Fun & games: Check out the Y’s sports camps

BY BRIAN FLYNN, LYNCH/ VAN OTTERLOO YMCA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Sports Camps at the Y

Nick Harshaw is the sports director at the Lynch/van Otterloo YMCA and will oversee our Sports Camps this summer. Harshaw graduated from Gordon College with a degree in sports management. Since graduating, Harshaw has been coaching youth sports at a variety of levels.

Campers in our sports program last summer will remember Coach Nick and the key role he played on our camp staff team. We are excited to see him take the next step and lead Sports Camps this summer.

We also look forward to welcoming back some of our incredible staff from last summer including Zac Wilbert. Coach Zac is a recent graduate from Endicott College in sports management and was part of our experienced coaching staff this past season in our Jr. Celtics Basketball league.

From Sports Mania, basketball and soccer to flag football and wrestling, we have something for everyone to try. Y camps are a great place to meet new friends, get outside, explore

BASKETBALL CAMP new activities and stay busy all summer long. Join us for a variety of sports camps for different ages and interests this summer at the Y. Check out the different options, age ranges and dates below.

MINI SPORTS MANIA CAMP

Ages 5-6, Dates: June 20 to August 11

Mini Sports Mania introduces a variety of sports to young campers, encouraging them to try new things and stay active while having fun. This program focuses on youth development through sports and games.

Ages 8-12, Dates: July 4-7 and July 31-August 4 Work on drills, skills, scrimmaging and movement of the game. This camp will start and end with a test that will show your camper where they have improved and what they should be focused on moving forward.

SOCCER CAMP

Ages 8-12, Dates: July 10-14 and August 7-11 In this camp, your child will have the opportunity to develop their individual soccer skills, their knowledge of movement on the soccer field, their soccer

IQ and their ability to be a great teammate. They will learn new drills, work on skills and play scrimmages against other campers. Your child will also have typical day camp offerings including swim time, games and lunch.

SPORTS MANIA CAMP

Ages 7-11, Dates:June 20 to August 11

Sports Mania is for campers who have an interest in learning new sports and being active. Our coaches help athletes improve their skills or learn new ones in a wide range of sports.

FLAG FOOTBALL CAMP

Ages 8-12, Dates: July 17-21

This program will emphasize learning new skills and progressing as a football player. We will be working on drills and scrimmaging, and focus on route running, footwork, defensive techniques and more. This camp includes a swim block as well as time for other fun camp activities. A great choice for any camper looking to take it to the next level in football.

WRESTLING CAMP

Ages 7-12, Dates: July 24-28

This camp is a partnership with the Swampscott/ Marblehead Wrestling Team. This program is run by coaches from the Swampscott/ Marblehead team and athletes on the team to ensure that your campers will be learning from experienced wrestlers. Campers will spend the morning learning new wrestling techniques and in the in the afternoon they will enjoy traditional camp activities like swimming and games. northshoreymca.org/programs/ lynchvan-otterloo-ymca-camps

The Y is Better with Friends

Refer a friend to the Y and we’ll thank you with a free month of membership while your friend receives a $0 enrollment fee. Visit the welcome center or reach out to Membership Director Jane Rizza at rizzaj@northshoreymca.org.

About the YMCA

The Y is one of the nation’s leading nonprofits, strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. For more than 160 years, the YMCA of the North Shore has been the foundation of the community. It serves more than 40,000 members and program participants in 25 cities and towns across the North Shore and in southern New Hampshire.