FORT SMITH, Ark. – Summer is rapidly approaching, and area youth will have several opportunities to hone their athletic skills during summer sports camps conducted by members of the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith coaching staff.

Individual camps will be conducted in the sports of men’s and women’s basketball, baseball, volleyball and cross country throughout the summer. Camp applications are available on-line and at the athletic office located inside the Stubblefield Center.

For more information, call (479) 788-7590.

Cross Country

UA Fort Smith cross country coach Jason Merritt will conduct a cross country camp and clinic. The running camp will be May 31-June 4 from 6:30-9:30 a.m. each day at Fort Smith’s Ben Geren Park, which is located at 7200 Zero Street.

The camp is for male and female runners 13-years-old and older. Cost for the camp is $80 per camper.

            The camp is designed for those who want to improve their competitive running and conditioning levels. Camp will consist of actual workouts designed to directly stress designated energy systems and will concentrate on developing aerobic, anaerobic, and glycolytic systems with a more effective, efficient, and long term approach.

   Campers will complete the training with direct feedback from Merritt. Time will then be given to address questions concerning the training and what adaptations are produced.

            The running clinic will be June 5 from 8 a.m.-noon at the Math-Science Building Conference Room on the UA Fort Smith campus, which is located at 5210 Grand Ave.

The clinic will offer instruction for athletes and coaches on the science behind conditioning.  This clinic will contain both classroom instruction as well as question and answer sessions. 

The clinic is for male and female runners 13-years-old and older. Cost for the clinic is $50.

Men’s Basketball

UA Fort Smith men’s basketball coach Josh Newman will conduct two basketball camps at the Stubblefield Center.

The camps will be held June 14-16 from 9 a.m.-noon and Aug. 2-4 from 9 a.m.-noon. Camps are open to boys in grades 2-6, and cost is $80 per camper.

Each camper will receive individual instruction in the fundamental areas of defense, rebounding, shooting and ball-handling. Each camper will receive individual instruction from members of the UA Fort Smith coaching staff and UA Fort Smith players. Each camper will participate in individual skills contests, and each camper will participate in organized team competitions.

Camp applications are available at www.uafortsmith.edu/Basketball.

Newman also will conduct his Elite Camp on June 26 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Stubblefield Center. The camp is open to boys in grades 7-12, and the cost is $40 per player.

Campers will receive guard and post position instruction and player evaluations, and campers will also participate in five-on-five scrimmage games.

Camp applications are available at www.uafortsmith.edu/Basketball.

Women’s Basketball

UA Fort Smith women’s basketball coach Louis Whorton will conduct three basketball shooting camps this summer at the Stubblefield Center.

The camps will be held June 21-23 from 9 a.m.-noon, June 28-30 from 9 a.m.-noon and July 26-28 from 9 a.m.-noon. Camps are for girls in grades 3-8, and cost is $80 per camper.

The shooting camps consist of all phases of shooting the basketball. Each camper will participate in shooting off the pass and shooting off the dribble. The camp staff will stress proper hand position, footwork and follow-through, which will improve shooting technique. Each camper’s shot will be videotaped and critiqued by the women’s basketball coaching staff. Each camper will learn ten shooting drills that they will be able to use at home.

Camp applications are available at www.uafortsmith.edu/WBasketball.

Volleyball

UA Fort Smith volleyball coach Jane Sargent will conduct a volleyball camp on June 7-9 at the Stubblefield Center.

The camp will be held in two sessions. The first session will be for boys and girls in grades K-7 and will run from 9 a.m.-noon each day. The second session will be for boys and girls in grades 8-12 and will run from 1-4 p.m. each day.

Cost for the camp is $80 per camper or $140 for two campers in the same family.

Campers will receive individual instruction in all fundamental phases of volleyball, including passing, serving, hitting, digging and blocking. Each camper will participate in the scrimmage matches during each session. Instruction, activities and supervision will be classified according to age.

Camp applications are available at www.uafortsmith.edu/Volleyball.

Baseball

UA Fort Smith baseball coach Dale Harpenau will conduct three baseball camps at Crowder Field.

The camps will be held June 7-9 from 9 a.m.-noon, June 14-16 from 9 a.m.-noon and June 21-23 from 9 a.m.-noon. Camps are open to boys ages 6-12, and cost is $80 per camper.

Each camper will receive individual instruction in the fundamental areas of fielding, throwing, base-running and hitting. Each camper will receive individual instruction from members of the UA Fort Smith coaching staff and UA Fort Smith players.

Camp applications are available at www.uafortsmith.edu/Baseball.