Let’s face it, as great as it is to take the time to relax and chill out, it doesn’t take long for the energy to build back up in kids. They need an outlet, and summer sport camps are a great place to both get the energy out and take advantage of off-season training.
Verona resident and NJ Basketball Academy co-founder Bill Maranz offers a basketball camp throughout the summer. The camp takes place at three different locations with activities, drills, and times geared toward specific age groups. The Basketball and Junior Basketball Camps all take place in August which works for me because by then, the extra energy has really built up! For questions or to sign up, please call Coach “M” at (973) 571-0864.
Golf. A fantastic sport if you have the patience for it. I do not, but there are clearly plenty of people who do. To get your child started off on the right course,Verona resident and golf pro, Chris Brady, is offering a Juniors Golf camp. The camp runs from 9am-12pm and kids will learn skills for both their long and short games as well as participate in a mini-tournament. The camp is for children ages 7-14 and is held Monday through Thursday, the weeks of July 12, July 26, August 2 and August 16. The camp is at the Willowbrook Golf Center Monday to Wednesday with Thursdays at Twin Willows. The cost is $225 per child per week. For more information or to sign up, please contact Brady at (973) 979-9086.
If you have a daughter interested in playing lacrosse, here is a great opportunity to either learn something new or continue to develop existing skills. The Verona Lacrosse Camp strives to provide a strong foundation for a well rounded lacrosse player. The camp will focus on developing fundamental skills, challenging the players to execute new skills in a game setting, meeting new friends, and having fun with the game of lacrosse! The camp is open to everyone from the experienced player to the beginner and is run by Suzanne Giarusso and Barbara Ann Erickson, coaches for Verona High School. The camp is open to girls entering grades 3-9 this September and will be held July 12 to 16 from 5 to 8 p.m. at H.B. Whitehorne Middle School’s field. The cost is $135 per child for the week and includes a t-shirt. For more info or any questions, contact Erickson at (973) 818-4547.
Or get ready for fall with football camp! VHS Head Football Coach Lou Racioppe, his assistants and players will run this program. The camp covers football fundamentals and encourages work on the specialty plays like punts, kicks, long snaps, and blocking as well as speed drills, footwork and pass rush techniques. Progressive drills for linemen, running backs, receivers and quarterbacks will also be covered. There will be a film review, passing scrimmages, competitions and more. “This is a great opportunity to have some fun, learn some football, and get to meet the players and coaches that have made the Verona football program so successful over the last several years,” Racioppe says. The camp is open to current 2nd through 8th graders and will be held from Monday July 19 through Friday July 23 from 9 a.m. to noon at the VHS football practice field. The cost is $125 and includes a t-shirt. Please call Racioppe at (973) 857-8068 for more information on signing up.
Baseball season may be ending, but there is no better time to get some extra practice than the summer: Baseball camp will do just that!
Racioppe, who is also VHS’s baseball coach, runs this program as well. The camp will cover baseball fundamentals such as hitting, fielding, catching, pitching, bunting, and base running. There will be games, contests, home run derbies and more. The camp is open to current 1st through 6th graders and will be held Monday July 12 through Friday July 16 from 9 a.m. to noon at VHS’s baseball field. The cost is $125 and includes a t-shirt. Again, contact Racioppe at (973) 857-8068 for more information on signing up.
