Chainlink Fundamentals » Nike

CHAIN LINK FUNDAMENTALS tips off 2011 working with the Nike DYCD/Beacon Program

dimemag — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 17:20:07 +0000

On January 8th and January 22nd Chain Link Fundamentals teamed up with Nike to run two dynamic Saturdays of skill development clinics at the El Faro Beacon Scan Facility on 120th Street and 1st avenue. The Chain Link Fundamentals staff worked with over 500 participants over the course of the two Saturdays. The participants were middle school aged girls who are members of the DYCD/Beacon program which is spread throughout all five boroughs. From beginners to more advanced participants the gym was filled with eager participants who were given two great hours on the court featuring the dynamic warmup, skills and drills in the Chain Link station cycle and an court team building activity.

Chain Link Fundamentals will next activate during all-star weekend in Los Angeles.

Chain Link @ Radio City

dimemag — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 22:33:01 +0000

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.

Chain Link Fundamentals – Week 3

dimemag — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 17:53:35 +0000

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.

Chain Link Fundamentals – Clinic Recap

dimemag — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 20:30:38 +0000

With the first two weeks in the books, it’s fair to say that it’s going to be an amazing summer. The Chain Link Fundamentals clinics have been a big hit in Harlem, teaching hundreds of young ones how to play the game, giving tips to more experienced ballers, and moving kids off the street and onto the court. After all, the playground isn’t the problem, it’s the solution.

Following our successful first run on the 12th, we added a second session to cater to more students of the game, including ones coming out of camp or school. At Chain Link Fundamentals we stress the importance of academics in addition to basketball. The programming is set up in this mold, with the instruction on Monday and Open Gym on Wednesdays.

Our day starts at about 9 AM when the kids arrive to warm up and shoot around. The clinic starts at 10 with a few words of guidance from experienced NYC program director Eric Newman. The participants are grouped and begin to cycle through the six stations: shooting, rebounding, defense, ball-handling, one-on-one moves, and SPARQ training.

Coach Lance Williams leads the Defensive 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!

Chain Link Fundamentals visits Baltimore on the eve of the NHSI

dimemag — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 22:14:33 +0000

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.

On Tuesday Chain Link ran it back at the Carmelo Anthony Recreation Center. Again the coaching staff and participants brought it strong for three hours working on their individual skills, conditioning and some team concepts. It was a strong back to back showing of basketball instruction and training for Chain Link Fundamentals down in Baltimore. Enjoy the pic’s below of the Carmelo Center: