By Christie Vogt

 

“We’ve never chased superstars,” says Steve Curley, director of the Red Auerbach International Basketball School. “Red’s philosophy was: ‘All I want is kids who really want to play, learn and get better.’ That’s who we are.” Red Auerbach, a former Boston Celtics coach, founded the school in 1960. In 1982, after working at the camp since its beginnings, Curley became Auerbach’s partner until his passing in 2006.

The Red Auerbach Basketball School offers boys ages 11 through 18 a chance to hone their basketball skills during a week-long stay at Nichols College in Dudley. From July 24-29, participants stay in air-conditioned dorms and play 10-12 games over the course of the week.

The overnight aspect of the camp is a bonus, Curley says, because it allows for more activity time and also fosters camaraderie among the players. “From 7:30 in the morning to 9:30 at night, they’re playing together, rooming together, eating together,” Curley says. “There are tremendous social advantages to attending an overnight camp versus a day camp.” He also hears from parents who say that when their sons went off to college, they felt much more secure because they had already gotten a taste of the college atmosphere.

“The teachings at Red Auerbach Basketball School go beyond sports,” Curley says. Each day’s schedule includes a lecture period, and the topic is not always game-related. “My coaches and I think that there are a lot more things in this world that we need to teach kids besides basketball,” he explains. On the last day of camp, scholar athletes are awarded for bringing their honor roll report to camp. “A comes before B: academics before basketball,” Curley says.

Curley was an educator for 20 years, and the majority of that time was spent working in Holliston as a teacher and assistant football coach. He then spent another 20 years in the sporting goods industry. His camp coaches are also committed to teaching, he says. “No coach comes here to get a feather in his cap,” Curley says. “My guys are highly qualified and committed to working with young people.” 

The school’s commitment to teaching and to fostering competition without putting undue stress on young athletes is what sets it apart from other camps, Curley says. “We get some very, very talented kids, and we get other kids that just want to play and get better,” he explains. Curley says the ideal participant is someone who “really wants to play and wants to be committed. I tell kids, ‘If you don’t have passion for this, then find another sport, because you’ve got to want to play and be the best you can.’”

One of the benefits of basketball is that you can play “forever,” Curley says. “If you don’t make your high school team, you can play in the league in town, maybe a church or synagogue league. In college, there are club sports, and when you’re older, there are many outlets.”

At age 83, Curley is a testament to how basketball can be a lifelong activity. “At this point in my life, I enjoy just being able to get up in the morning and put on a pair of sneakers,” Curley laughs. “I love being with the kids. You work with kids, you stay a kid. I really enjoy working with young people and seeing them grow.”

“Believe me, a number is just a number,” Curley adds. “I get enough energy at camp to feel like I’m 16 years old.”

To learn more and register for the Red Auerbach International Basketball School, visit redabballschool.com, call 617-899-5433 or email [email protected].