Week 1
During my first week at The National Basketball Academy I was thrown in the frying pan day one answering the phone. I took messages for our secretary Demetria since the phones were ringing off the hook. I had observed her while waiting on my advisor Tom Heines who was in a meeting. I learned a few things observing her so I was able to actually answer some of the client’s questions first hand. I was given my own desk and a temporary computer to use. I brought my laptop thereafter so I could continue learning the computer system as well. Their data system contains a lot of information about different camps throughout the country. Parents ask about scholarships, Groupon coupons, refunds, confirmations, being over charged, locations, items needed, the amount of kids in the camp, and ages of kids in the camp. They also want to know if they can attend these camps with their child/children.
I am enjoying the internship a lot. Right now my duties are to learn the administrative lay out so I can lighten up Demetria’s load. I will have the opportunity to help coach camps later in the season. I’ll get to coach college kids and pro possibly. Some days are slower than others but most days are spent fielding calls and taking messages. I deliver messages to office personnel who I deem fit to handle each specific issue. A lot of staff wear many hats so I'm learning each one’s role for TNBA during week one.
Week 2
I learned a lot more of TNBA’s computer data system. I’ve asked about their expectations of me and I seem to be doing as expected. I come in each week, set up my laptop to view their different website screens and wait for the calls to roll in. If I have to research anything I have access to most of the information I need. Some problems can’t be resolved by Demetria or myself so we gather all the necessary data (name of parent and child, note the issue/problem, phone #, confirmation #, with city and state of applicant) and forward it to the correct staff member for processing. I have also learned how to work the phone system. I learned how to transfer calls to voicemails, call staff via intercom, and answer numerous calls when lines get busy. We have approximately 12 lines so things can get busy real quickly. I field calls for The National Basketball Association and Crescent Digital. Crescent Digital deals with high technology and integration. They set up video and audio for commercial and residential customers throughout the country. Needless to say I had to learn names and rolls for both companies very quickly. So far so good, I’m taking everything in stride. I was told I can work on homework in my spare time as well so I think I will always find things to occupy my time at TNBA.
Week 3
Today was a busy day on the phones at The National Basketball Academy. I had a customer who needed to cancel due to an injury to her child's his foot. She sounded a bit upset, well more like disappointed on his behalf. I spoke to her about my current situation. I was working out strong and then by freak accident, tore ligaments in my ankle. It was first diagnosed as a sprain but after not healing in a week the crutches led to a boot. I’m now in an air cast for 6 additional weeks. I told her of how blessed we still are no matter our circumstances. Some people will never get to walk so this situation we are going through is OK. I’m still grateful even though I’m in pain. When I finished speaking with her she sounded refreshed and encouraged. We all go through trials but it’s how we handle them that truly matters. Right now I’m watching my 94 year old grandmother wither away. She thought I was my aunt the last time I saw her. I say this to say, I cry too but I try my best to stay on my path to finish out my goals. I answer the phones and give these customers a warm voice no matter how upset they are about their issues. I am usually able to calm them down and handle their problems. I know it’s not always going to be easy but nothing worth having often is.
During my first week at The National Basketball Academy I was thrown in the frying pan day one answering the phone. I took messages for our secretary Demetria since the phones were ringing off the hook. I had observed her while waiting on my advisor Tom Heines who was in a meeting. I learned a few things observing her so I was able to actually answer some of the client’s questions first hand. I was given my own desk and a temporary computer to use. I brought my laptop thereafter so I could continue learning the computer system as well. Their data system contains a lot of information about different camps throughout the country. Parents ask about scholarships, Groupon coupons, refunds, confirmations, being over charged, locations, items needed, the amount of kids in the camp, and ages of kids in the camp. They also want to know if they can attend these camps with their child/children.
I am enjoying the internship a lot. Right now my duties are to learn the administrative lay out so I can lighten up Demetria’s load. I will have the opportunity to help coach camps later in the season. I’ll get to coach college kids and pro possibly. Some days are slower than others but most days are spent fielding calls and taking messages. I deliver messages to office personnel who I deem fit to handle each specific issue. A lot of staff wear many hats so I'm learning each one’s role for TNBA during week one.
Week 2
I learned a lot more of TNBA’s computer data system. I’ve asked about their expectations of me and I seem to be doing as expected. I come in each week, set up my laptop to view their different website screens and wait for the calls to roll in. If I have to research anything I have access to most of the information I need. Some problems can’t be resolved by Demetria or myself so we gather all the necessary data (name of parent and child, note the issue/problem, phone #, confirmation #, with city and state of applicant) and forward it to the correct staff member for processing. I have also learned how to work the phone system. I learned how to transfer calls to voicemails, call staff via intercom, and answer numerous calls when lines get busy. We have approximately 12 lines so things can get busy real quickly. I field calls for The National Basketball Association and Crescent Digital. Crescent Digital deals with high technology and integration. They set up video and audio for commercial and residential customers throughout the country. Needless to say I had to learn names and rolls for both companies very quickly. So far so good, I’m taking everything in stride. I was told I can work on homework in my spare time as well so I think I will always find things to occupy my time at TNBA.
Week 3
Today was a busy day on the phones at The National Basketball Academy. I had a customer who needed to cancel due to an injury to her child's his foot. She sounded a bit upset, well more like disappointed on his behalf. I spoke to her about my current situation. I was working out strong and then by freak accident, tore ligaments in my ankle. It was first diagnosed as a sprain but after not healing in a week the crutches led to a boot. I’m now in an air cast for 6 additional weeks. I told her of how blessed we still are no matter our circumstances. Some people will never get to walk so this situation we are going through is OK. I’m still grateful even though I’m in pain. When I finished speaking with her she sounded refreshed and encouraged. We all go through trials but it’s how we handle them that truly matters. Right now I’m watching my 94 year old grandmother wither away. She thought I was my aunt the last time I saw her. I say this to say, I cry too but I try my best to stay on my path to finish out my goals. I answer the phones and give these customers a warm voice no matter how upset they are about their issues. I am usually able to calm them down and handle their problems. I know it’s not always going to be easy but nothing worth having often is.
Week 4
This week I had to deal with customers calling about a cancelled camp in Philadelphia. First I was told it was a facility issue. I was later told we didn’t have enough coaches to run the camp. We only had one coach to run a camp for 45 kids which would've been unfair to them. The kids would not get the proper training they signed up for plus it could be considered a hazard. All the parents had purchased the camp through Groupon so TNBA wasn’t responsible for returning any refunds personally. The camp ran for one day and the parents were told they would get a full refund for their inconvenience but it was nothing we could do. It was handled by management and the details trickled down to us. I had a few parents that seemed upset but I didn’t have to deal much with them since Demetria handled those calls. She explained that in the end all we could do is apologize and let them know their refund should be coming within a few days. She said one man had Groupon on the 3 way line with her and she asked him to hang them up. She said it’s not our place to talk with them. I didn’t have many other calls this week but the few I had mainly dealt with me looking up camp dates, discussing prices, locations, and what items to send with the children that attend the camps. Some parents call in to verify their payments went through and make sure they weren’t double billed. In some cases their credit cards were denied so I inform them that they can pay by check or cash the day of. The calls are pretty simple most days but I suppose this is all a part of running a business. In most cases I do think the parents deserve a refund, especially if a child gets sick, injured, or the camp is cancelled. If a parent tries to cancel due to circumstances that were their fault we are not permitted to offer a refund. For example, if they forgot they were going on vacation during those dates all we can offer is a credit for a future TNBA event. The credit never expires so they can use it towards a future camp or clinic. This has angered some parents but it does say it on the website. I agree, we can’t just give out refunds for everything as a business. Parents have to take some responsibility in the matter. One parent was upset because she saw the Groupon deal after she and a girlfriend had paid the online price through our website. She felt it was our duty to tell her about the deal and she wanted the discount refunded to her. Well it wasn’t our fault she missed the deal. I was told to answer questions about Groupon deals, not inform customers of Groupon specials. I don’t think she was given a refund but we gave her an email to the owner as she requested. Next time she should check all her options before making a purchase. Sometimes we have to accept things are lessons learned for the future. We can’t always get everything we want and I’ve learned the customer is not always right. I don’t tell them that but sometimes we do say no.
Week 5
TNBA is getting swamped with calls regarding basketball camps for kids of all ages all over the country today. Parents are asking what goes on in camps, how many attendees have signed up, and how they can register. I had to calm down a few parents today when they complained about not receiving their refunds for camps they paid for earlier in the summer. I feel like I’m using old social work skills for crises management here. I often forward calls to Dawn, TNBA’s accounting representative, but she is so overworked she can’t seem to keep up with all the follow up work. I find myself being understanding to both Dawn and the clients but it’s clear to me TNBA needs to hire someone to deal directly with refunds during times of high call volume. I have no other company representative to go to in these matters and Dawn is the only one who produces checks within the organization. She is responsible Crescent Digital business as well so she definitely gets swamped daily with requests. I found myself on damage control as I answered calls we could barely keep up with.
This week I had to deal with customers calling about a cancelled camp in Philadelphia. First I was told it was a facility issue. I was later told we didn’t have enough coaches to run the camp. We only had one coach to run a camp for 45 kids which would've been unfair to them. The kids would not get the proper training they signed up for plus it could be considered a hazard. All the parents had purchased the camp through Groupon so TNBA wasn’t responsible for returning any refunds personally. The camp ran for one day and the parents were told they would get a full refund for their inconvenience but it was nothing we could do. It was handled by management and the details trickled down to us. I had a few parents that seemed upset but I didn’t have to deal much with them since Demetria handled those calls. She explained that in the end all we could do is apologize and let them know their refund should be coming within a few days. She said one man had Groupon on the 3 way line with her and she asked him to hang them up. She said it’s not our place to talk with them. I didn’t have many other calls this week but the few I had mainly dealt with me looking up camp dates, discussing prices, locations, and what items to send with the children that attend the camps. Some parents call in to verify their payments went through and make sure they weren’t double billed. In some cases their credit cards were denied so I inform them that they can pay by check or cash the day of. The calls are pretty simple most days but I suppose this is all a part of running a business. In most cases I do think the parents deserve a refund, especially if a child gets sick, injured, or the camp is cancelled. If a parent tries to cancel due to circumstances that were their fault we are not permitted to offer a refund. For example, if they forgot they were going on vacation during those dates all we can offer is a credit for a future TNBA event. The credit never expires so they can use it towards a future camp or clinic. This has angered some parents but it does say it on the website. I agree, we can’t just give out refunds for everything as a business. Parents have to take some responsibility in the matter. One parent was upset because she saw the Groupon deal after she and a girlfriend had paid the online price through our website. She felt it was our duty to tell her about the deal and she wanted the discount refunded to her. Well it wasn’t our fault she missed the deal. I was told to answer questions about Groupon deals, not inform customers of Groupon specials. I don’t think she was given a refund but we gave her an email to the owner as she requested. Next time she should check all her options before making a purchase. Sometimes we have to accept things are lessons learned for the future. We can’t always get everything we want and I’ve learned the customer is not always right. I don’t tell them that but sometimes we do say no.
Week 5
TNBA is getting swamped with calls regarding basketball camps for kids of all ages all over the country today. Parents are asking what goes on in camps, how many attendees have signed up, and how they can register. I had to calm down a few parents today when they complained about not receiving their refunds for camps they paid for earlier in the summer. I feel like I’m using old social work skills for crises management here. I often forward calls to Dawn, TNBA’s accounting representative, but she is so overworked she can’t seem to keep up with all the follow up work. I find myself being understanding to both Dawn and the clients but it’s clear to me TNBA needs to hire someone to deal directly with refunds during times of high call volume. I have no other company representative to go to in these matters and Dawn is the only one who produces checks within the organization. She is responsible Crescent Digital business as well so she definitely gets swamped daily with requests. I found myself on damage control as I answered calls we could barely keep up with.
Week 6
Today I was able to work with grades three through nine in a basketball camp for the kids with special needs. The kids were able to learn basketball drills and skills while competing against one another. TNBA never turns any children away so these kids get to experience basketball camps and clinics just like other children their age. They played three on three, did passing and dribbling drills, worked on guarding each other and they had team shooting contests. The kids were so awesome and to see their effort was amazing. During my second day I worked the phones again, helping Demetria keep up with the high call volume. She and Tom are planning a trip to Haiti and they’ll be gone for two weeks. They are going there to build houses, a basketball court, and fellowship with the kids. They will have adults helping them but they are mostly looking forward to helping the impoverished children. I have received additional training since I will be taking over for Demetria when she departs. We have other interns that have agreed to help out but at this point I’ve agreed to come four days a week instead of my usual two to three.
Week 7
This week I learned additional phone and data training in preparation for Tom and Demetria’s departure to Haiti. I was taught how to use conflict resolution more by watching Demetria handle more calls. I was also shown how to help parents sign their children up for clinics. I continued to take calls as they came in and I addressed any concerns parents expressed to me. Several parents wanted to see if we offered scholarships or reduced rates for low income parents who couldn’t afford the full camp fee. We did offer a few scholarships so those calls were forwarded to other interns who were handling that part of the camp registration. A few parents wanted to know when they would receive their NBA tickets from their kids attending camp. The tickets aren’t going to be offered until the NBA season begins and we aren’t in charge of that. Representatives across the country for each NBA team we associate with are supposed to email parents with ticket information. Most parents are easy to communicate with but I do run into a few that need special care in order to resolve their issues.
Week 8
This week I have worked 20.5 hours in the office since Tom and Demetria left for their trip. Other interns signed on to come in extra hours but only three showed up three times this week for limited time periods. The owner Mike asked me to figure out when they were coming. This obviously wasn’t my job but I still attempted to find out the information. I had none of their contact information since they weren’t my interns and they had made the agreement with Tom and Demetria, not myself. When I saw one of the interns I addressed them about contacting the others. I asked why they weren’t complying with the schedule they gave Demetria with their scheduled days for helping out extra. Everyone had an excuse so I worked longer days all four days I had initially scheduled for. I took all the incoming calls that came in for Crescent Digital and The National Basketball Academy. I transferred calls, took messages, handled disgruntle parents, sold the product, and took care of customer’s that came into the office. I really felt like a lot was dropped on my plate and I was given little help by the staff who was in attendance. I was asked if I could come in an additional day. I refused because I still had homework to attend to. I felt sort of used and underappreciated. I never got a thank you. I only heard complaints about the other intern’s lack of effort and nonattendance. The three times an intern showed up to help seemed helpless because they weren’t knowledgeable enough to handle most questions that customers asked. I had observed Demetria since day one and began handling calls right away so I could handle most issues and concerns. If I wasn’t privy to what a customer needed I usually knew who would have the answers necessary to resolve the issue.
Week 9
I worked 19.5 hours this week, handling more of the same from the previous week. Again, I received little help from the other interns so I stayed longer days than initially planned. I dealt with several mothers who complained about refunds again. Some parents had been waiting for several months. Once again I had to deal with upset parents because the accountant Dawn is so overworked. She doesn’t have enough time in a day to deal with every task coming in from every company. I also helped out with more scheduling and I was able to tell a few parents how attending camps helped me get full ride athletic scholarship offers in volleyball, basketball, and track and field. Some parents want their kids to attend camps but don’t know if it’s really beneficial. I am a true testament of how camps can help. I expressed how I was always tall for my age but my skill level needed to catch up with my height. I actually asked my mother if I could quit playing basketball since I was so unskilled in that sport. She refused to accept that and sent me to more camps which developed my basketball IQ and fundamentals. This of course paid off when scouts began attending my games and recruiting me. I was thanked by several parents for taking the time to ease their concerns. Most told me they hadn’t thought of how it could benefit later if the hard work is put in now. Every kid develops at their own pace. I admit some may never develop the skills necessary to attend a Division 1 college but that doesn’t mean they won’t earn a scholarship to a junior college. I told them some kids earn a scholarship by being a walk on with a team. The point is, you never know, but giving each child a fair chance could pay off.
Today I was able to work with grades three through nine in a basketball camp for the kids with special needs. The kids were able to learn basketball drills and skills while competing against one another. TNBA never turns any children away so these kids get to experience basketball camps and clinics just like other children their age. They played three on three, did passing and dribbling drills, worked on guarding each other and they had team shooting contests. The kids were so awesome and to see their effort was amazing. During my second day I worked the phones again, helping Demetria keep up with the high call volume. She and Tom are planning a trip to Haiti and they’ll be gone for two weeks. They are going there to build houses, a basketball court, and fellowship with the kids. They will have adults helping them but they are mostly looking forward to helping the impoverished children. I have received additional training since I will be taking over for Demetria when she departs. We have other interns that have agreed to help out but at this point I’ve agreed to come four days a week instead of my usual two to three.
Week 7
This week I learned additional phone and data training in preparation for Tom and Demetria’s departure to Haiti. I was taught how to use conflict resolution more by watching Demetria handle more calls. I was also shown how to help parents sign their children up for clinics. I continued to take calls as they came in and I addressed any concerns parents expressed to me. Several parents wanted to see if we offered scholarships or reduced rates for low income parents who couldn’t afford the full camp fee. We did offer a few scholarships so those calls were forwarded to other interns who were handling that part of the camp registration. A few parents wanted to know when they would receive their NBA tickets from their kids attending camp. The tickets aren’t going to be offered until the NBA season begins and we aren’t in charge of that. Representatives across the country for each NBA team we associate with are supposed to email parents with ticket information. Most parents are easy to communicate with but I do run into a few that need special care in order to resolve their issues.
Week 8
This week I have worked 20.5 hours in the office since Tom and Demetria left for their trip. Other interns signed on to come in extra hours but only three showed up three times this week for limited time periods. The owner Mike asked me to figure out when they were coming. This obviously wasn’t my job but I still attempted to find out the information. I had none of their contact information since they weren’t my interns and they had made the agreement with Tom and Demetria, not myself. When I saw one of the interns I addressed them about contacting the others. I asked why they weren’t complying with the schedule they gave Demetria with their scheduled days for helping out extra. Everyone had an excuse so I worked longer days all four days I had initially scheduled for. I took all the incoming calls that came in for Crescent Digital and The National Basketball Academy. I transferred calls, took messages, handled disgruntle parents, sold the product, and took care of customer’s that came into the office. I really felt like a lot was dropped on my plate and I was given little help by the staff who was in attendance. I was asked if I could come in an additional day. I refused because I still had homework to attend to. I felt sort of used and underappreciated. I never got a thank you. I only heard complaints about the other intern’s lack of effort and nonattendance. The three times an intern showed up to help seemed helpless because they weren’t knowledgeable enough to handle most questions that customers asked. I had observed Demetria since day one and began handling calls right away so I could handle most issues and concerns. If I wasn’t privy to what a customer needed I usually knew who would have the answers necessary to resolve the issue.
Week 9
I worked 19.5 hours this week, handling more of the same from the previous week. Again, I received little help from the other interns so I stayed longer days than initially planned. I dealt with several mothers who complained about refunds again. Some parents had been waiting for several months. Once again I had to deal with upset parents because the accountant Dawn is so overworked. She doesn’t have enough time in a day to deal with every task coming in from every company. I also helped out with more scheduling and I was able to tell a few parents how attending camps helped me get full ride athletic scholarship offers in volleyball, basketball, and track and field. Some parents want their kids to attend camps but don’t know if it’s really beneficial. I am a true testament of how camps can help. I expressed how I was always tall for my age but my skill level needed to catch up with my height. I actually asked my mother if I could quit playing basketball since I was so unskilled in that sport. She refused to accept that and sent me to more camps which developed my basketball IQ and fundamentals. This of course paid off when scouts began attending my games and recruiting me. I was thanked by several parents for taking the time to ease their concerns. Most told me they hadn’t thought of how it could benefit later if the hard work is put in now. Every kid develops at their own pace. I admit some may never develop the skills necessary to attend a Division 1 college but that doesn’t mean they won’t earn a scholarship to a junior college. I told them some kids earn a scholarship by being a walk on with a team. The point is, you never know, but giving each child a fair chance could pay off.
Week 10
This week I talked to more parents on the phone about the pros of being an athlete. Playing sports teaches discipline, good sportsmanship, teamwork, and proper communication skills. Another plus for being an athlete is kids have to keep their grades up to participate. Children have to learn early how to use good time management because they have to fit homework, practice time, and traveling into their schedules. If a child has behavior issues sports can be a good way to manage them. Most coaches don’t accept inappropriate behavior or language. I expressed that if the child is a discipline problem in the home and they love sports make good behavior a condition for being able to participate. I told two mothers not to be afraid of taking away a camp or clinic if more misbehaving occurs in school or in the home. Some of these clinics and camps are very costly so funds are often retrieved from several sources. Many grandparents give them out as gifts. Once again I was thanked for my advisement. I continue to use my social work skills as I address issues, concerns, and questions on the phone.
Week 11
This week I only worked five hours since I have outpatient surgery scheduled. I was able to work another basketball camp featuring kids grades nine through twelve. We had three coaches again and we split the kids up by grades and skill level after stretching and warm ups. The kids worked on defensive and offensive fundamentals, shooting drills, and trap defense using the base and sidelines as an extra defender. We set up two chairs at both main baskets at the fifteen foot mark on the corners by the foul line. The kids dribbled down the court as fast as they could, then pulled up at the chairs for the shot. They also worked on coming off screens for the curl shot at the chair. It only takes one player to run into the chair to understand it’s the wrong move to make. The chair represents a person and most athletes get charges because they drive to far to the hole when the play isn’t there. As well, a lot of current athletes never develop their mid-range game. Everyone can’t shoot three’s but having a well-developed mid-range game can get a player looked at by coaches and scouts. The kids also played three on three, five on five, and had a team shoot off against one another. I had worked with a couple boys that came in early on some dribbling and shooting drills they can work on at home. After the camp ended three kids challenged Coach Mack in a shoot off so we stayed over for that. At the end of each of my stations I like to gather the kids around and ask them what they want to be and how they plan to get there. Some of my younger kids have yet to discover their dreams but either way I always stress the importance of hard work, good grades, and dedication. I let them know they can be anything they want to be as long as they put in the work and never give up.
Week 12
I worked eight hours this week but it was still eventful. In the office I had to deal with several parents who needed convincing about why they should send their kids to camp. Some see the cost without instant results so they begin to ask a lot of questions about what their kids are doing, how many are attending, how many kids in the same grade as their child signed up, and so on. When I hear questions like this I know they need convincing through reassurance. I told a few more about my background. I was always tall for my age but my basketball IQ and fundamentals needed developed. I was more skilled in volleyball and track but my basketball skills took longer to be seen. I asked my mom if I could quit playing basketball but she refused to let me. In fact, she began sending me to more basketball camps each summer and I played on additional teams including summer league and AAU. I later received full athletic offers in those three sports due to the hard work I put in year after year prior to graduating high school in 1988. I’m a prime example of what can happen if a kid is given a chance. I couldn’t even see my own potential but it took my mom to dream for me before I could develop my own dreams. Coach Mack told the kids at camp his coach used to tell him “One day old man winter will ask what you have been doing all summer”. It is his favorite quote because it means the hard work you do in the summer will show during the winter in basketball season. Parents need to understand this and see what sport, if any, their kid shows potential in and develop them. Some kids may need to play soccer to work on hand / eye coordination, endurance, foot work, and hand speed. Another kid could use boxing as a platform for improving discipline, hand / eye coordination, foot work, hand speed, strategic planning, and endurance. Some of these skills are transferable to other sports. After speaking to those parents they thanked me and had more clarity on the importance of dedication from a parental standpoint. In the end they had to realize that they may not be raising the next Michael Jordan but on the other hand, they just might be. Only time and hard work will tell. The awesome part is every kid we’ve worked with these last several months has a story that says to be continued…
This week I talked to more parents on the phone about the pros of being an athlete. Playing sports teaches discipline, good sportsmanship, teamwork, and proper communication skills. Another plus for being an athlete is kids have to keep their grades up to participate. Children have to learn early how to use good time management because they have to fit homework, practice time, and traveling into their schedules. If a child has behavior issues sports can be a good way to manage them. Most coaches don’t accept inappropriate behavior or language. I expressed that if the child is a discipline problem in the home and they love sports make good behavior a condition for being able to participate. I told two mothers not to be afraid of taking away a camp or clinic if more misbehaving occurs in school or in the home. Some of these clinics and camps are very costly so funds are often retrieved from several sources. Many grandparents give them out as gifts. Once again I was thanked for my advisement. I continue to use my social work skills as I address issues, concerns, and questions on the phone.
Week 11
This week I only worked five hours since I have outpatient surgery scheduled. I was able to work another basketball camp featuring kids grades nine through twelve. We had three coaches again and we split the kids up by grades and skill level after stretching and warm ups. The kids worked on defensive and offensive fundamentals, shooting drills, and trap defense using the base and sidelines as an extra defender. We set up two chairs at both main baskets at the fifteen foot mark on the corners by the foul line. The kids dribbled down the court as fast as they could, then pulled up at the chairs for the shot. They also worked on coming off screens for the curl shot at the chair. It only takes one player to run into the chair to understand it’s the wrong move to make. The chair represents a person and most athletes get charges because they drive to far to the hole when the play isn’t there. As well, a lot of current athletes never develop their mid-range game. Everyone can’t shoot three’s but having a well-developed mid-range game can get a player looked at by coaches and scouts. The kids also played three on three, five on five, and had a team shoot off against one another. I had worked with a couple boys that came in early on some dribbling and shooting drills they can work on at home. After the camp ended three kids challenged Coach Mack in a shoot off so we stayed over for that. At the end of each of my stations I like to gather the kids around and ask them what they want to be and how they plan to get there. Some of my younger kids have yet to discover their dreams but either way I always stress the importance of hard work, good grades, and dedication. I let them know they can be anything they want to be as long as they put in the work and never give up.
Week 12
I worked eight hours this week but it was still eventful. In the office I had to deal with several parents who needed convincing about why they should send their kids to camp. Some see the cost without instant results so they begin to ask a lot of questions about what their kids are doing, how many are attending, how many kids in the same grade as their child signed up, and so on. When I hear questions like this I know they need convincing through reassurance. I told a few more about my background. I was always tall for my age but my basketball IQ and fundamentals needed developed. I was more skilled in volleyball and track but my basketball skills took longer to be seen. I asked my mom if I could quit playing basketball but she refused to let me. In fact, she began sending me to more basketball camps each summer and I played on additional teams including summer league and AAU. I later received full athletic offers in those three sports due to the hard work I put in year after year prior to graduating high school in 1988. I’m a prime example of what can happen if a kid is given a chance. I couldn’t even see my own potential but it took my mom to dream for me before I could develop my own dreams. Coach Mack told the kids at camp his coach used to tell him “One day old man winter will ask what you have been doing all summer”. It is his favorite quote because it means the hard work you do in the summer will show during the winter in basketball season. Parents need to understand this and see what sport, if any, their kid shows potential in and develop them. Some kids may need to play soccer to work on hand / eye coordination, endurance, foot work, and hand speed. Another kid could use boxing as a platform for improving discipline, hand / eye coordination, foot work, hand speed, strategic planning, and endurance. Some of these skills are transferable to other sports. After speaking to those parents they thanked me and had more clarity on the importance of dedication from a parental standpoint. In the end they had to realize that they may not be raising the next Michael Jordan but on the other hand, they just might be. Only time and hard work will tell. The awesome part is every kid we’ve worked with these last several months has a story that says to be continued…
Week 13
This week I was able to work in the office and work another camp. This camp is scheduled for the next four weeks. Right now I know Demetria will be with me each week but we will have a third member coaching as well that we will meet up with us at camp time. In the office the phones aren’t ringing as much as before since school began. I still had to deal with parents calling in about refunds, scheduling, payment options, NBA tickets, and clinic descriptions though. Kids still participate but TNBA has more clinics than camps during this time of year. The clinics work on specifics more than the camps. During the camp Tuesday evening Coach Fisher joined Demetria and I and discussed a game plan before camp began. Coach Fisher said he would stretch and warm them up, illustrate the drills, and give them their initial instructions. Demetria and I walked around helping kids individually as they went through each task Coach Fisher gave them. We worked on pivoting which helps with traveling, jump stopping, and dribbling with their head up so they can see the whole court. Some of the kids were misbehaving so we gave them push-ups to do as punishment. This camp had grades two through six and even though Coach Fisher started off early with them doing ten push-ups I kept increasing them by five during class time for kids who continued to misbehave. Some kids were kicking the walls, trying to jump up the walls, and one even stood on anthers back to climb higher on the wall. I expressed that they were there to work on their basketball game not misbehave. They were not to talk when a coach is talking to them, they are to hold the balls when instructed to, and they are not to talk back to us. I could tell many of these kids had a sense of entitlement and were used to doing whatever they wanted at home. Some tried to cheat and wanted to get their own way at all costs. I’m not used to this type of behavior and it won’t be tolerated in any camp I’m a part of. It did not concern me that parents were looking on. If a child is acting up they will be punished. It’s very difficult to teach with kids spitting, not paying attention, jumping around, and talking to one another. This camp wasn’t as fun as many of the others because of all the stress from having to use extra discipline. The other coaches felt the same as we discussed a game plan for next week. We hope to get these kids more under control the next three weeks as we meet again.
This week I was able to work in the office and work another camp. This camp is scheduled for the next four weeks. Right now I know Demetria will be with me each week but we will have a third member coaching as well that we will meet up with us at camp time. In the office the phones aren’t ringing as much as before since school began. I still had to deal with parents calling in about refunds, scheduling, payment options, NBA tickets, and clinic descriptions though. Kids still participate but TNBA has more clinics than camps during this time of year. The clinics work on specifics more than the camps. During the camp Tuesday evening Coach Fisher joined Demetria and I and discussed a game plan before camp began. Coach Fisher said he would stretch and warm them up, illustrate the drills, and give them their initial instructions. Demetria and I walked around helping kids individually as they went through each task Coach Fisher gave them. We worked on pivoting which helps with traveling, jump stopping, and dribbling with their head up so they can see the whole court. Some of the kids were misbehaving so we gave them push-ups to do as punishment. This camp had grades two through six and even though Coach Fisher started off early with them doing ten push-ups I kept increasing them by five during class time for kids who continued to misbehave. Some kids were kicking the walls, trying to jump up the walls, and one even stood on anthers back to climb higher on the wall. I expressed that they were there to work on their basketball game not misbehave. They were not to talk when a coach is talking to them, they are to hold the balls when instructed to, and they are not to talk back to us. I could tell many of these kids had a sense of entitlement and were used to doing whatever they wanted at home. Some tried to cheat and wanted to get their own way at all costs. I’m not used to this type of behavior and it won’t be tolerated in any camp I’m a part of. It did not concern me that parents were looking on. If a child is acting up they will be punished. It’s very difficult to teach with kids spitting, not paying attention, jumping around, and talking to one another. This camp wasn’t as fun as many of the others because of all the stress from having to use extra discipline. The other coaches felt the same as we discussed a game plan for next week. We hope to get these kids more under control the next three weeks as we meet again.
Week 14
During this week I worked 15.5 hours. Two days were spent in the office and I worked the camp Tuesday night. It’s been stressed around the office because tension has been rising amongst staff members. I was told that staff are getting frustrated by all the demands. They continue to have regular staff meetings where the staff are yelled at for not completing tasks but the owners aren’t hiring enough employees to handle all the work demands. Employees are walking around the office looking depressed and unappreciated. I overheard a couple speaking about how they need help and they never signed on to do the jobs they are being asked to complete. I truly feel sorry for them. I took a couple staff members some brownies my mom had made, hoping to cheer them up. I’ve noticed a different clientele calling in for Crescent Digital staff. I’ve asked Pat if he can service them because initially I knew Pat to do specs for Crescent Digital. Now they have Pat going out in the field doing service calls and taking incoming calls. Everyone else in his department is on the road all over the country so he has little help in the office. He deals with ordering, incoming orders, spec issues, digital business glitches, and order processing and setups. No wonder the other worker Ryan left the company after feeling overworked and underpaid. I see firsthand how owners take advantage of their staff but expect them to give their all in return.
In the camp I had many of the same kids from the week before. Again, Demetria and I coached grades two through six but Coach Kyle assisted us this week. He ran the beginning of camp just like Coach Fisher but we helped out and showed the kids the right techniques. First the kids stretched out and did some sprints. Then the kids dribbled down and back to half court using their strong hands down and weak hands back. Next they used the crossover dribble down and back to half court. Following they did partner passing drills (chest, bounce, and overhead). After that the kids broke up into stations and worked on defense, shooting, and pick and roll. Afterwards they played several rounds of dribble tag and lastly they had a team shoot off at four baskets. The team of five that made five shots the quickest advanced to the next station. This was the second week of camp and some of the kids looked like they were improving already. A few seemed like they would benefit by trying another sport that could enhance their hand / eye coordination and foot speed. I asked a couple kids if their parents were there because I wanted to complement their children on the hard work and discipline they showed the first two weeks. None of those parents were at the clinic though. I see great potential in several of them if their parents continue to invest in them.
Week 15
I worked 13.5 hours this week. Two days were spent in the office and one was spent working day three with the kids at the Bedford basketball camp. I spent my days in the office answering the phones and doing homework. It was very slow in the office so we didn’t have a lot of calls that came in. I mostly took calls for Crescent Digital. Those calls are forwarded to Mike, Rick, or Pat usually. A few parents called about clinic details but as I said most calls pertained to Crescent Digital. I don’t have to give much details in regards to that company because the calls usually pertain to network issues, appointments, reception issues, new business and billing. My job is to transfer calls if the staff member chooses to speak to the caller. If the staff member declines I tell them they aren’t available at that time and offer them their voicemail. In the camp we decided to work on making the kids see the court when dribbling so Demetria and I held up fingers as the kids did their drills and approached half court. Coach Mack instructed them to call out each number we held up. We would switch numbers to keep them off guard as they dribbled towards us. This is a very useful drill because you have to get in a habit of seeing the whole court on offense and defense. On offense you have to see what’s open, a teammate, a shot, a pass, or a layup. On defense you have to see the court to see if you have to provide help defense, if a team’s playing man or zone coverage, how to defend your man, and how a play is developing. We believe in teaching the basics early so the kids can improve on them annually. We played the worm game, dribble tag, had a shoot off, and played three on three. The teams worked on their pick and rolls, defense, help defense, pivoting, jump stopping, and dribbling with their off hand when appropriate. When the kids made mistakes I would ask them to explain what they did wrong before explaining what to do next time. Basketball is a thinking sport so I try to instill this in them at these clinics.
During this week I worked 15.5 hours. Two days were spent in the office and I worked the camp Tuesday night. It’s been stressed around the office because tension has been rising amongst staff members. I was told that staff are getting frustrated by all the demands. They continue to have regular staff meetings where the staff are yelled at for not completing tasks but the owners aren’t hiring enough employees to handle all the work demands. Employees are walking around the office looking depressed and unappreciated. I overheard a couple speaking about how they need help and they never signed on to do the jobs they are being asked to complete. I truly feel sorry for them. I took a couple staff members some brownies my mom had made, hoping to cheer them up. I’ve noticed a different clientele calling in for Crescent Digital staff. I’ve asked Pat if he can service them because initially I knew Pat to do specs for Crescent Digital. Now they have Pat going out in the field doing service calls and taking incoming calls. Everyone else in his department is on the road all over the country so he has little help in the office. He deals with ordering, incoming orders, spec issues, digital business glitches, and order processing and setups. No wonder the other worker Ryan left the company after feeling overworked and underpaid. I see firsthand how owners take advantage of their staff but expect them to give their all in return.
In the camp I had many of the same kids from the week before. Again, Demetria and I coached grades two through six but Coach Kyle assisted us this week. He ran the beginning of camp just like Coach Fisher but we helped out and showed the kids the right techniques. First the kids stretched out and did some sprints. Then the kids dribbled down and back to half court using their strong hands down and weak hands back. Next they used the crossover dribble down and back to half court. Following they did partner passing drills (chest, bounce, and overhead). After that the kids broke up into stations and worked on defense, shooting, and pick and roll. Afterwards they played several rounds of dribble tag and lastly they had a team shoot off at four baskets. The team of five that made five shots the quickest advanced to the next station. This was the second week of camp and some of the kids looked like they were improving already. A few seemed like they would benefit by trying another sport that could enhance their hand / eye coordination and foot speed. I asked a couple kids if their parents were there because I wanted to complement their children on the hard work and discipline they showed the first two weeks. None of those parents were at the clinic though. I see great potential in several of them if their parents continue to invest in them.
Week 15
I worked 13.5 hours this week. Two days were spent in the office and one was spent working day three with the kids at the Bedford basketball camp. I spent my days in the office answering the phones and doing homework. It was very slow in the office so we didn’t have a lot of calls that came in. I mostly took calls for Crescent Digital. Those calls are forwarded to Mike, Rick, or Pat usually. A few parents called about clinic details but as I said most calls pertained to Crescent Digital. I don’t have to give much details in regards to that company because the calls usually pertain to network issues, appointments, reception issues, new business and billing. My job is to transfer calls if the staff member chooses to speak to the caller. If the staff member declines I tell them they aren’t available at that time and offer them their voicemail. In the camp we decided to work on making the kids see the court when dribbling so Demetria and I held up fingers as the kids did their drills and approached half court. Coach Mack instructed them to call out each number we held up. We would switch numbers to keep them off guard as they dribbled towards us. This is a very useful drill because you have to get in a habit of seeing the whole court on offense and defense. On offense you have to see what’s open, a teammate, a shot, a pass, or a layup. On defense you have to see the court to see if you have to provide help defense, if a team’s playing man or zone coverage, how to defend your man, and how a play is developing. We believe in teaching the basics early so the kids can improve on them annually. We played the worm game, dribble tag, had a shoot off, and played three on three. The teams worked on their pick and rolls, defense, help defense, pivoting, jump stopping, and dribbling with their off hand when appropriate. When the kids made mistakes I would ask them to explain what they did wrong before explaining what to do next time. Basketball is a thinking sport so I try to instill this in them at these clinics.
Week 16
This week I worked my last day of the four week Bedford basketball camp. Kyle, Demetria, and myself coached the kids Tuesday evening. The kids began stretching and doing warm-ups under Kyle’s leadership as Demetria and I continued to provide one on one critiques and guidance. The kids came in pumped to get started so we were happy to work with them. After they completed about eight warm-up drills they were split up into stations between all three coaches. I worked on ball handling and defensive drills this week. I had them use the cross-over, strong hand, and weak hand dribbling skills they worked on in warm-ups as they dribbled around cones in a snake pattern. They next worked on guarding the dribbler. The dribbler worked on ball protection while dribbling and the defensive player worked on defensive shuffling and hand pressure. I focused on this because we planned to let them play five on five near the end of camp. Kyle worked on shooting drills and Demetria worked on pick and roll. The kids were also shown new one on one drills. The ball was sat at the foul line’s corner while the kids raced to retrieve it. Whoever got to it first became the offensive player and the other kid became the defensive player. They raced down court to the other end and played one on one. Next, one had to lay down near the ball placement and on my command the player laying down arose and became the offensive player as the other player raced to defend them at the basket. Lastly, both players laid down at the baseline as we rolled a ball between them. They had to wait on our command to see who could retrieve the basketball first as they raced towards the basket to play one on one. Afterwards they had a shoot off for a pair of Michael Jordan sneakers. If they made four shots in four specific locations Coach Kyle agreed to buy them a pair of shoes. No one was able to make all four shots. We finally let them play five on five. We continued to coach as they played. We taught them about spacing because without proper offensive spacing defenders can guard more than one player. We also encouraged them to use all the fundamentals they were taught these past four weeks. We told them to use the pick and roll, cut back , cut to the basket, use pick and pop, set screens, use their pivot foot, jump stop, pressure defense, dribble with both hands, and make good passes. The camp ended with parents asking if TNBA had any other upcoming camps their kids could attend. I got a few hugs and most said thank you as they departed. I really enjoyed that session and I didn’t have to discipline as many with push-ups that last day.
Week 17
I was back working in the office at the beginning of this week. I performed my usual tasks, answering phones, handling complaints, and servicing staff. I attempted to meet with Mike again regarding future employment or connections. He was too busy to meet so I just continued addressing customer concerns and taking messages. I spoke with another worker who works for Crescent Digital who advised me more on how his side of the company is changing. He too spoke of more tasks being put on his plate and how he was unhappy and overworked. If I worked for the organization I wouldn’t be working with him or on that side of the business but the information was still relevant. I suppose he just needed someone to vent to so he opened up to me. It showed a continuous pattern of how employees are treated and unappreciated. I knew about other employees and departments who were stressed but that’s not something we discuss each time I’m there. His detailed information let me know that this pattern hasn’t seemed to improve, it appears to only have gotten worse. He said his job description continues to change as he’s asked to complete more and more tasks each week. He also said they get yelled at for non-completion but they just don’t have enough employees to handle the workload. He never said his pay had increased and since his co-worker left the company when he was denied a raise under these same circumstances it’s safe to say he probably hasn’t gotten one either. I figured if I was able to meet with Mike I’d converse more about his possible connections than working for TNBA. I always like to network because even if one company isn’t for me it doesn’t mean they don’t have connections to one that it is. I try never to burn a bridge and that’s why I continued to work up beyond the call of duty why working there. I also made plans to work at another clinic during my last few weeks there. Though kids can be undisciplined and unstructured each past camp was enjoyable. I’d have to work with grades six through nine so I figured they would be a little more attentive than the younger ones. Of course during each camp I worked with different people from different environments so it’s always a surprise to what I’ll encounter. I will start Wednesday evening of this week and continue working the next two Wednesdays.
Week 18
This week I went into the office and worked with one of the coaches and another intern regarding making up his schedule for an upcoming event. It’s not as easy as one would think because the coach has to set up a format for each camp or clinic that allows different teams to play one another so that nothing over laps or gets done twice during a session. We set up skills times, scrimmages, and shooting session times. Each camp provides time to work on fundamentals, shooting, drills, and scrimmages no matter the age or grade level. We worked for several hours as coach checked and rechecked the information we implemented in the system. He would check them and assign us something else to complete. This camp had about 75 kids in it so we had to ensure each kid would be assigned to a group and a team for the different tasks. When I completed this I continued to answer phones in the office and assist customer’s needs. One client said her son had enjoyed the camp he attended in Memphis and she wanted to see if there were any more to send him to. The season had ended there so no more camps were available. I advised her that we offer personal training from coaches. These sessions offer shooting help, fundamental skills training, and defensive and offensive training. Her son is 14 so personal training would really help her child. He’s at the right age to benefit from one on one training. She asked about the coaches prices but I let her know each coach discusses that during the initial consultation. I informed her that rates, dates, times, and a location will be discussed between her and the coach. I told her she can also inform him on her sons needs or her son can let him know what he feels his strengths and weaknesses are. She was greatly appreciative that I informed her of her options. She said she feels it is a good idea and it will help her son improve his overall game outside of the coaching provided on his school team. I gave her the coaches contact information in Memphis. I worked the camp Wednesday evening and the kids seemed to remember some of the drills we taught them last week. We had showed them shooting techniques, fifteen footer shooting drills, defensive stance drills, offensive drills, stressing distance, and allowed them to scrimmage. It was three coaches besides myself and we all worked together with coaching the kids and advising them.
Week 19
This week we decided to allow the kids to play one on one, two on two, and three on three. We had six baskets so the kids were all able to get a turn. Each coach had a section that the kids rotated to after each group had a turn. We also did drills for shooting and worked on improving their footwork. The kids were pumped and gave a lot of effort. They also supported one another by cheering on their section as others competed. I also went to the office this week. I answered most of the phone calls as Demetria worked in different flyers and marketing projects for upcoming events. She also works with Tom at his nonprofit company so she has other tasks she likes to work on outside of her secretarial duties. I have seen how overworked she is so I try to give her a break anytime I can. It’s very difficult to work on things and still have to answer calls, transfer calls, send faxes, look up information, and deal with customer complaints. She often takes work home when she runs out of time completing things at work. She does this because she cares so much, not because of the pay. I had another interesting client call in who had not received a refund yet. She wanted to know why it was taking so long since it had been a month and a half. She also asked if there was anything else she could do to be compensated. I found out where she lived and the age of her daughter. I told her she could put her daughter in the current clinic we were running and the next one TNBA was having. She went from being upset to listening. At the end of the day though she wanted to be made whole she also saw how the previous camp helped her daughter improve. She asked me if I could help set everything up for her so I contacted our accounting department and the coach running that camp. Each said they would continue the process in getting everything set up for Mrs. Parks.
Week 20
I went to the office this week and performed my usual duties and waited for Tom to arrive to complete last minute internship paperwork requirements. Tom and I discussed my future and he told his dad, Mike that it was my last day. Mike made a comment that we had never gotten to sit down and talk so I should come and meet with him once I’ve finished with school. I told him I was willing to relocate but I still had mixed feelings about him. Though I’d like to see if he has or will connect me with any possible job opportunities I still feel if he really cared about advancing my career he would have made time to converse with me at least once since I was there for five months. I may decide to meet with him but I’m not counting on him to help further my path. Tom on the other hand really opened up to me about what he saw in me. He told me how he liked how I dealt with people, how good my communication skills were, and how he loved my personality and mannerisms. He said I’d make a good manager because I’m very friendly but professional and he thought I possessed the skills to help athletes dealing with crises management, the media, and day to day issues and concerns. Tom had taken Demetria and I out to lunch several times during my time at TNBA but he said he wanted to take me out one last time since it was my last day. We all went to lunch and laughed and enjoyed our time once again together. We discussed how we were family now and would never forget each other. After lunch I went back to the office and continued to answer calls while Demetria worked on those projects. I gave a few hugs out as I said my goodbyes late in the day and that was the end of my time interning at The National Basketball Academy.
This week I worked my last day of the four week Bedford basketball camp. Kyle, Demetria, and myself coached the kids Tuesday evening. The kids began stretching and doing warm-ups under Kyle’s leadership as Demetria and I continued to provide one on one critiques and guidance. The kids came in pumped to get started so we were happy to work with them. After they completed about eight warm-up drills they were split up into stations between all three coaches. I worked on ball handling and defensive drills this week. I had them use the cross-over, strong hand, and weak hand dribbling skills they worked on in warm-ups as they dribbled around cones in a snake pattern. They next worked on guarding the dribbler. The dribbler worked on ball protection while dribbling and the defensive player worked on defensive shuffling and hand pressure. I focused on this because we planned to let them play five on five near the end of camp. Kyle worked on shooting drills and Demetria worked on pick and roll. The kids were also shown new one on one drills. The ball was sat at the foul line’s corner while the kids raced to retrieve it. Whoever got to it first became the offensive player and the other kid became the defensive player. They raced down court to the other end and played one on one. Next, one had to lay down near the ball placement and on my command the player laying down arose and became the offensive player as the other player raced to defend them at the basket. Lastly, both players laid down at the baseline as we rolled a ball between them. They had to wait on our command to see who could retrieve the basketball first as they raced towards the basket to play one on one. Afterwards they had a shoot off for a pair of Michael Jordan sneakers. If they made four shots in four specific locations Coach Kyle agreed to buy them a pair of shoes. No one was able to make all four shots. We finally let them play five on five. We continued to coach as they played. We taught them about spacing because without proper offensive spacing defenders can guard more than one player. We also encouraged them to use all the fundamentals they were taught these past four weeks. We told them to use the pick and roll, cut back , cut to the basket, use pick and pop, set screens, use their pivot foot, jump stop, pressure defense, dribble with both hands, and make good passes. The camp ended with parents asking if TNBA had any other upcoming camps their kids could attend. I got a few hugs and most said thank you as they departed. I really enjoyed that session and I didn’t have to discipline as many with push-ups that last day.
Week 17
I was back working in the office at the beginning of this week. I performed my usual tasks, answering phones, handling complaints, and servicing staff. I attempted to meet with Mike again regarding future employment or connections. He was too busy to meet so I just continued addressing customer concerns and taking messages. I spoke with another worker who works for Crescent Digital who advised me more on how his side of the company is changing. He too spoke of more tasks being put on his plate and how he was unhappy and overworked. If I worked for the organization I wouldn’t be working with him or on that side of the business but the information was still relevant. I suppose he just needed someone to vent to so he opened up to me. It showed a continuous pattern of how employees are treated and unappreciated. I knew about other employees and departments who were stressed but that’s not something we discuss each time I’m there. His detailed information let me know that this pattern hasn’t seemed to improve, it appears to only have gotten worse. He said his job description continues to change as he’s asked to complete more and more tasks each week. He also said they get yelled at for non-completion but they just don’t have enough employees to handle the workload. He never said his pay had increased and since his co-worker left the company when he was denied a raise under these same circumstances it’s safe to say he probably hasn’t gotten one either. I figured if I was able to meet with Mike I’d converse more about his possible connections than working for TNBA. I always like to network because even if one company isn’t for me it doesn’t mean they don’t have connections to one that it is. I try never to burn a bridge and that’s why I continued to work up beyond the call of duty why working there. I also made plans to work at another clinic during my last few weeks there. Though kids can be undisciplined and unstructured each past camp was enjoyable. I’d have to work with grades six through nine so I figured they would be a little more attentive than the younger ones. Of course during each camp I worked with different people from different environments so it’s always a surprise to what I’ll encounter. I will start Wednesday evening of this week and continue working the next two Wednesdays.
Week 18
This week I went into the office and worked with one of the coaches and another intern regarding making up his schedule for an upcoming event. It’s not as easy as one would think because the coach has to set up a format for each camp or clinic that allows different teams to play one another so that nothing over laps or gets done twice during a session. We set up skills times, scrimmages, and shooting session times. Each camp provides time to work on fundamentals, shooting, drills, and scrimmages no matter the age or grade level. We worked for several hours as coach checked and rechecked the information we implemented in the system. He would check them and assign us something else to complete. This camp had about 75 kids in it so we had to ensure each kid would be assigned to a group and a team for the different tasks. When I completed this I continued to answer phones in the office and assist customer’s needs. One client said her son had enjoyed the camp he attended in Memphis and she wanted to see if there were any more to send him to. The season had ended there so no more camps were available. I advised her that we offer personal training from coaches. These sessions offer shooting help, fundamental skills training, and defensive and offensive training. Her son is 14 so personal training would really help her child. He’s at the right age to benefit from one on one training. She asked about the coaches prices but I let her know each coach discusses that during the initial consultation. I informed her that rates, dates, times, and a location will be discussed between her and the coach. I told her she can also inform him on her sons needs or her son can let him know what he feels his strengths and weaknesses are. She was greatly appreciative that I informed her of her options. She said she feels it is a good idea and it will help her son improve his overall game outside of the coaching provided on his school team. I gave her the coaches contact information in Memphis. I worked the camp Wednesday evening and the kids seemed to remember some of the drills we taught them last week. We had showed them shooting techniques, fifteen footer shooting drills, defensive stance drills, offensive drills, stressing distance, and allowed them to scrimmage. It was three coaches besides myself and we all worked together with coaching the kids and advising them.
Week 19
This week we decided to allow the kids to play one on one, two on two, and three on three. We had six baskets so the kids were all able to get a turn. Each coach had a section that the kids rotated to after each group had a turn. We also did drills for shooting and worked on improving their footwork. The kids were pumped and gave a lot of effort. They also supported one another by cheering on their section as others competed. I also went to the office this week. I answered most of the phone calls as Demetria worked in different flyers and marketing projects for upcoming events. She also works with Tom at his nonprofit company so she has other tasks she likes to work on outside of her secretarial duties. I have seen how overworked she is so I try to give her a break anytime I can. It’s very difficult to work on things and still have to answer calls, transfer calls, send faxes, look up information, and deal with customer complaints. She often takes work home when she runs out of time completing things at work. She does this because she cares so much, not because of the pay. I had another interesting client call in who had not received a refund yet. She wanted to know why it was taking so long since it had been a month and a half. She also asked if there was anything else she could do to be compensated. I found out where she lived and the age of her daughter. I told her she could put her daughter in the current clinic we were running and the next one TNBA was having. She went from being upset to listening. At the end of the day though she wanted to be made whole she also saw how the previous camp helped her daughter improve. She asked me if I could help set everything up for her so I contacted our accounting department and the coach running that camp. Each said they would continue the process in getting everything set up for Mrs. Parks.
Week 20
I went to the office this week and performed my usual duties and waited for Tom to arrive to complete last minute internship paperwork requirements. Tom and I discussed my future and he told his dad, Mike that it was my last day. Mike made a comment that we had never gotten to sit down and talk so I should come and meet with him once I’ve finished with school. I told him I was willing to relocate but I still had mixed feelings about him. Though I’d like to see if he has or will connect me with any possible job opportunities I still feel if he really cared about advancing my career he would have made time to converse with me at least once since I was there for five months. I may decide to meet with him but I’m not counting on him to help further my path. Tom on the other hand really opened up to me about what he saw in me. He told me how he liked how I dealt with people, how good my communication skills were, and how he loved my personality and mannerisms. He said I’d make a good manager because I’m very friendly but professional and he thought I possessed the skills to help athletes dealing with crises management, the media, and day to day issues and concerns. Tom had taken Demetria and I out to lunch several times during my time at TNBA but he said he wanted to take me out one last time since it was my last day. We all went to lunch and laughed and enjoyed our time once again together. We discussed how we were family now and would never forget each other. After lunch I went back to the office and continued to answer calls while Demetria worked on those projects. I gave a few hugs out as I said my goodbyes late in the day and that was the end of my time interning at The National Basketball Academy.