The Annual Joe Farroba Anguilla Basketball Camp was held last week from 14th – 18th August for the 6th consecutive year. With an enrollment of 70 participants, the camp was attended by boys and girls from all 7 districts of Anguilla, reiterating the inclusion, harmony and spirit of island-wide cooperation that the Joe Farroba Anguilla Basketball Camp is built on. This year 50% of the participants were attending for the first time (an increase of 8% on last year), in all age ranges from ages 7 – 19 years. 10% were females and several received sponsorship to attend. The 13-14 year age range was well represented, building on the recent 13U Basketball Tournament recently held in Anguilla.
The camp continues to provide extensive basketball coaching, starting daily with warm-up exercises, 7 drill stations using 6 basketball rims and including basketball handling training. Following this, skills competitions were held each day, with winners being rewarded with give-aways, such as flip flops and FLOW water bottles and each day ended with a motivational talk by Coach Farroba. The camp is a successful collaboration between the hosts Anguilla’s Department of Sports, Coach Joseph J. Farroba (Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Bridgewater State University with 42 years of coaching experience), and facilitator, the JC Recreational Centre.
Camp Founder Coach Joe Farroba was joined by 3 local coaches – Mr. Delano Mussington, Mr. Ian “Tucker” Connor and Mr. Calyde Hughes (new this year), along with 5 of his regular coaches from Massachusetts in the US – Mr. Don Byron (Head coach, Oliver Ames High School), Mr. Brian Ferris (Assistant Coach Bridgewater State University), Mr. David Barrett, Mr. Mike Byron and Mr. Jack Barrett. This year they were also joined by Mr. Richard Mahler (chaplain for the New York Knicks), and 19 year old former camper Mr. Andre Duncan (coaching assistant). This ensured that the camp maintained its usual high youth to coach ratio at the drill stations set up on the JC Recreational Centre covered sport court. Special appreciation is given to all the coaches for their continued interest, dedication and contribution of finances, time and attention – donating a week to the youth of Anguilla.
In keeping with previous years, the camp had a visit from a local sporting success. Ms. Mikiah Harrigan, a former Joe Farroba basketball camper from the first camp in 2012 to 2014, was introduced by Coach Brian Ferris. Through her discipline, hard work and skills in basketball, Ms. Harrigan earned a scholarship and is now playing basketball in the US for the South Carolina Gamecocks. She is truly a role model and inspiration for the youth of Anguilla.
On the final day of this year’s camp, Coach Farroba gave a basketball each to three participants – 7 year old Cayson Caragliano; 16 year old Cadeion Richardson; and 19 year old Roxane Bradshaw – for their “passion, talent, determination, discipline and good attitudes” during the week. All the youth received 6th Anniversary Basketball jerseys and certificates of participation and were encouraged by Hon. Cardigan Connor, Parlimentary Secretary for Sports and Tourism to take what they have learnt during the week, about cooperating in a team sport, into other areas of their lives. He thanked Coach Farroba and his team of coaches for giving their time and energy to the youth of Anguilla. These sentiments were echoed by Ms. Katrina Richardson, Acting Deputy Director, Department of Sports and Director of the JC Recreational Centre, Mrs. Jaine Price, who showed appreciation to all the coaches, facilitators and sponsors of this year’s camp.
In addition to the coaches named above, the 6th Annual Joe Farroba Basketball Camp would like to thank the following sponsors and contributors to this year’s camp:
Mr. Mark Silva; Mr. Ben Perez; Department of Sports, Anguilla – Ms. Katrina Richardson, Acting Deputy Director; Delano Mussington, Programme officer; Joe Farroba – Head coach and donor of basketballs and T-shirts; Louis Price & Associates and the JC Recreational Centre; Splash Villa; FLOW; Andy’s Car Rental; Dave Barrett; Garvey’s Sunshine Shack; The Fish Shack; Straw Hat Restaurant; Veya Restaurant; Sandy Island; Ms.Violet Gumbs, and special visitor (and former camper) Clemvio Hodge from What We Do in Anguilla (WWDIA) Official Island Guide. Last but not least, a special thank you to all the parents and grandparents for making the effort to get the youth to the camp every day.
For further information about basketball and other sporting activities please contact the Department of Sports at sports@gov.ai or www.facebook.com/DepartmentofSports. To learn more about the JC Recreational Centre or how you can become a partner of the Annual Joe Farroba Basketball camp please visit our website at www.jcrecreationalcentre.org or email jcrecreationalcentre@gmail.com.
Contributed by the JC Recreational Centre
