WELLAND — Being a part of Niagara College's women's basketball team means more than winning games.

It requires players to learn how to communicate with each other, to work together and to be dedicated, said Shelby Johnston.

The Niagara College student and basketball player believes the game can teach "valuable life lessons" on the court.

That's why she felt it was important to share these lessons she learned with children who attended the Niagara Knights Girls and Boys Basketball Camp for children in grades 3 to 9.

Johnston, along with fellow teammate Melanie Tanguay, spent one week in August teaching aspiring basketball players from the Niagara region the basics of basketball — dribbling, running, shooting, passing and jumping.

Along the way, the teachers learned a thing or two about their own skills as basketball players.

"After the camp, I felt like (the kids) looked up to us as role models. Not only do we teach them, but they teach us," Tanguay said.

Along with becoming role models for younger children, Tanguay said focusing on the fundamentals of the game also helped her improve her game.

"It helped me find out my own mistakes," the first-year recreational student said.

The camp also raised about $400, which was donated to St. Vincent de Paul's food bank in Welland. Giving back to the community and working with children was a lot of fun, Johnston said.

She added that knowing the children she taught might one day play basketball at a college level is fulfilling.

"Some of the kids have come to the games and we've been able to showcase what we've taught them," the third-year educational assistant student said.

Being a basketball player and juggling friends, family and school work is a difficult but worthwhile task, Johnston said.

"You have to be ready to sacrifice a couple of things. A social life is definitely at the bottom but you learn to deal with it and it's worthwhile.

Source: Sarah Ferguson, Welland Tribune