Florida Flame introduce Junior Flame Program

Published on September 6, 2005 under NBA G League (G League)
Florida Flame News Release


FORT MYERS, Fla., September 6 - The Florida Flame, presented by Century 21 Sunbelt Realty, are proud to announce their Junior Flame Program for the 2005-06 season. Open to boys ages 8-14, the Junior Flame is the official junior basketball team of the Florida Flame and competes against local youth teams throughout Lee and Collier counties.

The team is directed by Bill Carufe, Athletic Director and Head Basketball Coach at the Community School of Naples, along with a team of local, well-known basketball coaches. Along with the "Grow Your Game" clinics, the Junior Flame season will also be highlighted by a series of games played at the Germain Arena, prior to Florida Flame home games.

The JR. FLAME program emphasizes fundamental skill development, teamwork, sportsmanship and positive adult participation with the goal of providing a fun and rewarding youth basketball experience where young players can create a bond with the game while also learning what it takes to be successful away from the court.

Instruction is the foundation of the JR. FLAME initiative. That's why an expert team of NBA Development League personalities, and youth sports professionals, have created a unique series of instructional materials for distribution to member league players, coaches, parents and officials. The mix of on- and off-court instruction will create and maintain a positive and fun youth basketball environment where fundamental skill development, team play and sportsmanship are highlighted.

Striving to achieve goals while respecting your opponents, teammates, coaches and officials is what makes youth sports such an important developmental activity. JR. FLAME recognition programs highlight those traits in young basketball players through positive reinforcement. All players in the JR. FLAME league receive a participation certificate upon successfully completing their season.

Each Junior Flame player will receive:

- Junior Flame Players Guide

- Flame Kids Club fan membership and benefits

- Junior Flame participation certificate (to be awarded at end of 2005-06 season)

- Special instruction from Florida Flame Head Coach and former NBA All-Star Jeff Malone as well as from Flame players

Junior Flame parents will receive:

- Junior Flame Parents Guide

- Special discounts on Florida Flame game tickets

- Special discounts on Florida Flame merchandise

Participants can reserve their spot for the 2005-06 Junior Flame program by contacting Brandon Phillips at (239) 561-8130 . Registration forms can also be downloaded from the internet at www.floridaflame.com .

In addition, the Flame will be hosting their Junior Flame "Grow Your Game" Basketball Clinic Series. The "Grow Your Game" Clinics will feature two sessions, held each Sunday for five weeks, starting September 25th and concluding October 23rd, 2005 at the Community School of Naples.

Open to boys and girls in grades 3-8, the clinics will be divided into two sessions based on age and grade. The afternoon session runs 4:30-6:00 p.m. and is for players in grades 3-5, while the evening session is open to players in grades 6-8 and runs 6:00-7:30 p.m. The registration fee is $50 and is limited to the first 60 players per session.

Directed by Community School of Naples Athletic Director and Head Basketball Coach Bill Carufe, along with local high school basketball coaches, the clinics will teach both individual skills and team concepts, culminating with an instructional session by Flame Head Coach and former NBA All-Star Jeff Malone.

Each participant will receive:

- One-on-one instruction from Junior Flame and local high school coaches.

- Junior Flame clinic T-shirt

- Flame basketball

- Two Florida Flame tickets to opening night Friday, November 25th at Germain Arena

Session A

Grades: 3rd, 4th, 5th

Dates: Sundays, September 25th - October 23rd

Time: 4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Session B

Grades: 6th, 7th, 8th

Dates: Sundays, September 25th - October 23rd

Time: 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Participants can reserve their spot for the Junior Flame "Grow Your Game" Basketball Clinics by contacting Brandon Phillips at (239) 561-8130 . Registration forms can also be downloaded from the internet at www.floridaflame.com .

For additional information, please visit floridaflame.com or contact Florida Flame Director of Media Relations, Tim Becwar at (239) 561-8130 and tbecwar@nba.com. For additional information on the NBA Development league please visit NBADLEAGUE.com.

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