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By Edward Sheehan
Hometown Weekly Correspondent
This week as well as last, the Needham Rockets Basketball Camp was in session. Over 150 young athletes, ranging from rising 4th graders to rising freshmen, turned up for a week of fun and training at the Rashi School in Dedham. Asked about the camp’s main focus, Paul Liner, head of the camp for the last eight years and the Needham Boys Varsity Basketball Coach said: “teaching, teaching, teaching… of course we mix in fun.”
The fundamental basketball skill training is rigorous, with an hour and a half daily of an intense training circuit that covers all the fundamental aspects of the game, as well as plenty of scrimmages, contests, and similar fun events. Furthermore, that training is continued at night, with homework (assignments include free throw practice, among others).
This rigor is certainly effective - most Needham High Varsity players attended this camp at some point. All of the counselors are either varsity players or Needham High coaches, including Thomas Shaughnessy, a rising junior, who, when asked his feelings on the camp, said: “I love it. It’s so fun. Everyone is engaged.” Shaughnessy is coaching the Rockets Camp for a second year, and attended it for five years before, a trend Liner says is common.
According to Liner, the camp is “fun enough that the former students want to work as counselors and give back.” Jenna Petronio, a camper who is going into freshman year (and plans on being a counselor next year), concurs with Liner’s assessment, saying that she “loves it” at camp.
