/W8iDU244fy0  … This Week’s Monday Mindset from Manu Watsa … PGC … Another good one and great lesson to follow. 

SMS ATHLETICS - SUMMER OPPORTUNITIES

“The best way to improve the Team is to improve yourself.”  ~ John Wooden

“Every off-season you look at what you can improve on. So you come in for the new season fresh and ready to go again.”  ~ Mason Mount

“Don’t be upset by he results you don’t get with the work you did’t do.”  ~ Unknown

We are heading into our second week of summer break and I hope everyone had a good week of summer their first week away from school. Are you putting time into your craft, building skill, and working on your physical literacy? Reminder, working out, training, preparing, and putting time into getting better can be done on your own, and it can also be done with friends. Putting time in, to get better, builds a unique culture of friendship and unites people in a special way. Creating a common sacrifice builds bonds that can be unbreakable and ignites a vision that could lead to incredible possibilities. Now, “Go Do the Work!” 

Basketball Players … Check out … salmonarmsynergybasketball.blogspot.com … for information, drills, and motivation to help one become a better basketball player. Also, make the SMS Sport Courts your training ground, gathering place, and the venue you use to get better. If one puts in the time, they will be rewarded. Put in time together (Create and Develop “The Fist”) and you begin to galvanize a bond that can become unbreakable. 

Volleyball Players … I have outdoor nets available … so contact me, if interested. Also, the Canoe Beach court looks good… Just saying.

Please check last week’s post below for all the information on the plethora of opportunities available this summer for those interested in improving their skills and games in volleyball and basketball…

1. Boise St. (NCAA Top 10 Team) Men’s Team vs TRU @ TCC in Kamloops… Aug. 3rd… Ticket info below…

2. 3on3 Basketball in Kelowna … August… The GW Blacktop Classic… Info and registration details below…

3. Hoops Are Hot In the Shuswap … August … @ Sullivan Campus… Stay tune for details…

4. Parker Martens … Basketball Training Opportunities … Details and info below… 

5. Basketball Summer Slam 3x3 Basketball Tournament … Basketball BC has partnered with the Fraser Valley Bandits of the CEBL to host a 3on3 basketball tournament at the Langley Event Centre … Info and registration details can be found on the Basketball BC Website… Great Tournament … Fantastic Opportunity … 

6. UBCO Basketball Camps … Check out the Go Heat Website for details and registration info

7. TRU Volleyball Camp is for both Girls and Boys … Check out the TRU website (Athletics) and go under the Women’s Volleyball tab to see registration details and info… 

Again, I hope you are enjoying your summer. I am always interested to hear who is actually using this Blog; so, please comment and don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions. Cheers

SMS SUMMER ATHLETICS 2023 INFORMATION

 HAPPY SUMMER EVERYONE … AND … HAPPY CANADA DAY LONG WEEKEND!!!

Below is this week’s Monday Mindset from Manu Watsa - CEO of Point Guard College (PGC). As a parent, teacher, and a coach, I have never liked this word. I can’t remember using “the word” as a kid; however, I hear it now and have heard it used way too often over the years. Spark your curiosity and let your curiosity open the doors to opportunities this summer. Find a small place with a wall to practice your volleyball, compete against the best basketball players in the world every day - all you need is a ball a hoop and your imagination, or tie a hoop/old bike tire to at soccer goal post and throw footballs into it. As a kid, while others were doing their thing, I was outside on the street or at the park on the chains, shooting hoops and playing agains Magic Johnson, Isiah Thomas, Gus Williams, or Downtown Freddy Brown, and sometimes I was them… and I was at the field everyday throwing a football at a hoop with a net on it. I had four footballs, an old ten speed tire with a net around it that my mom sewed to it, and I threw 150 to 300 passes a day into the tire because that’s what a coach at WSU told me to do, if I wanted to become a better quarterback. Being is a lonely existence, but so much fun and rewarding and if one wants to be good, they need to be willing to give up some things. Enjoy your summer and check out the video below. 

https://youtu.be/hG-KWqWxZA0 … Manu Watsa [PGC Monday Mindset]. (July 3, 2023) A Cure for Boredom [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/hG-KWqWxZA0

I hope everyone’s summer has started off well… Although I got skunked for the first time at a lake I fished yesterday, I am sure fishing will improve. It was nice to venture into the mountains anyway… despite the slow action. 

Obviously, No Open Gym Times this week… Please keep checking back for possible volleyball and basketball opportunities. 

Basketball Opportunities in Town (SA) this summer: 

1. Boise State Men’s Basketball Team will be visiting Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, on August 3rd, this summer. The WolfPack of TRU will be playing the NCAA Division I school in a summer exhibition game. Again, being able to watch high level basketball, this close to home, is a fantastic opportunity for any young athletes who aspire to be basketball players. Click on the link below and click on the TICKETS ON SALE NOW to purchase tickets for the game. Tickets are selling fast. The Game is on August 3, 2023, at the TCC in Kamloops, at 6:00PM. If you do go to the game, please search me out in the stands… I would love to chat. 

https://gowolfpack.ca/news/2023/6/9/mens-basketball-wolfpack-set-to-host-ncaa-power-boise-state-in-kamloops.aspx

2. The below info pertains to a 3on3 tournament in Kelowna this summer and again, this is another fantastic opportunity. The Tournament is for any body interested. One does not have to be a member of Salmon Arm Synergy Basketball… If you have any questions, please reach out to me.

 We are excited to announce our annual 3x3 tournament - The GW Blacktop Classic! 

We would like to officially invite Synergy to participate! 

As a local youth basketball program, your athletes have time to sign-up before registration opens to the public on July 1st. 

Registration Is Free!  

How to register:

1. Recruit a team of 4 players who fit into an age-category. 

2. Click the correct link below. 

3. Make sure you register your Team Name and include player names. 

DIVISIONS ARE BASED ON GRADES IN SEPTEMBER, 2023. 

Girls Divisions 

Grade 4/5

Grade 6/7

Grade 8/9

Grade 10-12

Womens Open

Boys Divisions

Grade 4/5

Grade 6/7

Grade 8/9

Grade 10-12

Mens Open

3. Hoops are Hot Camp at Sullivan in August. Check details online, or check back on this Blog next week. 

4. Parker Martens (former Kelowna Christian student/athlete and Edge Prep Athlete out of Calgary) is offering Training Sessions this summer on the SMS Sport Courts. I have a brochure outlining his information and details; however, I am unable to post it on this Blog. I can send it to you if you are interested… just email me at synergybasketball2014@gmail.com and I can send you his brochure… or contact Parker directly at parkermartens33@gmail.com …or Instagram - pxrkmartens … or Text him at (250) 575-1335… Parker has just signed with Simpson University, which is an NAIA School in California. I believe that having the opportunities to workout with college or university athletes is a great benefit for young athletes… The opportunity would be like a summer long camp and it is at home. If one can fit this opportunity into their summer, I strongly recommend taking advantage of the opportunity. 

4. Volleyball… Contact me if you would like the use of one of our outdoor nets. I can lone them out to our athletes, if they would use them. Text me at 250-253-7009 … PLUS!!! … The TRU Volleyball Camp at the end of summer is for both girls and boys. I will post information next week, or just go to the TRU Athletic Website, or contact Chad Grimm directly. 

Please keep checking back to this Blog on a weekly basis. I will updated it all summer long. Last minute information will also be posted here.

Enjoy the Shuswap Sun… Cheers

LAST WEEK OF SCHOOL… SMS ATHLETICS 2023 - JUNE 26th to June 29th

*THIS WEEK…

Monday, June 26th…

*Grade 7 Boys Basketball 2 Day Mini Camp… After School, from 2:30 to 4:00

Tuesday, June 27th…

*Grade 7 Boys Basketball 2 Day Mini Camp … After School, from 2:30 to 4:00

 *Summer Opportunity … TRU Men’s Basketball Team is Hosting Boise State, a Div I NCAA Team that plays in the Mountain West Conference, and did extremely well in NCAA Tournament last year. The game is this summer on August 3rd, at 6:00PM, at the TCC in Kamloops. Tickets are selling fast and can be purchased by clicking the link below in the article about the game. Click on TICKETS ON SALE NOW in the article for ticket information. 

https://gowolfpack.ca/news/2023/6/9/mens-basketball-wolfpack-set-to-host-ncaa-power-boise-state-in-kamloops.aspx

*We want to wish all of our grade 8 students the best of luck as they move on to grade nine next year. No matter where one ends up, we hope that our grade eights continue to pursue athletics, their dreams, and they pursue excellence as they move forward in life. Mr. Henderson and Mr. Smith are always in awe at the level of volleyball played in the mornings at SMS. All of our athletes have improved so much. Particularly those in grade eight, who have put a lot of time into the sport over the past three years. Their level of play in the mornings has really shown how far they have come and if they are given the opportunities to continue, the possibilities and their ceilings will be very high! Mr. Henderson and Mr. Smith are really proud of those who have continued to take advantage of the opportunities that have been provided at SMS in the way of open gym times and training sessions. One does not get better unless they put the time into their craft. Our volleyball athletes put in the time and many have taken advantage, over the years, of the open gym opportunities provided. If one wants to continue to improve, get better, and increase their level of play, one needs to continue to put in the work, take advantage of the opportunities our there, and create their own opportunities. ….”After athletes stop their workout routines and enter into a detraining period, reversibility occurs rather quickly. There is no exact rule because everyone's body is unique, but the training loss occurs at about one-third the rate of the gains. The loss of various physical skills can occur in just one to two weeks.” … Reminder … The summer is the time that athletes put in the work. They go to camps, following workout and training routines, cross train by playing and participating in a variety of summer-off-season sports like tennis, outdoor/beach volleyball, bike riding, etc. 

*Contact Mr. Smith if you want to borrow an outdoor net … organize a group of athletes and meet at one of our parks or school fields and play on our outdoor nets. Please use the Sport Courts at SMS and Jackson over the summer. Organize softball games or flag/touch football games at our school fields…Reminder… tennis, baseball and football are the best sports to use as cross training activities… they increase so much in the way of physical literacy and are great off-season sports that young people can play. 

*See Camp information below for both volleyball and basketball… UofA runs incredible volleyball camps over the summer months… long way to go, but if you are in that area, or have family in Edmonton, attending a UofA Camp could be worth your while. 

*Check this Blog on a regular basis… I will be updating it every Sunday over the summer, and I will be offering opportunities for our athletes to take advantage of… 

- Grass Volleyball Days, at SMS … Check the Blog over the summer

- Grass Volleyball Tournament, at SMS … over the Summer… Mr. Smith would like to run this … Please check the Blog … Wheels are turning…

- Plans… Volleyball Pre-Season Camp at the beginning of September… at SMS … for Gr. 7-8’s … 2:30 to 4:00 … Sept 5th, 6th, 7th, … 

- Basketball Players… Go to Camp… Meet at the SMS Sport Courts on a regular basis to work on your skills/game/craft, and to play … play lots! Check out salmonarmsynergybasketball.blogspot.com … Mr. Smith’s Basketball Blog has lots of workout ideas; plus, videos, articles, and ideas that help an basketball player… become a better basketball player… Oh… Basketball Players… play touch/flag football, baseball, tennis, and beach/grass volleyball over the summer… if one just does basketball … well … one is setting themselves up for possible injuries, one is not working on increase their overall physical literacy, and one is failing to challenge their body physically, their mind mentally, and themselves emotionally… Doing things that we are not good at and competing in those sports/activities that we struggle in, or where the playing field is more balanced for us, sets up a great possibility to lose… Learning to lose, fail, struggle, and be awkward helps us grow… take chances in the off-season… Challenge your mind, body, and soul…

*Have a Great Summer! 

SMS ATHLETICS - JUNE 19 to JUNE 23 - VOLLEYBALL CAMP

 *Mr Smith is running a Volleyball Camp, at SMS this week, for Gr. 6-7-8 Girls and Boys. Since TRU will not be running their camp to begin the summer in SA (they will be back next June), Mr. Smith wants to provide an opportunity for our SMS Volleyball Players to get prepared for summer with some volleyball training ideas. 

Volleyball Camp Info…

Registration: Show up Both Days

Cost: Free … no cost … Yet, the facilitator’s time and what campers can learn is … Priceless.

When: Monday, June 19, 2023, and Wednesday, June 21, 2023… After school from 2:30 to 4:00

Where: SMS Gym

***Since we missed AM Volleyball Open Gym last week due to the band concert, we will have our last open gym for volleyball this Friday, June 23, from 7AM to 8:10AM

***NO AM Open Gym this week on Monday thru Thursday… 

***Please Check your home for uniforms and return them asap to Mr. Smith

***Check out this Blog on a Regular basis throughout the Summer… Mr. Smith will update the Blog and communicate basketball and volleyball opportunities info - there might be … open gym days, grass court vball days, training opportunities, etc…

***Again, if your summer schedule works and you can afford it, try to attend a vball or bball camp this summer. There are lots of camps out there; however, I strongly recommend attending a camp put on by a university, and then try to attend that camp every year. Other local camps are good and provide a great opportunity to be coached, learn, and develop skill, but there’s so much more one will receive from attending a university camp. 

SUMMER SPORT CAMPS…

UBCO Heat Basketball Camp … Girls July 17 to 21 - see website for cost and times                                                           

                                                …. Boys July 24 to 28 - see website 

                                                …. Boys August 8 to 11 - see website

TRU Volleyball Camp … Girls August 28 to 31 - Ages 10 to 13 8:30AM to 11:00AM & Ages 14 to 17 11:30 to 2:00 … $125 … Register at GOWOLFPACK.CA/WVBCAMP

Hoop Are Hot in the Shuswap Basketball Camp … I will find out more info and post the info

Sky Volleyball Camps begin July 4th and run until the end of July… see Sky’s Webpage for details

SMS ATHLETICS - JUNE 12th TO JUNE 16th

 *Please keep in mind, this will be the last week of AM Open Gym Sessions for this school year. Normally, we would be gearing up for our annual TRU Basketball Camp; however, with the new coaching change on the TRU Men’s Basketball Team, we won’t be hosting the camp this summer. Also, after last year’s very successful TRU Volleyball Camp held at SMS, coach Grimm (TRU Women’s Volleyball Coach) has been away in Europe this past year and won’t be returning until mid July, so SMS won’t be hosting the TRU Volleyball Camp either to begin our summer; however, Coach Grimm will return next year to offer his volleyball camp in Salmon Arm, and our Annual TRU Basketball Camp will be held in early September, when we get back to school. 

***Coach Smith’s Strong Suggestion … Summer/Off-Season Recommendations … As a young athlete growing up, I was always encouraged by my coaches (all who played university sports or professional sports themselves) to attend university camps in the summer. So, beginning in Gr. 7, I went to local basketball camps held at UVIC and BCIT to begin my summer. In Gr. 8, I also started going to the WSU Football Camp, in Pullman Washington, at the end of June every year. It was at these camps that my dreams and goals took shape. It was at these camps that I learned and developed my skills, heard stories, learned lessons, and became even more motivated. It was at these camps that I was able to receive and set out my summer workout schedule and training. And, it was at these camps that I met and introduced myself to high level coaches, who later on took notice of me and put me on their radar. University summer camps are still awesome experiences and great places for young athletes to chase/kick-start their dreams. For me, by attending university camps every summer until grade twelve, my dreams turned into goals that eventually came to fruition. At a young age, I saw myself on campus, playing university sports. Each school year, I became more focused in the classroom, my off-season training became more purposeful, I became better skilled and confident as a player on my school teams, and as I gained more confidence as an athlete, student, and person, I slowly began to overcome a lot of natural fears, and I was able to curb my shyness and introverted tendencies. 

Since being in SA, I have brought in Scott Clark (when he was coaching at SFU and TRU) to Salmon Arm to run basketball camps for our young athletes, which began back in 1998. My reasoning was to introduce our local athletes to a university coach/players, have our athletes coached by a university coach/players, and expose our SA basketball players to the possibilities of university sports. However, the best kickback by having coach Clark come to SA every July was that our basketball players became better high school players and our basketball teams were able to increase their level of compete on the court.

I strongly believe that one should chase their dreams because as one chases their dreams, doors open and new possibilities are exposed. And, sometimes we don’t even know what our dreams are because we fail to expose ourselves to the endless opportunities that are out there. I have always encouraged my basketball and volleyball players to attend university camps and this off-season should be no different. 

Opportunities this summer…. ***Keep in mind, Camps fill up quickly and one can register now… so, please check your calendar and check both the UBCO and TRU Websites. 

*for basketball - UBCO has separate summer camps for both boys and girls … check their website for details. Camps are in both July and August… In Salmon Arm… Check out Hoops Are Hot … I hope all who in town in August attend our local Bball Camp… In early September - TRU will be running a Basketball Camp at SMS (details will be posted on this Blog in July).

*for volleyball - TRU Camp is August 30th to Sept 2 in Kamloops - “It’s a Great Camp!” I hope that our SMS Volleyball Athletes can attend the TRU Camp… UBCO has volleyball camps for all ages in July and they do a great job - Check out the Heat Camps … SMS Outdoor Grass Volleyball in the Summer???  - Keep checking back on this Blog for details… 

*Please note: I will be continuing to post information about summer opportunities and next year’s SMS Athletics on a weekly basis. Please check in regularly. Next Fall’s Volleyball Schedule will be posted on this Blog next week and Next Fall/Winter’s SMS Basketball Schedule will be post within the next two weeks. Reminder… Rugby for Gr. 6-7-8 Girls and Boys starts in September and Gr. 8 Cross Country Running also starts up in early September. 

OPEN GYM THIS WEEK …

Monday, June 12…

*Basketball Games … 7AM to 8:10AM

Tuesday, June 13…

*Volleyball Games … 7AM to 8:10AM

Wednesday, June 14…

*NO OPEN GYM…

Thursday, June 15…

*Basketball Games… 7AM to 8:10AM

Friday, June 16…

*NO AM Volleyball … DUE TO BAND CONERT … AM VOLLEYBALL IS CANCELLED