FMU Holds ACTIVITIES CAMP, May 29-June 22

FLORENCE, S.C. - Francis Marion University will hold its annual FMU Activities Camp 2007, May 29 – June 22. The camp for boys and girls, ages 5-12, is divided into four sessions and runs weekdays from 8 a.m. until noon.

Each of the five-day sessions, June 4-8, June 11-15, and June 18-22, is $55. The cost of the one four-day session, May 29-June 1, is $44. A rate of $185 is available for all sessions. If registration forms are received prior to May 2, or for those who participated in last year’s camp, the sessions are reduced to $45 each ($36 for the first session).

Camp activities will include softball, kickball, soccer, tennis, volleyball, basketball, and swimming. Instruction in the various sports will be by Francis Marion University athletic coaches. Activities will vary from week to week, so as to introduce many different sports.

Campers will be divided into groups by ages. The mission of the camp is to promote healthy and fun activities for children.

Each camper will receive an Activities Camp T-shirt.

Enrollment is limited. For more information, contact camp director Mark Bluman at 843-661-1239.

FMU Schedules Baseball Camp 2007, July 9-13

FLORENCE, S.C. – Francis Marion University has announced the dates for its Baseball Camp 2007, an opportunity for young athletes to develop and polish their diamond skills.

The annual camp, for children ages 7-12, will be held July 9-13 from 9 a.m. until noon. Conducted by Francis Marion head baseball coach Art Inabinet and members of the Patriot baseball team, the camp will stress learning basic game strategy and making the most of individual skills.

Inabinet is in his seventh year at the helm of the FMU baseball program, and recently recorded his 300th career coaching win. He guided the Patriots to the 2006 NCAA Division II College World Series.

Applications for the camp are now being accepted. The camp will cost $60, if paid in advance, or $70 on the first day. Enrollment is limited. Each camper will receive a T-shirt.

For complete details, contact the FMU Athletics Office at 843-661-1240.

Lady Patriots Soccer Academy to be held at FMU this Summer

FLORENCE, S.C. - The Francis Marion University women’s soccer program will host the Lady Patriots Soccer Academy residential camp this summer on the FMU campus, in addition to offering several Half-Day Academy camps.

The residential camp will be divided into a pair of sessions. A camp for girls, ages 9-13, will be held June 16-19. A camp for girls, ages 14-18, will be held July 21-24.

The cost will be $360 for campers staying on campus, and $305 for commuters. Early registration, before May 15 for the June camp and before June 15 for the July camp, will result in a $15 discount. A team discount is also available for groups of 10 or more that register together.

The camp will focus on increasing each individual’s playing technique, both at speed and under pressure. Campers will also work to improve tactically through the use of small-sided games and 11 on 11 matches. Goalkeepers will also receive special training.

Each camper will receive a T-shirt and a Nike soccer ball.

The Half-Day Academy camps are set for June 25-28 at the Florence YMCA (coed ages 4-13), July 23-26 at FMU (girls ages 4-13), and August 6-9 at the ESAB Soccer Complex (girls ages 4-13). The June camp will be held in the evening (5:30-8:30 p.m.), while the later two will be morning camps (9 a.m.-noon). The cost is $95 per camper, with a $10 discount for early registration (by May 15, June 15, and July 15 for the three camps).

Francis Marion women’s soccer head coach Marty Beall is the camp director. Other members of the camp staff will include college coaches and current collegiate players.

For more details, contact Beall at 843-661-1248 or mbeall@fmarion.edu

Patriot Soccer Camps Set For This Summer

FLORENCE, S.C. - The Francis Marion University men’s soccer program will hold several Patriot Soccer Academy camps during the summer.

Two half-day camps for boys and girls, ages 7-13, will be held June 4-8 at the ESAB Soccer Complex and June 11-15 at the Marion Recreation Complex. The camps will meet each day from 9 a.m. to noon. The cost will be $85 if paid before June 1, and $100 after that date.

The primary objective of the co-ed half-day camp is to teach fundamentals in skills, tactics, and team play. The camp will emphasize improvement of individual skills.

A residential camp for boys ages 14 to 18 will be held at FMU, July 6-9. The cost of this camp will be $350 for those staying on campus and $275 for commuter campers.

This camp is designed for advanced players at the high school and select level. A high-level training environment will be created to ensure campers improve through the week. Goalkeepers will receive special instruction.

Newly appointed Francis Marion men’s soccer head coach Kevin Varnado is the camp director. Other members of the camp staff will include licensed individuals from the college and high school levels, and current collegiate players.

For more details, contact Varnado at 843-661-1241 or kvarnado@fmarion.edu.

FMU Tennis Camps Set For June 11-15 & July 9-13

FLORENCE, S.C. - Francis Marion University will sponsor two sessions of Tennis Camp ’07 for boys and girls ages 8 to 18.

The camps will be held Monday through Friday, June 11-15 and July 9-13, from 9 a.m. until noon on the Kassab Courts on the FMU campus.

Each camp will cost $60. Enrollment is limited. Each camper will receive a T-shirt. 

FMU men’s and women’s tennis coach Garth Thomson is the camp coordinator and instructor. A native of Zimbabwe, Thomson is a graduate of Francis Marion and a former two-time All-American during his collegiate playing career. Five times he has earned Peach Belt Conference “Coach of the Year” honors. The 16th-year coach has led the FMU men to a 217-106 record and 11 NCAA Division II national tournament appearances, and guided the Patriot women to a 173-140 mark and six national tournament berths.

For more details or to request a registration form, contact Thomson at 843-661-1185.

FMU Men’s Basketball Program Schedules Summer Camps

FLORENCE, S.C.- The Francis Marion University men’s basketball program will conduct three summer camps during the month of June: an Individual Day Camp to be held June 11-14 for boys and girls in grades three through twelve; a Middle School/Junior High Boys’ Team Camp (June 9-10), and a High School Team Camp (June 16-17).

The four-day Individual Camp will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. The cost of the camp is $130, and it includes lunches.

The camp is designed to provide fundamental instruction in all phases of the game.

For each of the team camps, squads are guaranteed six games. Games will be officiated by certified referees. The cost of the camp is $100 for each overnight camper (includes meals) and $70 for each commuter camper.

FMU head coach Gary Edwards will direct the camps. He recently completed his first season at Francis Marion. He has coached at both the NCAA Division I and II levels and has compiled nearly 400 career wins.

For more information, contact the FMU men’s basketball office at 843-661-1240.

Focused 50 Women’s Basketball Camps at FMU

FLORENCE, S.C. – Francis Marion University will play host to the Focused 50 Women’s Basketball Camp and the Junior Focused 50 Women’s Basketball Camp during the month of June.

The Focused 50 Camp is for girls ages 12-18 (grades 6-12). It includes two components: a Hot Shooting Camp on June 22 (2 to 9 p.m.) at a cost of $75, and an Overnight Elite Camp on June 23-24 at a cost of $225 per camper.

A discounted rate of $275 is available for both components.

The Elite Overnight Camp is run similar to an early season college practice, with fundamentals of team play and drills emphasized.

The Junior Camp will be held June 25-28 for girls ages 5-12. The camp will from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each, and the cost will be $170 ($185 on the first day). The cost includes lunch each day.

The camp will focus on improving fundamentals, with campers being placed in groups by age, size, and ability.

Newly appointed FMU head coach Heather Macy is the camp director. She founded the Focused 50 camps in 2003, and it has developed into one of the best teaching camps on the East Coast.

For more information, contact Macy at 843-661-1249 or Focused50@yahoo.com.

FMU Hosts Summer Volleyball Camp (REGISTRATION CLOSED)

FLORENCE, SC - The Francis Marion University women’s volleyball program will hold a summer camp for players entering the sixth through 12th grades, June 29-July 2.

The cost will be $275 per player if staying on campus, and $175 if not staying on campus. Each camper will receive a camp T-shirt.

The camp is designed to provide instruction in all phases of the game.

FMU women’s volleyball coach Paul MacDonald is the camp director. MacDonald guided FMU to a share of the 2006 Peach Belt Conference championship in first season on the Patriot bench.

For more details or to request a registration form, contact MacDonald at 843-661-1246 or pmacdonald@fmarion.edu.