As the school year winds down, summer sports opportunities are rising with the mercury in the thermometers.
With different sports camps running from June through August, the Marysville Parks and Recreation Department provides chances for area kids to hone their athletic skills across an array of sports.
The city offers week-long camps in volleyball, basketball, track and field and soccer, open to kids ages 7 to 14. Younger kids can sample three different sports in the mini-ultimate sport camps, designed for ages 4 to 6.
One of the perks of enrolling in the citys summer camps, said parks athletic director Dave Hall, is the quality of the instruction.
We have true experts in the specific sport, coaching the sport. Its not just a makeshift crew, its people whove coached the game for years and played the game for years, he said.
For the volleyball camp, which runs from June 30 to July 3, instruction will be led by Lakewood High School volleyball coach Monica Rooney and a number of her athletes. The track and field camp will also be at Lakewood this summer, led by coach Jeff Sowards, whose boys track team won the district title this year. The basketball program is led by Granite Falls coach Andy Estes.
These kids actually get the opportunity to get looked at by the high school coach before theyre at that level, and learn from them too, Hall said.
The parks department staffs some credible soccer coaches as well, including M-P soccer player Brady Ballew, who was named to the all-conference list in his sophomore season.
Deadline for enrollment in the city sports camps falls two weeks before the camps first day.
The city also provides several ongoing athletic opportunities for community members of all ages, including tennis lessons with Shorewood coach Arnie Moreno, adult kickball league, adult softball league, youth soccer and the all-comers track and field meets running four consecutive Thursdays beginning July 24.
For more information about the citys offerings or to register, visit the Web site at ci.marysville.wa.us/parks.htm.