Samuel Hines, North Carolina
HISTORY
In the summer of 2000, Samuel Hines held his first youth basketball camp in his hometown of Wilson, NC at Reid Street Community Center. Coach Hines instructed the camp participants on the fundamental skills of basketball and shared his life experiences, emphasizing the importance of hard work, education, diligence and morals. Additionally, Coach Hines had a variety of professionals to participate in the camp to provide career guidance and inspiration to campers. Among such professionals were lawyers, correctional officers, social workers, educators, athletes, members of the clergy, and others. At the completion of the first camp, Coach Hines was so excited about the potential he saw to positively impact the lives of aspiring young student -athletes that he set out to continue hosting the camp on an annual basis. Each year thereafter, the Samuel Hines Basketball Camp was held either in North Carolina, Georgia or Italy. In 2000, Up With Kids Sports, Inc. was established to enable Samuel to implement his desire to assist young athletes in the development of basketball skills while also teaching valuable life skills and lessons.
In the early years of UWKS, Coach Hines introduced PlayBall sports program into various daycares exposing young children to a variety of sports and the importance of physical fitness. Through his experience with PlayBall, Coach Hines gained valuable knowledge teaching and coaching young children. However, he recognized the need for sports programs at the elementary school level, and thus decided to begin offering to local public and private schools an after-school enrichment program that primarily focuses on basketball. In 2009, UWKS was approved by Fulton County Schools as an authorized after-school enrichment program. The first program was implemented at Fulton Sunshine Academy, and with 30 participants, the program was a success. The after-school enrichment program component of UWKS quickly grew. Currently, UWKS has programs at Crabapple Crossing Elementary, New Prospect Elementary, Birmingham Falls Elementary, Summit Hill Elementary, Fulton Science Academy, Manning Oaks and Cogburn Woods Elementary. The total enrollment of students participating in the programs is 300. This upcoming year, UWKS anticipates more than 500 students enrolled.
In 2010, Coach Hines implemented the third component of UWKS, travel basketball teams. Coach Hines' son, Samuel Jr., was in third grade and wanted to play basketball in a more competitive environment. Thus, UWKS formed a team of 9U players and registered to play in the YBOA league at All Tournament Player's Park (ATPP) in Marietta, GA. The team named itself the UWKS Ballerz and was instructed and coached under the direction of Coach Hines. Each member of the team significantly improved their basketball skills and after a year of training with Coach Hines, the UWKS Ballerz went undefeated in their second season and won the 2011 10U Championship at ATPP. The team also won the 2011 Carson Tool Thanksgiving Tournament hosted by local schools. The interest in participating on the UWKS Ballerz team significantly increased such that in 2011, UWKS had 4 teams participating in two age groups.
Coach Hines was contracted by Mount Pisgah Christian School in 2011 to serve as the Varsity Boy's Basketball Assistant Coach and the JV Boy's Basketball Head Coach. Additionally in 2012, he served as Assistant Coach for the Cambridge High School Varsity Boy's Basketball team. These experiences have allowed Coach Hines to further develop the fourth component of UWKS, group and private coaching. As a consequence of instructing older more serious student athletes, UWKS is expanding its client base and foothold in this component of the business.
For the 2013-14 basketball season, Coach Hines will work closely with Coach Flemmer, Cambridge Head Varsity Boys Coach, in preparing the players. Coach Hines will form an AAU Team for the Cambridge Varsity Boys and play in SEBA Atlanta H.S. Fall League. In addition, he will serve as liaison for the Cambridge High School and Cambridge Feeder Basketball Programs while coaching the 8th grade feeder team. Throughout the year, UWKS Academy will conduct pre-season, during the season and post season workouts for players to improve their game.
Coach Hines currently runs Hoops N Sand - a youth training facility in Cumming, GA 30040. HNS conducts birthday parties, basketball travel teams, court rentals and more. Go to www.hnsacademy.com for more information.
See you at the UP WITH KIDS SPORTS programs.