More than 60 join Summer Sports Camp

Participants in the Summer Sports Camp 2021 do dribbling drills and are assisted by NMI Rollers Basketball Association volunteers last Tuesday at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium of the TSL Sports Complex. (Contributed Photo)

Over 60 youth spent their school break learning the basics of four sports in Day 1 of the Tan Siu Lin Foundation-Saipan Soccer School Summer Camp 2021 at the TSL Sports Complex.

Children in the 5 to 18 age group attended lessons and drills in badminton, basketball, volleyball, and soccer (futsal) last Tuesday and look forward for the remainder of the monthlong summer camp.

“I signed up to attend all the sessions. I started with futsal and also tried badminton and basketball. Tomorrow, I will attend the volleyball session,” 7-year-old Chance Reyes said.

Camp participants and volunteers perform warm-up drills during their first futsal session. (Contributed Photo)

“My dad encouraged me to attend the camp and stay active this summer. It’s good to be out and play sports rather than stay at home and spend so much time playing with my gadgets,” said Reyes, who with his father Maynard drove all the way from Kagman to the Middle Road facility to participate in the month-long summer camp.

For parents of camp participants, the event gives their child an opportunity to discover new talents.

Participants in the Summer Sports Camp 2021 pose with volunteers and Tan Siu Lin Foundation and Saipan Soccer School officials for a group photo before starting their sessions. (Contributed Photo)

“My daughter Advika plays soccer with the Paire Football Club. I want her to try other sports and see how she will do with them. If she finds other sports interesting and she wants to play badminton or volleyball, then that would be great. As long as they are active and doing something good, especially during this school break, we as parents are all for it. We thank the organizers of the sports camp for giving our children an opportunity to learn new sports,” Deepthi Dasari said.

The Tan Siu Lin Foundation-Saipan Soccer School Summer Camp 2021 will last until July 30 and acknowledged all its partners for making this activity possible. The camp organizers are teaming up with the Northern Mariana Islands Volleyball Association, Northern Marianas Badminton Association, Northern Mariana Islands Football Association, and Northern Mariana Islands Basketball Federation in conducting the sessions for four sports. The CNMI Public School System is also a key partner in the program, as it provides free meals to camp participants.

Northern Marianas Badminton Association director Janelle Pangilinan assists a camp participant. (Contributed Photo)

“We would like to thank the volunteers from the four sports association for sharing their knowledge and skills to our camp participants. The TSL Foundation and Saipan Soccer School would also like to recognize the CNMI Public School System for assisting us in this program. Through this partnership, we hope to reach out to more children and encourage them to remain active through sports during this school break,” TSL Foundation executive director Merlie Tolentino.

Registration still on
Meanwhile, summer camp coordinator Christy Villaflor said interested participants are still welcome to sign up.

Registration forms are available at the TSL Sports Complex and can also be obtained by sending email to christy_villaflor@saipansoccerschool.org or calling SSS at 235-0560 extension 156 or Rina Robles at extension 118.

Northern Mariana Islands Volleyball Association president Somia Quan, right, demonstrates to a camp participant the proper way of doing the overhand serve.
Northern Marianas Badminton (Contributed Photo)

Sessions run from Monday to Friday, starting off with badminton and soccer at 8am and 8:30am, respectively. Basketball session is set from 10:30am to 12pm, while volleyball is from 9am to 10am. Soccer has two more sessions with the second one beginning at 9:30am and the third at 10:30am, while the second session of badminton is at 10am. (PR)