Duluth parent speaks mind on Rookie Basketball youth program
Registration is open for all six Rookie Basketball Association summer clinics for kids in grades K–6, held June 27 to Aug. 3 at the Duluth Salvation Army.
Keavin Bostrom would urge you to register your child now. He knows how valuable the league is. His son, Nick, played in it during the late 2000s, from kindergarten through fourth grade.
“RBA celebrates the kids – the rules are altered to favor learning and participation by all,” said Bostrom (pictured with Nick). “The friends Nick made at that time are still some of the closest friends he has now.”
Today, Nick is a three-sport varsity athlete at Hermantown High School. He plays football, baseball, and – surprise, surprise – basketball. After he graduates this spring, he’s off to study and play football at the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth.
The life skills Nick learned in the RBA will carry over nicely to his upcoming football and academic careers.
“Nick learned teamwork and the value of helping others achieve their own success,” Bostrom said. “He learned to respect the rules, the refs, and the coaches. He learned to work hard … to give it your all.”
The RBA taught Bostrom something, too – that the Duluth Salvation Army is an organization well worth supporting.
“As a family, we have rung bells at the mall during Christmastime for most of the years since we started with RBA,” Bostrom said.
Nick has many fond memories of playing RBA basketball, including when he and his dad would celebrate when all the kids on Nick’s team scored at least one basket in a game.
Nick’s two favorite moments: “When I hit a buzzer-beater to win a game, and the kids vs. moms games – we had a blast,” he said.
Thankfully, Bostrom’s involvement in the RBA did not end when Nick aged out of the league. He and his wife have other young children, one of whom just finished his first year of RBA action.
“We are looking forward to many years of a great experience again,” Bostrom said.
2016 summer clinics
All six of the upcoming summer clinics are all-day camps that will focus on basketball fundamentals and building the character qualities of integrity, teamwork, and excellence. Players in grades K–6 will develop individual and team skills through training drills, individual contests, and game play.
The clinics are broken into three age groups: K–1, 2–3, and 4–6. Throughout summer there will be two clinics for each age group. The clinics for kids in grades 2 and above run 9 a.m.–4 p.m. for three consecutive days. The clinics for the K–1 kids run 9 a.m.–4 p.m. for two consecutive days.
Learn more about the Rookie Basketball Association, including specific clinic dates, in the league’s summer newsletter.
Register before May 27 for a $10 discount. All clinics include a T-shirt and daily hot lunch.
For more information visit the Duluth Salvation Army website or call Kris Mallet at 218-576-6174.