Former NBA players to put on a Basketball Camp in Springfield
There’s more to sports than being a professional player. Just as a community needs people coming together to make it thrive, a sports team relies upon those in a multitude of professions to be successful.
That message is one that J Raymond hopes kids will absorb during the Springfield MA Annual Basketball Camp running August 20 through 22. The camp is the first of its kind, encouraging students to consider career paths and educational opportunities in other professions within the world of sports like media, physician, marketing or agent.
“Everybody won’t be an NBA star,” Raymond said. “They need to know to use basketball as a platform to get a four-year degree and do something else pertaining to basketball.”
While students will learn hoops skills, they’ll also learn life skills like money management and off-the-court understanding of what it’s like to be a scout, sports agent or in sports marketing from experts like Raymond who owns RSJ Sports Marketing and Management.
The camp for ages 10 through 17 is open to students in Springfield and surrounding areas. All proceeds from the camp will go towards scholarships for local students pursuing a variety of careers. Scholarship applications can be found on the event website and are open to high school seniors and college freshmen. The deadline for applications is August 15.
Scholarships are sponsored by several groups including Greener Timbers, an organization managed by Raymond’s wife Dr. Timberlin Chatman-Raymond. That particular scholarship is for those majoring in disciplines like sports psychology, sports medicine or Dr. Chatman-Raymond’s professional interests in clinical psychology and neuroscience.
The Stand Out Truck® is being used to bring awareness of the camp to students in Springfield’s urban neighborhoods, but it’s also letting businesses and organizations know about opportunities to sponsor the camp or to assist with scholarships.
“We need their support. This is a self-funded project,” said Dr. Chatman-Raymond. “The more support that we can gain from some of these organizations, it will really help to benefit youth in our communities.”
Among the scholarships are those for students focusing on social advocacy, others are for marketing and media. They highlight the variety of opportunities surrounding sports whether personal assistant, team front office, doctor or physician therapist and the need to continue education and understand the different elements that work together.
“There are people behind the NBA and NFL that make it possible,” said Raymond.
The couple has partnered with Parent Villages in Springfield to help promote and organize the camp and bring the community together. Their involvement underscores the need for others to be involved, whether senior leaders or neighbors or mentors, to help children be successful.
“When we think about a village it takes everybody,” said Dr. Chatman-Raymond.
Many professional basketball players, athletic coaches and community volunteers will assist with camp activities. The camp will conclude with a winner-take-all tournament at Springfield College where the game of basketball was born.
Raymond hopes that students leave recognizing the importance of the community relying upon each other.
“We have a saying, ‘LUA LOA,’” Raymond said. “Let Us Always Love One Another.”
The camp will run August 20 through 22 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and take place at several area facilities. Students will receive breakfast and lunch daily. Registration is requested by August 19.
For registration and additional information visit:
https://www.rsjsportsmarketingandmanagement.com/registration
Details about the scholarships can be found at:
https://www.rsjsportsmarketingandmanagement.com/scholarship-information
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