GSP Tunis successfully completed their Summer 2020 Baseball and Basketball Camps at the American Cooperative School of Tunis. Despite reduced participation due to concerns related to the pandemic, 24 children and 6 coaches – 3 of whom are Tunisian – participated in the baseball camp (3-7 August) and 30 children and 9 coaches – 7 of whom are Tunisian – participated in the basketball camp (10-14 August). According to GSP Tunis Country Coordinator Jared Morgan, “the GSP Tunis Summer 2020 Baseball and Basketball Camps were a great success because the participants learned many new skills as well as character traits that will benefit them throughout their lives.”
A parent of two of the baseball camp participants expressed gratitude saying,
“Thank you … to the dedicated GSP team who made the baseball camp so enjoyable. Both [of my children] were thrilled with the experience and learn[ed] many new skills.”
GSP staff saw major improvements in the performance of the young athletes throughout the course of the camp. Players with little to no prior experience were excelling in form and execution by the end of the week. Morgan noted that “children who had never played the game were understanding concepts and skill development, and they showed the ability to hit, catch, field and throw with good technique.”
When asked about the basketball camp, Jared Morgan made this observation:
“All week long, we were working on shooting and layups with the players. On the last two days, we saw multiple players make layups with incredible form. It was very exciting to see these improvements and the excitement of all involved was obvious as all of the coaches were celebrating these victories.”
In addition to investing in young athletes during these camps, GSP Project Coordinator for Algeria, Libya and Tunisia Marc Neie noted,
“We’re definitely excited about the development of the athletes, but we’re equally excited about our partnership with and investment in several Tunisian coaches.“
GSP’s camps provide us with the opportunity to expand sport involvement and character development beyond our own programs as we invest in the future of sport in Tunisia and around the world.
Excited with the positive developments in both skill and participant character, GSP Tunis also is hoping to use these camps as a springboard into the upcoming Fall 2020 GSP Tunis Baseball and Winter 2020 Basketball programs where they expect to see increased participation from athletes and additional opportunities to invest in the development of athletes and Tunisian coaches.
