Wednesday, July 29, 2015

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#WHEN the Bahamas Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation hosts the 43rd Central American and Caribbean Bodybuilding Championships, there will be a change in the date and the venue.

#Instead of being staged October 1-4 at the Melia Nassau Beach Resort, the championships are scheduled for September 24-27 at the Atlantis resort on Paradise Island.

#Former professional bodybuilder Joel Stubbs, who is now serving as the new president of the federation, said the changes were necessary because of a conflict with the dates booked at Melia as a result of postponement of the opening of Baha Mar and the fact that Atlantis was more accessible with the new dates that are now set.

#“We were disappointed when we heard that the dates were not available to us because we had already brought in the president of the CAC for a site inspection at Melia and everything was confirmed,” Stubbs said. “But after they informed us that we had to change the dates because they had some other commitments at the hotel due to the postponement of Baha Mar, we had to change the venue.

#“As a result of the change in venue to Atlantis, Stubbs said they had to move the championships up by one week so that we can be accommodated by Atlantis. With the change in date and venue, we have gotten some very good rates for the athletes and the spectators who are expected to come to the championships.”

#Stubbs, the second Bahamian to earn his pro card at the CAC Championships in 2003, said their only concern would be for those spectators who might have already made their travel arrangements after they made the original announcement of the event in October.

#“We know that the majority of the countries have not selected their teams because their national championships are not held as early as they are held here,” said Stubbs, a perennial heavyweight champion since he started competing in 1996.

#“So making an adjustment one week ahead of time to compete so to not have an effect on the athletes.”

#More than 400 athletes from 41 countries are expected to participate in the championships. He noted that the Bahamas will be ready to welcome them and is anticipating a great show for the title.

#“The good thing about the CAC Championships is that the overall winners will be awarded their pro cards,” said Stubbs, who followed Charles Kemp and preceded Gena Mackey, Natasha Brown, James ‘Jay’ Darling and Dominique Wilkinson as the only pro bodybuilders.

#“We expect that a lot of the bodybuilders will be coming here to compete in the championships because they are looking forward to earning their pro card. We expect that the competition will be very competitive because we also know that everybody wants to compete in the Bahamas.”

#When the Bahamas last hosted the championships in 2008 at the Rain Forest Theatre in the Wyndham Nassau Resort & Crystal Palace Casino, the Bahamas won the overall title by dethroning Barbados. This will mark the sixth time that the championships are held in the Bahamas. The Bahamas has also won the overall title eight times.

#“We have not finalised our team as yet, but we expect to have a very good team at the championships,” Stubbs said. “We have a lot of competitors who have been working very hard getting prepared for the championships. So we expect that the Bahamas will have a very strong team to compete.”

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Wednesday, September 18, 2019

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#WITH 14 active pro bodybuilders on their list, Bahamas Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation president Joel Stubbs said he anticipates that the numbers could increase at the Central American and Caribbean Championships October 11-14.

#The federation will be sending a 12-member team, inclusive of national champion Charles Reckley, the lone Bahamian to compete in the bodybuilding segment of the championships, which have been moved to Santo Domingo, the Dominican Republic, from Puerto Rico.

#Shakira Ferguson, Tanza Thompson, Fania Joseph, Dominique Hanna and Dawn Charlton will all participate in the various women’s bikini competitions, while David Dormavil, Demetrius Clarke, Kaif Young, Jason Johnson, Wellington Wallace and Bertram Miller are entered in the men’s physique categories.

#Stubbs will accompany the delegation that will be led by team manager Nardo Dean, national coach Raymond Tucker, secretary/protocol Tim Rolle and two judges to be announced.

#“We have a great team with the selection that we have made,” said Stubbs of the process that came at the conclusion of the recent Novice and the Bahamas National Championships.

#“Unfortunately, it’s not a full team, but nonetheless, we feel we have selected a very strong team with the majority of competitors coming from the men’s physique and the women’s bikini.”

#Stubbs, a former CAC champion and professional bodybuilder, said he’s very hopeful that this team will represent the Bahamas very well and they will improve the fourth-place finish from last year’s championships.

#With some of the countries facing difficulties in acquiring their visas, the championships were moved from Puerto Rico to the Dominican Republic, which stepped in at the 11th hour to accommodate the athletes, who will once again be vying for their pro cards as overall champions in their various categories.

#“One of the biggest challenges is that a lot of the big-name competitors have obtained their pro cards, so there’s not that much talent to come on the stage this year,” Stubbs said.

#“But I’m optimistic that with the team we are taking and with their body structures and the conditions that are in, that we will have a very good showing in the Dominican Republic.”

#Not only is he looking for some hardware with athletes achieving their gold, silver or bronze medals, Stubbs said he could see one or two or possibly three Bahamian athletes securing their pro cards.

#Teran Knowles and Rashield were the latest Bahamians to earn their pro cards, bringing the list to 14 active pro bodybuilders.

#“We have some athletes who will be knocking on the door when they compete in the championships,” Stubbs said. “The athletes have to be very mindful and strategic in picking the show that will allow them to get their pro status. “You don’t want to go to a show where there are so many athletes lined up and you are overlooked. We want them to go to shows where they can line up and be judged properly to get their pro cards. The CAC Championships is a good event to get it.”

f Wednesday, May 23, 2018

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#Following the completion of its Novice and National Open Championships, the Bahamas Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation has selected a 16-member team to represent the country at the Central American and Caribbean Championships.

#Federation president Joel Stubbs said the team, led by national coach Raymond Tucker and assisted by Leonardo ‘Nardo’ Dean, is all primed and ready to compete in the championships, scheduled for July 27-29 in Mexico.

#Named to the team are the following:

#Men’s bodybuilding – Paul Wilson, Charles Reckley, Giovanni Farrington and Reginald Bain.

#Women’s bikini – Tashara Seymour, Shakira Ferguson and Japhier Gardiner.

#Men’s physique – Terran Knowles, Raynor Ferguson, Alberto Armbrister, Gemo Smith, Jeremy Misciewicz and James Bain.

#Women’s wellness – Athena Bain

#Female Figure – Lyndsay Curry

#Muscular Men’s Physique –

#Rashad Edgecombe

#Stubbs, who will head the delegation, said although some of the competitors will be making their debut, he expects that the team will give a good representation of the Bahamas and bring back some hardware.

#“I anticipate us to finish in the top three, even though we are carrying a much smaller team,” he said. “We still have the power and dynamics. We have some strong competitors in just about every category.

#“We have three persons in the bikini team to represent the Bahamas, one in the women’s wellness, the men’s physique has a number of competitors who should do very well.”

#However, Stubbs said they won’t have a full men’s team in the bodybuilding competition, but he’s looking forward to Mr Bahamas Charles Reckley getting a chance to compete for the overall title along with Paul ‘Mighty Mouse’ Wilson and Giovanni Farrington.

#“We are hoping that these competitors can win their divisional titles and go on to compete in the pose down with a chance to compete for their IFBB Pro card,” Stubbs stressed.

#The Bahamas will have the luxury of taking two judges, one of whom will be Charles Sealy, the chief judge, who will get to officiate during the championship. The other has yet to be named.

#Two other judges, the federation’s first vice president Kenny Green, and Lillian Moncur, will travel to sit their Continental Judging exam to be able to judge at the CAC and regional level.

#To help defray the expenses for the team’s travel to the championships, the federation is set to hold a Family Fun Run/Walk and Morning Boil on Saturday. The event will start in Rawson Square at 6am and finish at Better Bodies Gym in the Shirley Street Plaza.

#The registration is $15 for adults and $7 for children under 15 years of age. The Morning Boil Chicken Souse is $10. Awards will be presented to the first three finishers in each age group category.

NEWLY elected BBFF officers (l-r) vice president Kenny Greene, secretary general Lillian Moncur, treasurer Oreatheia Mackey and president Joel Stubbs.

Friday, April 10, 2015

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#THE Bahamas Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation is heading into a new direction. Professional bodybuilder Joel Stubbs has replaced Danny Sumner as president after serving in that capacity for almost two decades. It’s a new change in the longest serving administration in local sports.

#During the elections held on March 21, Stubbs was voted in unanimous as president for the next four years. He will be joined on the executive board by Kenny Greene as the vice president, Lillian Moncur as the secretary general, Oreatheia Mackey as treasurer and Ingrid Bain as the secretary.

#Following their first executive meeting on April 4, Stubbs said they have decided to wait before they make a decision on the appointment of their other members. But Stubbs said he’s excited about the direction in which the federation is heading.

#The Grand Bahama Bodybuilding and Fitness Association is still headed by Rob Harris and the Long Island Bodybuilding Fitness Association is headed by Omar Daley. The federation will handle the affairs of New Providence.

#“We want to make sure that we have more transparency within the federation and keep the athletes up to breast on all of our developments, so that they can be a part of what is going on,” Stubbs said. “It’s going to be challenging, but having been an athlete all of my life, I’m looking forward to making a contribution as an administrator.

#“This is a new challenge and a new position for me. The position is something that I have to learn, but I will continue to have dialogue with the past administrators for their input and to make sure that they follow the protocol and all of the rules and regulations. So I’m up for the challenge.”

#Stubbs said the federation intends to be more visible on the international scene and he’s already utilising the contacts he made as one of the top bodybuilders in the world to ensure that the Bahamas makes its presence felt in the future.

#The first event on the calendar for the federation is the Novice Bodybuilding Championships in Grand Bahama June 27.

#“We are unable to have the novice as an open event as it has been done in the past,” Stubbs said. “We want to give the novices the kind of recognition that they deserve and then they will be given the spotlight when we hold the national championships sometime in July.

#As they work towards completing their agenda for 2015, Stubbs said their executive board hopes to sit down with both the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture with the view of getting the sport re-introduced at the high school level.

#And he hopes that they can find a way to lure some of the former bodybuilders who are still in the various gyms working out, but no longer interested in competing. Without getting into why so many bodybuilders have decided to walk away from the sport, Stubbs said they want to assure them that the new executive team will be working aggressively to turn the sport around.

Terez Nairn

As of Wednesday, May 25, 2016

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Tamara Scavella, Jomar Farquharson and Gemo Smith.

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#The Bahamas Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation is getting ready to stage its Annual Novice Bodybuilding Championships at the National Centre for the Performing Arts on Saturday night.

#The event returns to its rightful place on the calendar after it was staged during the federation’s National Bodybuilding Championships last year. The action kicks off at 7pm and is expected to be jam- packed with excitement.

#“Last year, we didn’t finish the nationals until late the next morning,” said federation president Joel Stubbs. “This year, we decided that we will bring the novice back where it will be staged by itself.

#“We want to allow the novices and those who have never won the national title before to come back and get their night of fame, accolades and props in their accomplishments. We want to have an overall novice champion prior to them coming to the big league.”

#During the nationals last year, Stubbs said the more seasoned bodybuilders took the spotlight as they out-shined the novice ones and that discouraged some of the bodybuilders who were looking to stay around the sport.

#So far, there are about 20 bodybuilders who have confirmed their participation in the nationals. He noted that there are a few who have developed stage fright and have indicated that they may no longer compete this weekend.

#“We are looking at the possibility of having about 20-25 athletes compete,” Stubbs said. “We expect to have competitors compete in all of the divisions, including men’s physique and men’s bodybuilding.”

#With the event returning to its rightful place, Stubbs said they have been getting an overwhelming support from the newcomers and all of the gyms have been inquiring about purchasing tickets to come out and cheer on their favourite competitors.

#“We expect a full capacity of spectators,” Stubbs said. “The venue is expected to have a large crowd of spectators as we try to take the novice championship to the next level.

#“We want to encourage as many persons to come out and lend their support to these newcomers. They need as much support as possible because it’s not easy to grace the stage. They are going to be some of the bodybuilders who will be stepping up to take over when the more seasoned bodybuilders decide to step down.”

#Leonardo ‘Nardo’ Dean, who has been working with many of the bodybuilders, said they are looking forward to putting on a grand display of talent when the competitors step on the stage on Saturday night.

#He said they have gotten a lot of interest from competitors from the various gyms and so they are looking forward to having a wide range of competitors making their presence felt.

Tuesday, June 23, 2020

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#WITH the Bahamas Government announcing the reopening of gyms and spas, the Bahamas Bodybuilding Federation is now looking forward to preparing for the proposed National and the Central American and Caribbean Championships.

#After being locked down since March due to the social distancing as a result of the spread of COVID-19, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis announced in the House of Assembly during his wrap up of the debate on the 2020/2021 Budget that spas, gyms and outdoor group exercises may reopen as of July 1.

#Federation president Joel Stubbs said the announcement was like sweet music to their ears.

#“It’s an opportunity for many of them to get back to doing what they have not been doing, especially those who have those adminicle diseases that were given the mandate to get cracking and to get your health in order,” Stubbs said.

#“Because of the pandemic, everything had to be shut down, so some of those persons would have had an opportunity to go outdoors to do something and some may not have had the opportunity to get in the mindset to do anything because as you know, the gym is a feeding ground for persons to feed off other persons to get motivated and so they can now get cracking.”

#Stubbs, however, said while the opening is imminent, they will still have to wait and see what procedures the various gyms will put in place for their patrons to adhere to whenever they come in to patronise their businesses.

#“We know that the three busiest times are in the morning before the start of the work day, in the middle of the day for an hour or so and right after work when the gyms are pretty much packed,” he stated.

#“So we will have to see how the gym owners strategize their plans to accommodate the persons at those specific times. Nonetheless, we are just grateful for the Bahamas Government for the opportunity that we are now given to get back into the gyms to train after this long time of being locked down.”

#At present, there are at least seven gyms that were in operation prior to the lockdown, but Stubbs said it’s uncertain what will happen in the aftermath as to whether or not all of them will reopen and if they do, at what expense.”

#Among the list of public gyms are Ironman and J-Line Fitness Center, both on Shirley Street; Total Fitness in the Golden Gates Shopping Center; Fanatic-C on Prince Charles Drive; Empire Fitness Center in the Sea Grape Shopping Center; Max Fit in the Harbour Bay Shopping Center and Club 1 Fitness Center in Sandyport.

#There are also a number of private operations, but Stubbs said there is no regulation by the federation for the gyms, which allow the public to utilize their facilities.

#Stubbs said he’s grateful to the support of the gyms to enable their bodybuilders to train and prepare for the federation’s national and international events.

#“We’ve had a few zoom meetings during the lockdown to discuss our present situation,” said Stubbs, about the federation’s executive plight in the aftermath of Covid-19.

#“We know that the CAC (Bodybuilding Championships) has been rescheduled and is planned for November 19-22 in Bridgetown, Barbados,” Stubbs said. “It was originally scheduled for Colombia, but they had canceled because of the outbreak there and the lack of finances from the government.

#“Hopefully all of the countries will still be able to bring s team, whether it be small or great, to compete and display their talent. As a region, we are working very hard on making that happen.”

#On the local front, Stubbs said the federation has rescheduled its National and Novice Bodybuilding Championships to September 25-26, but it all hinges on the roll out of the Bahamas economy and the social distancing policy that will be in place.

#“We don’t know if we will be able to accommodate a large mass of people in an auditorium by then or if we will have to continue to limit the amount of persons,” he stressed.

#“If we can’t allow persons to come in with their masts on and sit down and enjoy the competition, then we will probably just go with the competitors competing in front of the judges and show it virtually on social media.”

#Without the support of corporate Bahamas to cover their expenses, Stubbs said they rely on the grant they receive from the government and that is expected to be slashed by about 20 percent, which means they will have to find a way to fund their national team travel expenses.

#Stubbs said there are also plans to attend one or two other international competitions, but it will also depend on the funding they can generate and whether or not they will still be staged based on the effect of Covid-19 around the world.

f Tuesday, September 1, 2020

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#While the Bahamas Government is slowly opening up the economy in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, spas, gyms and outdoor exercise groups are still on the prohibited list.

#Joel Stubbs, president of the Bahamas Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation, expressed his concerns yesterday for the sporting events remaining closed.

#“Many businesses were allowed to reopen their doors to the public and of course, we were hoping that the gym doors would have opened also,” Stubbs said.

#“Unfortunately we will have to wait a little while longer to safely enjoy something we truly love doing which is working out to keep the body healthy and fit.”

#Stubbs revealed that they sent letters to the Office of the Prime Minister, Attorney General, Minister of Sports, Minister of Health, Deputy Prime Minister and other Ministry of Health COVID-19 advisors requesting a meeting, gym facility inspection, viewing or some consideration from April 2020 and to date they have not had any response, acknowledgement or return calls.

#“Apart from the athletes and clients suffering, the rent, utilities and maintenance bills have not stopped, employees cannot be paid and their families are affected and gym owners have not been given any type of stimulus package of financial assistance, hence many may have to close their doors for good,” Stubbs said.

#“At this junction, whereas businesses that propose a much higher risk in terms of crowding, lack of sanitation or COVID-19 protocol monitoring, closeness of one-on-one services and have no benefits of improving health have been allowed to open, we ask why in spite of all the efforts made have our gym facilities still been denied opening.”

#With at least 10 major gym facilities in New Providence and another five in Grand Bahama, Stubbs said to date, according to the Ministry of Health reports, there were no COVID-19 positives traced back to a gym facility, nor a gym member, trainer or owner.

#“In addition we see the newspaper articles highlighting the fact that obesity has risen during the COVID-19 lockdowns, many of the COVID-19 victims were in poor health and had pre-existing conditions as a result of poor fitness lifestyles and the fact that the most susceptible persons to the COVID-19 are those with weakened immune systems and poor fitness lifestyles,” he stated.

#“Yet the gym facilities and personnel that can help to correct these national concerns and be proactive in the healing and preventative health of the Bahamian people have been forced to close, first ones to close and the last to open.”

#Stubbs said their plea is in no way political or intended to undermine the nation’s leaders or those in authority. But he said the health of a nation is the wealth of a nation and not only do gyms play a vital part to this equation, but the gym owners contribute to the local economy and their athletes have taken the islands of the Bahamas to the world.

#He said all of this can still be accomplished safely obeying the rules and protocols given.

#But with the gyms, including the fitness centres remaining closed, Stubbs said it would also have an adverse effect on their Novice and National Bodybuilding Championships and subsequently the Central American and Caribbean Bodybuilding Championships.

#“As for the Novice/Nationals, persons/athletes have been putting in the time as best they can in remaining fit and in stage competition shape so to be eligible in representing The Bahamas at this year’s CAC games in Bridgetown, Barbados,” Stubbs said.

#“This comes as no surprise, we are and forever will be a power dynamic in bodybuilding in the Caribbean. The Bodybuilding and Fitness International Federation have provided guidelines in which a competition can be had with all the necessary safety protocols including distancing of athletes on stage.”

#Stubbs, who earned his professional a winner of the CAC Championships in 2003 in Nassau, said they saw a few competition in the month of July with a number of international competition in which all guidelines were observed and complied with.

#“That’s the same platform we intend to utilize here in October for our event,” said Stubbs, about the projected date they had set for the Nationals. “Of course, all emergency orders given and MOH Directives takes precedence.

#“We the executives and members are anxiously awaiting permission to get back to our third sanctuary so as to safely give persons that opportunity to gain their professional status or just simply the ability to triumphantly become victorious on the local home front amongst their pairs; whatever their desires are.”

#While they are still waiting on the clearance from the Ministry of Health officials to resume their activities, Stubbs indicated that they would hope that the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture will honor their financial commitment to the BBF so that they can salvage the season and be in a position to finish off the unprecedented 2020 on a strong note.

#“Thank you to our few sponsors, the media houses, the government and mostly to our Almighty God for keeping us through this pandemic and the ongoing times of uncertainty,” Stubbs summed up. “We know we are a strong people and with God’s help, wisdom and guidance, this to shall pass.”

#Stubbs, the uncle of Bahamian Olympic 400 metre champion, was once listed as possessing the biggest back in the world as he made a successful transformation from playing basketball after suffering an injury to competing in bodybuilding as he worked on getting through his rehabilitation.

#He said as the Bahamas is one the of the region’s leaders in the sport of bodybuilding and fitness and indeed many other sporting disciplines, the BBFF is still planning on attending the CAC Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships in November in Barbados with the hopes of regaining it’s championship form.

#But he said they are hoping that they can be allowed to get their competitors back into the gyms training so that they can properly prepare themselves.

Monday, July 13, 2020

#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#BALLIN’ By Da Beach Basketball Camp may be postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the organisation will ensure that its participants continue to benefit from its network of partners.

#BBDB, in conjunction with Global College Access, is scheduled to host its seventh annual “Student Summer Success Series” – sponsored by the University of the Ozarks. The series will include nightly Zoom sessions July 14-17 from 6pm to 8pm, featuring university presidents, athletic directors, coaches and college admissions leaders.

#Geared toward high school students, student-athletes, parents, coaches, guidance counsellors, and educational stakeholders, all sessions are free of charge.

#Sessions will include: Leading the Change through A Global Crisis; Executing The Change; The College Athlete and Coaching Through the Crisis and Expanding Opportunities for Student Success.

#“Under the theme, ‘Crucial Conversations in Higher Education: COVID-19 Threats and Opportunities,’ this year’s series will provide relevant insight into international college recruitment, admissions, enrolment and financing – but in an unprecedented way. From the comfort of their homes, scholars, parents and educational stakeholders in The Bahamas and within the Caribbean region will have access to the faces behind college and university mascots who are pioneering, leading change, creating new pathways and making crucial decisions to address the way forward,” the organisation said in a press release.

#“Hear from international college presidents as they speak about the process of navigating through a pandemic into a successful school year in the fall and beyond. Connect with international college vice-presidents and admissions directors as they discuss the evolving college admissions processes during a world crisis. Watch as college athletic directors and coaches tackle topics such as the notable changes in the recruitment process, social distancing on respective college campuses, how the ‘new normal’ will impact student athletes and other topics involving the expanding opportunities that some students and parents have not even considered.”

#Night three (The College Athlete and Coaching Through the Crisis) features several standout names in Bahamian coaching including Yolett McPhee-McCuin – Head Coach Ole Miss Women’s Basketball; Kimberley Rolle – Athletic Director of the University of the Bahamas Chris “Fireman” Brown – Olympic Gold Medallist and Head Track & Field Coach at Clayton State University; Edric Poitier, Head Women’s Volleyball Coach at Florida State College at Jacksonville and Dr Stephany Coakley – Sports Psychologist and Associate Athletic Director/Mental Health at Temple University.

#Interested persons can register for the 2020 Student Summer Success Virtual Series and can visit studentsummersuccess.com

#“Undoubtedly, the COVID-19 pandemic has placed extreme demands on leaders in almost every sector of the world with a considerable amount of uncertainty and apprehension pushing them into crisis mode. However, the true test of leadership is based on the response to the chaos and disruption; a response that unites people to propel an articulated mission and university leaders are no exception. The uncertain times of social distancing, quarantine, sanitizations and feelings of loss control and emotional instability demand a leadership change in behavior and mindset of calm and resilience to navigate its stakeholders throughout the epidemic,” they said, “We have sought to embrace this time to educate and challenge our participants as we embrace the challenge and threat of COVID-19: a way to create an even grander opportunity to connect students with higher education opportunities.”

#BBDB was created by Jurelle Mullings in 2010 when she saw a need to place a greater focus on the development of women’s basketball at the youth level. She is also the coordinator of the Student-Athlete Resources and Support (STARS) Programme in the Ministry of Education.

#Since 2010, the camp has featured hundreds of underserved, aspiring student athletes.

#In addition to the camp, the organization also hosts a Recruitment Exposure Showcase to aid aspiring players in their college recruitment process.

#“Our mission is to take a personal interest in every basketball player and coach to help them become game changers on and off the court. Our vision is to build a movement of passionate basketball players by delivering excellence through the game. Our vision inspires us in our daily work. We create a diverse, collaborative, encouraging environment where teamwork and openness are the cornerstones.”

#GCA was founded by Monique Hinsey, who specialises in college readiness and career consulting and also serves as the programme developer and coordinator, Public School Scholars Program (PSSP) program.

Monday, July 30, 2018

#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#THE ninth edition of ‘Ballin By Da Beach’ will once again feature two camps at one venue and additionally, the event takes on a new initiative in 2018.

#The camp, traditionally the premier camp for girls, will host its second separate camp for boys at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium this week, starting today (July 30) to August 3 at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium.

#Ballin’ By Da Beach will host players aged five to 18 with packages ranging from $50 to $125. The two camps will be held at the same time but will remain separate.

#The programme was created by Jurelle Nairn in 2010 when she saw a need to place a greater focus on the development of women’s basketball at the youth level.

#Candace Walker, head women’s basketball coach at St Thomas University in Miami, Florida will facilitate the girls’ segment of the camp while Tim Lewis, head coach of Montreat College, assistant coach in Ashville, North Carolina and Crossover Athletics, will conduct the boys’ segment of the camp.

#Since 2010, the camp has featured hundreds of underserved, aspiring student athletes.

#In addition to the camp, this year the organisation debuts its Recruitment Exposure Showcase to aid aspiring players in their college recruitment process. The showcase will be hosted Wednesday, August 1 at the Anatol Rodgers Gymnasium at 5pm. Individual evaluations will take place 5-6pm and games will take place 6-9pm.

#The divisions will include Junior Girls (7th-8th grade), Senior Girls (9th-12th grade) and Women’s Open (unsigned high school graduates up to age 25). Registration is $5 per player.

#“Led by college coaches who are actual decision makers, our Recruitment Exposure Showcase gives basketball student athletes an opportunity to showcase their basketball skills and earn a scholarship for college. These showcases typically have a serious skill work component and often times also film study and a college-style practice on top of scrimmaging and games, so the benefits to the player go far beyond getting exposure,” the organisation said.

#A press release issued by the organisation said: “Our mission is to take a personal interest in every basketball player and coach to help them become game changers on and off the court. Our vision is to build a movement of passionate basketball players by delivering excellence through the game. Our vision inspires us in our daily work. We create a diverse, collaborative, encouraging environment where teamwork and openness are the cornerstones.”

#In addition to serving as an assistant at Salisbury University, Nairn has coached the Queen’s College Comets and was an assistant on the women’s national basketball team. “This movement was birthed from my passion to serve and inspire change in the Bahamas through basketball. Since I started playing basketball, God has just graced me with His favour over and over again,” she said during previous editions of the camp. “I can truly say that I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for basketball,” she said. “It has opened doors that would have never been opened had I not played for the right people, in the right place, at the right time.”

Thursday, July 5, 2012

#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Sports Reporter 

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#WITH summer basketball camps around the country in full swing, one of the few camps dedicated to female players opened yesterday for its highly anticipated third edition.

#Ballin’ By Da Beach girls’ basketball camp, hosted by Jurelle Nairn, in conjunction with the Back2Basics Foundation, is scheduled to continue through July 6 at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium.

#According to its website, the camp broke a record in its three-year existence with over 80 student athletes registered and competing on day one. 

#Open to girls aged five and above, the camp is free of charge to all players and is expected to run 9am to 3pm daily.

#Nairn, one of the Bahamas’ rising stars in the coaching ranks of women’s basketball, has seen her camp grow in popularity and stature with each edition.

#Head coach Charisse Mapp, formerly of North Carolina State University and Salisbury, will conduct the camp along with Nairn, collegiate players and a number of local coaches.

#Nairn, who was also a one-time coach at Queen’s College, said the inspiration for the event came from a need for her to give back to the community and the sport of basketball.

#“Ballin’ By Da Beach was formed to develop systematic basketball programmes that provide the youth with life-changing exposure and education through the sport of basketball,” Nairn said via the organisation’s website.

#“Every year a countless number of skilled and talented current and prospective athletes go unseen and unexposed. Skills remain undeveloped, talent remains uncultivated, potential remains untapped, desires to be successful die, the passion to achieve greatness is killed, and worst of all, purpose remains unfulfilled. The maximum social, moral, and economic benefits that come from participating in athletics must not be denied to another generation. Ballin’ By Da Beach is a movement committed to reversing this trend.”

#Also noteworthy, in its second edition and returned for the third, the Ballin’ By Da Beach clinic used its exposure and growth in popularity to honour one of the game’s most recent icons.

# The camp again features T-shirts this year adorned with the image of Yolett McPhee-McCuin, the daughter of legendary Bahamian coach Gladstone “Moon” McPhee and educator Daisy McPhee.

#McCuin is currently the assistant coach/ recruiting co-ordinator at Clemson University where she has become the first female Bahamian coach to sign a Bahamian player, Jonquel Jones, to a top NCAA Division 1 programme.

#In 2009, she worked as an assistant on the senior women’s Bahamian national team and was named the Caribbean Coach of the Year.

#She then developed the aforementioned Back2Basics organisation, which helps the development of children through education and athletics.

# Additionally, she was involved in numerous community service projects at her other coaching stops.

#“This movement was birthed from my passion to serve and inspire change in the Bahamas through basketball. Since I started playing basketball, God has just graced me with His favour over and over again,” Nairn said. “I can truly say that I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for basketball,” she said. “It has opened doors that would have never been opened had I not played for the right people, in the right place, at the right time.”