Basketball camp stresses skill, life lessons

by Brett Turner Skywrighter Staff
August 20, 2004

Inspiration can sometimes come from the least likely people and places. Master Sgt. Ron Rucker found his from a young girl who tried her hardest but couldn’t seem to shoot a basket.

Rucker, who works in the Computer Support Program at the Air Force Institute of Technology, used the inspiration to begin the Perseverance Basketball Camp. Wright-Patterson’s first Perseverance Camp began Monday and concludes today at the Prairies Community Center gymnasium.

More than 60 base kids, ages 7-16, signed up for the camp, which is a non-profit venture to teach not just basketball skills but life skills as well.

“I like to say that things that work in basketball also work in life,” said Rucker.

He began the idea of a camp while working in youth sports while stationed in Germany, attending a popular camp he’d heard good things about. After being transferred to Eglin AFB, Fla., he began coaching women’s basketball.

While waiting with Harriet Williams, one of his players, for the rest of the team to show up for practice at a gym, the pair spied a little girl struggling to shoot the ball.

Williams and Rucker began to instruct the girl on how to shoot, and the final push toward Perseverance was born.

The first Perseverance Camp started in 1999 at Eglin and it has grown from there. The name is an acronym made from three words for hoop success — PERspiration, SEVERity and endurANCE.

While the main emphasis is to teach fundamental basketball skills, there are twists that make it interesting. The campers will play games but with different rules, making them apply the fundamental skills they’ve learned.

Plus, Rucker also likes to apply things to life as well. The campers take a pledge of non-violence, and the importance of character is stressed.

The camp brought in a mix of kids with previous basketball skills and newcomers. Some, such as T.J. Longeway, attended for something to do while his parents were at work. He plays ball already in an area league.

For Austin Weglage, it was his first basketball experience outside of his driveway. He said he was excited about his first time on a hardwood court.

“I really want to learn shooting and dribbling,” he said.

Several parents said they were pleased to bring their children to the camp. Kelli Brown brought her daughter Hannah, who already plays in a league, and son Riley, attending his first camp.

“I thought it would be a good introduction for him,” said Kelli Brown. “And I felt comfortable bringing them here.

Kelli Brown added the price was wonderful for what she hoped would be a positive week of fun and learning.

Maggie Braun had a similar reaction. Her sons Andrew, Nicholas and James, who range in age from 7-12, were all set to go.

“I thought this would be a great opportunity for them to work skills and fundamentals,” she said.

All the Braun boys had learned to play the game in base-sponsored leagues beginning at age 5, and have now graduated to leagues in the area. It gave Maggie Braun confidence in leaving her kids at the center.

“I feel great about keeping the kids active in safe programs like this,” she said.

Rucker is aided by family members in running the camps including his dad Robert and son Logan. Also helping out were members of Wayne High School’s basketball team. The camp is growing. Rucker returned to Eglin a few weeks ago and has conducted a couple others in the Dayton area.

The rewards of seeing the progress they have made from the first day of camp until the last is part of his satisfaction. And it’s returned later on when seeing what he’s taught come back.
“Every group I’ve coached, I’ve had some come back to instruct,” he said. “They want to give back and I see a lot of them teaching.”

Following the camp, Rucker will take over coaching duties for the base women’s basketball team. And he will continue to put on Perseverance Basketball Camps, he said.