Slam dunk advice

Meet Pat Burke, a former collegiate basketball player at Auburn University who played professionally for the Orlando Magic and Phoenix Suns.

Q: At what age should children begin playing basketball and why?

A: Playing basketball isn’t meant to be age-specific; it’s meant to be fun. I didn’t start playing basketball until I was 16. I loved the game because it involves playing both sides—offense and defense—and I enjoyed the challenge of always striving to improve my game. But I had lots of fun doing it, and that’s the key.

Q: It’s natural for kids to want to be the leading scorer on their team. Tell me how your program, HOOPS Life, helps children become complete basketball players and not just scorers.

A: We ask kids thoughtprovoking questions that allow them to realize you cannot just shoot all the time because you want to score more points. There’s a shared responsibility when you’re on the basketball court with your teammates. We instill that into them.

Q: What are some things kids can do at home to improve their game?

A: Get plenty of sleep and eat proper nutrition. As far as training, you have to know where you are deficient in areas. A lot of kids like to shoot three-pointers because it’s fun, but they may not work on their weaknesses, such as ballhandling skills.

Q: For aspiring basketball players, what is the most important piece of advice you can share?

A: When I started playing, one of the keys I understood is that the coach is managing the decisions on who’s playing. I wanted to find out what my coach wanted from me; not what I wanted to give him. A coach is looking to execute a strategy with everybody, and therefore communication between the player and coach is important. Ask your coach questions such as, “What area of my game should I work on?” and “What are the three most important qualities you want in a player?”

Q: You played in the National Basketball Association. What kind of work ethic is required to make it to that level?

A: Spending a lot of time in the gym is not always the answer. A player may spend all day in the gym, but if he’s not really doing anything to improve, he’s just running around in circles. Other players spend one-hour training sessions working on intricate details of their game. It’s about what specific things you’re working on to improve your game.

Gold Timers

For many athletes seeking Olympic glory, the road begins at the National Training Center (NTC) in Clermont. The facility, which opened in 2001, features a 400-meter outdoor track-and-field complex, a 37,000 square-foot fitness center, an aquatic center, and a human performance lab for sportsscience testing.

In 2016, the National Training Center hosted 16 Olympic hopefuls vying for a spot in the Rio de Janeiro Summer Games. They represented different sports—track and field, swimming, and triathlon. In fact, athletes from all over the world, including the China National swim team, the Canadian Military triathlon team, and the Germany track team, train at the NTC.

PURE Athletics manages the track and field facility at the NTC. The program’s founder and head coach, Lance Brauman, has coached six Olympic and 12 World Championship gold medalists. He currently trains Olympic medalists such as Tyson Gay, Tori Bowie, and Shaunae Miller-Uibo.

Track and field fans can see these athletes—and many more— at two worldclass meets being held from 9am-3pm April 28 and May 12 at the NTC. Both competitions will feature Olympic-caliber talent from around the globe.

“The quality of the competitions easily rivals world-class international meets, but take place in a unique hometown atmosphere,” says Cristy Snellgroves, director of PURE Athletics Track Club. “Athletes will come to Clermont from as far away as Asia and Europe. The event is free, and spectators can sit trackside in their lawn chairs and marvel at the athleticism of these athletes.”

The PURE Athletics Track Club also trains cross country and track and field athletes ages 7-18. They will be able to showcase their talent at the PURE Athletics Invitational Meet on April 14 from 8:30am-5pm.

“Our program helps these young athletes reach their full potential by developing self-confidence, leadership skills, sportsmanship, self-discipline, and integrity through athletics,” Cristy says.

Other major NTC events include the Karen Hohne Invitational Swim Meet on April 28-29, and the Florida Rush Champions Cup, a soccer tournament, on May 19-20.

SUN, SAND, AND SPIKES

Avid sports fans do not have to drive up and down Florida’s coastline to enjoy exciting games of beach volleyball. The sport has found a permanent home in Lake County thanks to the $400,000 sand volleyball complex at Hickory Point in Tavares. The facility, which features 21 professional sand volleyball courts, is Florida’s largest permanent sand volleyball complex. It has hosted numerous tournaments, including the Florida USA Volleyball Beach Series opener and the American Beach Tour Adult Championship.

“I’ve been involved in beach volleyball for 25 years as a player and coach, so it’s really neat to see Lake County host some of the sport’s top players and tournaments,” says Chris Hamilton, events manager of Florida Region of USA Volleyball. “To have a facility like we have is very exciting, especially since women’s beach volleyball is the fastest-growing NCAA sport. We’re very blessed that county leaders stood behind us and helped market our events.”

In 2018, fans can go to Hickory Point and watch this exciting sport, which combines speed, power, agility, and hand-eye coordination.

MARCH 3-4

Sanctioned by USA Volleyball, the Florida Region of USA Volleyball Beach Series national qualifier is making its way to Lake County. Both adults and juniors can compete in the event. Winning teams advance to the USA National Beach Tour Championships, coming July 19-24 at Siesta Key.

MARCH 16-17

Stetson University’s beach volleyball team, the defending champions of the Atlantic Sun Conference, hosts the Hickory Point Lake Bash. During the two-day event, the Hatters face North CarolinaWilmington, New Mexico, Florida Atlantic, and Houston Baptist.

APRIL 6-8

The American Volleyball Coaches Association is bringing its inaugural AVCA Small College Beach Championship to Tavares. Some of the schools competing in the event include Florida Southern, Texas A&M-Kingsville, Missouri Baptist, St. Leo, and San Diego City College.

APRIL 13-14

For the second year, the Sunshine State Athletic Conference, which comprises private and charter schools throughout Florida, selected Hickory Point as the site of its beach volleyball championship.

Sources: floridavolleyball.org gohatters.com/news/2017/12/7/beach-volleyball-announces-2018-schedule.aspx avca.org/events/small-college-beach-champ.html