By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – Boys and girls in St. John the Baptist Parish interested in refining their basketball skills are encouraged to enroll in an upcoming basketball camp hosted by the parish Parks and Recreation Department.

The camp, which is open to boys and girls ages 7 to 14, begins Monday, July 30, and continues through Thursday, Aug. 2, at the Regala Park Gymnasium, 200 Regala Park Road, Reserve. Registration fee is $40 per camper, and the deadline to register is Friday, July 27.

Camp participants will receive instruction and direction from Errol Gauff, head basketball coach at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Hammond, who has led the school’s boys basketball team to two state championships and several playoff tournament appearances over the past six years.

The camp will be broken into two sessions each day.

The first session will be from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. for the 7-10 age group. The second session, for the 11-14 age group, will be from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Parks and Recreation Director Terrance Jones said participants will learn valuable basketball skills such as defending, dribbling, passing and shooting. He added that the afternoon session will include an intersquad game, which will focus on offensive and defensive transitions.

“The Parks and Recreation Department along with parish administration is committed to enhancing its programs and services for our youth population,” Jones said. “This basketball camp will enable participants an opportunity to experience a high level of instruction and information they can utilize to enhance both basketball and life aspirations.”

Applications for the basketball camp can be retrieved online at www.sjbparish.com or at the Parks and Recreation Office located inside the Regala Park Gym. Jones said camp officials are asking that all participants wear either red or blue clothing.

“I encourage parents to register children for the camp to receive skills training in preparation for basketball season in the fall,” said Parish President Natalie Robottom.

For more information, call 985-652-9569.