There are many things a family can do with fifty dollars. On Tuesday, July 25, over a dozen families spent that much money for their child to attend the Pro Academy Skills Clinic at Salem High School. In addition to learning how to be the best versions of themselves, each child was taken through the same workouts that elite high school, college and professional players go through.
Ryan Goodson, who played college basketball on scholarship at Appalachian State, was a clinic instructor as well as longtime Salem coach Corbitt Hairston.
During both two-and-a-half hour sessions, players learned how to improve their ball handling, speed, ability to attack the basket, finish in the paint and score against pressure.
Known for his tremendous ability to dribble a basketball, Goodson has worked with over 10,000 players of all ages. “There is nothing special about me except my determination to be special,” he said. “I feel a deep sense of purpose and responsibility. I want to help as many people as I can reach their full potential.”
There are many parallels to the game of basketball and the game of life, something Coach Hairston discussed. “Basketball as a sport helps provide players with the tools necessary to succeed in life. You learn about team work, commitment, sacrifice and dedication in this sport,” he said. “You also learn how to be humble in the presence of success and how to learn from losing.”
Many participants said they want to play college basketball one day. Ryan can relate because he had the same aspirations when he was their age. What drives him as an adult is the same thing that drove Ryan as a kid.
“Ryan’s dedication and commitment to the game is remarkable,” legendary North Carolina Tar Heel Buzz Peterson once said of Ryan. “His ball handling drills are the best I’ve witnessed by one individual.”
Research shows that about one in 250 athletes will play college basketball at the highest level and roughly three in 10,000 will make it to the NBA or WNBA. Despite those odds, the participants were taught that confidence is one of the most important things in life that they can have. “Half of everything in life is mental,” Ryan said. “You can have all the talent in the world but if you don’t have that confidence, more than likely you will not succeed.”
Coach Ryan Goodson and Coach Corbitt Hairston say they want to host more skill clinics in the future. “It is my hope that we build on this first year to allow this clinic to grow to the point that we can offer two or three per year,” Hairston said. “People can contact chairston@salem.k12.va.us for more information.”