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You might think big and tall when you think of professional basketball, but the Texas Legends are thinking small to spread the love of the sport with kids. The footprints on the hardwoods this summer will be a little smaller than you might expect. It’s all about the kids!
Programs for Little Legends
The Legends make youth involvement and youth engagement an off-the-court priority. The Jr. Legends programs involve education, sportsmanship and hard work centered around the game of basketball and having fun. Youth summer camps, Raytheon’s Innovation Row, Community Clinics and Dunker’s Kids Club all bring children in Frisco and surrounding communities into the Texas Legends family.
Youth Summer Camps
Parents are busy planning camps and summer activities for kids. The Texas Legends, in their eighth year of offering Youth Summer Camps for boys and girls between ages 6-14, have camps in Frisco, Allen, and Plano. They’ve added a fifth camp session this summer to accommodate climbing enrollment, which has increased to approximately 80-100 kids per camp.
Each four-day camp is designed for boys and girls who are looking to improve their game, compete in fun games, interact with Legends’ staff and enjoy special appearances by players! Donnie Nelson and Dunker are scheduled to be there as well.
Here’s a quick overview of the 2018 Youth Summer Camp schedule. Camps run from 8:30am – 3:30pm each day.
Session 1: June 18 – 21, Lifetime Fitness, Allen
Session 2: June 25 – 28, Baylor Scott and White Sports Performance Center at the Star
Session 3: July 16 – 19, Baylor Scott and White Sports Performance Center at the Star
Session 4: July 23 – 26, Prestonwood Baptist Church
Session 5: August 6 – 9, Prestonwood Baptist Church
Education and the Science of Basketball
Do you know what scientific principle allows a basketball to spin on your finger, or how to calculate shooting point percentages? At home games and throughout the year, the Legends educate Jr. Legends participants on the Science of Basketball. Innovation Row, presented by Raytheon, is a creative way to teach fans about the science, technology, and math behind the sport.
You and your children can increase financial literacy with the Legends, too. The Bank to Achieve program has four sessions throughout the year where fans can learn about banking and finances, receive workbooks, player photos and autographs, giveaways and tickets to Legends games. Check the Texas Legends Bank to Achieve page for program information and watch for future dates to be announced.
Community Enrichment
The Legends are about much more than the game of basketball. The organization plays an active role in the North Texas community by bringing fun and basketball to neighborhoods. Through the Texas Legends Community Clinic program, the Legends run clinics to promote health and wellness, good sportsmanship and a winning attitude. These clinics are hosted at a variety of locations, like after school programs, Salvation Army locations, community centers and recreation centers. The Legends hold these Community Clinics as a free enrichment opportunity to develop future leaders.
On a larger scale, kids can also participate in the NBA’s youth basketball program, the Jr. NBA. It’s a free, membership-based program for existing youth basketball organizations. Jr. NBA teaches boys and girls ages 6-14 about the fundamentals of basketball and the importance of sportsmanship and teamwork. The program provides support at the grassroots level with the aim of sparking a lifelong passion for the game of basketball.
Dunker’s Kids Club
Kids can be a part of the Texas Legends fanclub with Dunker’s Kids Club. The Legends, along with InTouch Credit Union, created the club as a way for kids to show off their Legends spirit and get a chance to win special, exclusive experiences and prizes.
Kids Club members get a Kids Club T-Shirt, Texas Legends Stickers and access to exclusive Kids Club Events. Dunker’s Kids Club members who also are members of InTouch Credit Union are entered into a drawing to win amazing experiences, like lunch with a Texas Legends player and the chance to be head coach for a day. Imagine how much fun it would be for a child to get to help Coach MacKinnon run a practice and lead the team!
The Legends make it easy for children to experience basketball year-round through these programs and camps. Making memories for a child at a game or finding that passion for the sport during a mid-summer day camp, the Texas Legends want to make a difference in the lives of the youth in the Frisco area.
About Kelly Walker
Kelly Walker is the host of the "Hustle & Pro" Podcast Show Host, and Contributing Writer to Lifestyle Frisco. Kelly has lived in Frisco with her husband and two children since 2010. She's always called Texas home from growing up in Waco to college at Texas Tech University in Lubbock. With a background in marketing, advertising and publishing, Kelly has enjoyed working in media for more than 18 years. Kelly enjoys being active with her family and is an avid sports fan. You can usually find the Walker family at a RoughRiders, FC Dallas, or Texas Legends game.
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