Bluffton University coaches and Lima YMCA campers have a blast learning about sports
By Rustin Pickett, sports information assistant
August 5, 2005
The Lima YMCA and Bluffton University teamed up to teach the basic concepts and skills of baseball and track to the summer campers. Head baseball coach James Grandey and head track/cross country coach Janey Meeks each put on clinics for the YMCA summer kids camp.
Bluffton University’s track and field coach Janey Meeks and her assistant Ed Arnold took time out of their day to help further the knowledge and skills of the YMCA campers. The coaches taught many of the basic concepts that deal with track and field which included the event areas on the track and in the field. Next they took the kids through some of the beginner drills to teach them the right technique of some throwing events and running events. 
Once the kids learned the drills they had a chance to put their newly gained knowledge to work through a few relay races.
“We thought the clinic went really well,” said Coach Meeks. “It’s always fun to see kids get excited about learning something new."
The YMCA continued their week of sports with a little stick ball. Bluffton University’s head baseball coach James Grandey had the chance to distribute his knowledge to the kids for a day. Coach Grandey started the kids off with some basic stretches before they got into the major aspects of baseball. After the kids finished their stretching they learned the right way to throw a baseball and were put through a few drills that concentrated on arm slot and balance. Each of the kids competed in a competition and got the chance to have the speed of their ball clocked by the radar gun. Next on the agenda was fielding; the campers partnered up and followed coach Grandey’s lead in a few drills. To round off the day the campers learned the correct way to run through first base and each competed in a timed sprint from the baseline through first base.
“It was a great experience to work with kids from the Lima area,” said coach Grandey. “Most importantly we had a lot of fun working on the fundamentals of baseball.”
