Competitive Sports Academy is the “new kid on the block” when it comes to summer camps, but the Newmarket basketball facility has scored a slam dunk.
After opening their facility at 611 Steven Crt., Unit 6, in Newmarket in November and then being closed for months due to lockdown, cofounder Mark Banate said they are “very fortunate” that Nike reached out to partner with them to offer sports camps this summer.
The week-long day camps will cater to different ages and skill levels for kids who want to work on their skills or get ready for next season.
Banate said while organized basketball was hit hard by the pandemic, they feel there's demand in the community.
“We do feel that there is, especially this summer, a large gap to fill,” he said.
Competitive basketball leagues often depend on school and community gyms for their courts, which were largely unavailable due to restrictions and closures through the COVID-19 pandemic.
“When you take away that resource, it becomes an ultimate challenge,” Banate said.
That’s what prompted him to launch the facility, which operates as a not-for-profit organization.
He said his own children have played rep basketball before and he started his business as way to give them a place to play.
"Lo and behold, I found a unit, we took a chance, I signed the lease," Banate said. "We really wanted to do it for the kids."
The need for court space isn’t the only gap Competitive Sports Academy aims to fill.
According to Banate, 90 per cent of the facility’s typical programs are built around girls.
“We feel that it’s a big need and there’s not many resources for girls out there to really focus on basketball,” he said. “A lot of the time over the years, they’re training with boys, which is not bad but it would be nice to really have a girl-focused program.”
However, for their summer camps, Banate said there has been a big interest in their boys programs, and he hopes more girls will sign up, too.
The first camp is set to run from July 5 to 9. The various programs cost from $250 to $355.
COVID-19 protocols, including temperature checks, mask wearing, and regular sanitizing, will be in place at the camps.
