The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Kelly Carrington Staff Writer Smack dab in the middle of volleyball season, the Creighton Kodiaks dribbled their way to success this past weekend. The young athletes competed in the BIGS Basketball Camp hosted by two former University of Saskatchewan Huskies, Jana Spindler and Marci Kiselyk. Kodiaks coach Ryan Trumbley says the athletes drastically improved from day one to the third and final day. "They started a two-on-two continuous drill on Friday and it was awful," said Trumbley on Sunday. "They were doing it this morning and the drill just ran flawlessly." Watching the 25 Kodiaks on the court at Creighton Community School, Trumbley says it was evident they were learning and working on a variety of skills. "They did a lot of shooting competitions, ball handling and a lot of different passing drills," he said. "A lot of the stuff our kids had already worked on, but in a different way." Using similar drills wasn't only a positive for the athletes, as Trumbley says it let him know he and the other coaches are on the right track. Spindler, who spearheaded the camp with fellow Husky Kiselyk, said for the first time they were able to coach on their own. "...this is our pilot project and it's been a lot of fun," says Spindler, who played with the Huskies for five years. Generally, the BIGS Basketball Camp is spread out over the course of a week in the summer. Due to the athletes being in school as well as participating in other sports, the camp was condensed into three days. "We try to compact as much as we can," said Spindler, who says the instruction also depends in the skill level of those participating. With a variety of skill levels on the court this weekend, the instructors brought back the basics. "We come in with the basics and gauge how they are doing with that and how much competitive drills and how much they they want to do for skill development," said Spindler. Spending the weekend with the Creighton athletes, Spindler says she had a lot of fun. "Every single of one them, no matter what the score, have been busting their butts and working hard," she said. "We've been able to cover so much." Spindler said the competition level didn't let up over the course of the camp while sometimes it was girls vs guys, Grade 9s vs Grade 12s or even individual. "Other than getting to know all the kids, getting to see the competitive fire (was a highlight)," said Spindler. "All the little things, like little victories...and just how fired up they get is a highlight." Both Spindler and Kiselyk had seen a few of the athletes at previous camps as well as a conference last spring. 'Improvement' "I've known some of these kids from different camps and just coming back and seeing the improvement from the last time I saw them, that's been awesome," said Spindler. "It's great to come up here and work with all these kids who have various different levels of talent," said Kiselyk. "They have all improved so much over the course of the weekend." Coaching others at the sport she loves, Kiselyk says she wishes she would have started coaching at a higher level earlier. "After coaching, it makes me understand how to play a lot better," she said. "I think it would have helped my own basketball career (to coach earlier)." A competitive player, Kiselyk says her favourite part of the camps is seeing that spirit within the young athletes. "I love getting to see the kids competing and they are going so hard and getting really into it," he said. "I love to see that, when they care so much about what they are doing." Both Spindler and Kiselyk graduated from the University of Saskatchewan last year, but will be continuing in the basketball world. With the women coaching opposing high school teams, Kiselyk says she is looking forward to the season. The Kodiaks' season does not start until December, and Trumbley says that's one of the disadvantages of having the camp so early. But, he says, it was the only time available. "They are going to forget some of it, but I think the key points will stick," said Trumbley. "They may forget it, but I won't and when I bring it up in the season, they will pick it up." The Creighton coach says having two of Canada's top basketball players coming to town to coach the players is a big advantage. "When they come down and work with our kids, I think it just creates a general excitement for the sport," said Trumbley. The coach says another positive was the fact that both coaches are female. "Seeing this from two phenomenal female players, to see them doing it, is something that's really good for the (girls)," he said. "They can see that a girl can do something like that. I think when it's a guy coaching, lot of the times they just think 'oh, guys can do that, girls can't' so just to see the girls out there doing these difficult combination dribble drives and they know it's possible," said Trumbley. The BIGS Basketball Camp was a first for Creighton, but there are high hopes for this opportunity to come back another year.
