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What better way to kick off the World Basketball Festival than with a brisk workout provided by the top-notch coaching staff of Chain Link Fundamentals. After a brief opening with Jerry Colangelo, Coach K, and two of the nation’s best, Kevin Durant and Rajon Rondo, kids of Alianza Dominicana took to the amazing court set-up at Radio City Music Hall to learn the game.

Chinese national Yi Jianlian assists at the shooting station.

Coaches Cliff Brooks and Lance Williams anchored the defensive station, encouraging footwork and active hands. Pro-caliber players Kenny Satterfield and Nate Brown manned the ball-handling station, giving proper instruction in lieu of the flashy, excessive crossovers young NYC players are known for.  Chinese national Yi Jianlian helped out at the shooting station, helmed by Andrew Feeley and city legend Mike Campbell. To close, Rajon Rondo gave an insightful speech to the kids about the importance of hard work, getting their education, and the concept of “United We Rise.”

USA guard Rajon Rondo imparts knowledge to the kids.

We continued our success during the third week of Chain Link Fundamentals programming in New York City with our continued outreach into the community. Thousands of children of all ages on the playground playing the game, without possessing the basic and necessary tools to succeed at basketball.

A select few are privileged enough to get noticed or have a coach in the family to teach them these skills, but the vast majority are left behind on the playground to repeat the crossover dribbles and other “ooh and ahh-” inducing moves pushed to the forefront of basketball coverage.

What Chain Link Fundamentals seeks to do is provide top-notch coaching to any and every kid that comes to our program. And most importantly, free of charge in comparison to other skill camps or clinics that may cost hundreds of dollars that inner-city families just don’t have.

We’ve been able to host several large groups, including the Beacon Community Center, the Millbank Center, Harlem Children’s Zone, the Gauchos, and Street Corner Resources. Kids have come from Yonkers, Uniondale, and even Denmark to partake in our program, showing the obvious necessity for programs of this nature to improve our children.

For this third session, our participants received a truly unique experience: learning from pro-caliber players on the court then heading to the World Basketball Festival gallery titled “The Ball Room,” an exhibition of Nike and basketball history. The Signature Moves portion allows the kids to watch their favorite players execute their go-to move and learn how to replicate it and add the move to their own repertoire.

Without a doubt, the New York City youth that participate in Chain Link Fundamentals programming this summer will become better basketball players because of it, by taking the skills they’ve attained, and repeating the drills they learned throughout the year.

Coach Kenny Satterfield instructing at the ball handling station.

These clinics provide the invaluable opportunity for children of all levels to learn from ex-college and professional players who specialize in youth development, including NYC basketball icons Mike Campbell, Ira Miller, and Kenny Satterfield. It also gives them a great workout while becoming well-rounded players, and better athletes with the SPARQ component.

This summer is just the springboard for Chain Link Fundamentals in New York City. Our next clinic is Monday, July 26th at 10 AM, and the second session begins at 12:30. Be on the lookout for more in the near future!

P.S. Become a fan of the Chain Link Fundamentals Facebook Page and check out all of the great photos from the summer so far!

Following a terrific Chain Link Fundamentals clinic and HOH store opening in NJ, Chain Link Fundamentals traveled down to Baltimore, Maryland for two days of on court teaching leading up to the NHSI which took place at Coppin State University later in the week.

On Monday March 29th the Chain Link staff and 100 student athlete participants gathered at Lake Clifton High School for three great hours of basketball. The energy and excitement in the gym was contagious as the coaches and players gave their all to make this a terrific clinic. Being able to execute a quality program at Lake Clifton was very exciting as their legendary coach Herman “Tree” Harried was on hand to not only watch but lend a hand and speak with the Chain Link coaching staff and participants. MORE >