Nike Basketball and US Sports Camps Team Up at UA Wayne College

What’s more fun for a youngster than a week of summer vacation spent at grandma and grandpa’s house? For A.J. Gerber of Vermilion, it’s a week of vacation at his grandparents’ house combined with a five day basketball camp. The 7-year-old spent last week with his grandparents, Rich and Becky Gerber of Orrville, and also attended Nike Basketball and US Sports Camp at The University of Akron Wayne College.

A.J.’s father, Neil Gerber, who played for the Orrville High School basketball team in the 1990s, found out about the camp online and scheduled A.J.’s visit with his grandparents around the camp. A.J.’s grandmother says the camp was a positive experience and that “A.J. learned a lot just in the first two days.”

The camp, which is a joint venture between US Sports Camps and Nike Basketball, is in its first year at Wayne College and was attended by 35 boys ranging in age from 7 to 15 years old. The College was chosen as a location due in part to a relationship between Nike and The University of Akron. Nike serves as the official provider of the uniforms, sneakers and apparel for The University of Akron’s men’s basketball program, led by head coach Keith Dambrot.

According to Camp Director Patrick Rufener, who is also the Head Men’s Basketball Coach and Athletic Director at the College, the program is unique in its goal of helping young athletes become self-directed learners. In addition to helping participants refine fundamental basketball skills and develop physically, the camp also equips them to continue improving independently after the camp is over.

“We teach that learning has three components: knowledge, attitude, and application. Campers learn to monitor their own progress through the tracking of certain skill assessments. This process does not happen naturally so we intentionally teach them how to monitor their own growth. The result is a more motivated camper who persists when faced with obstacles,” Rufener said.

The program, which the College hopes to expand next year to include a five day camp for girls, is held Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and includes offensive technique, defensive skills, shooting, passing, ball scrimmage and fun games. For more information about the program, contact Patrick Rufener at 330-684-8906.

UA Wayne College is a regional branch campus of The University of Akron and is located at 1901 Smucker Road in Orrville.