THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, February 22, 1995 TAG: 9502210094
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 14 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Lee Tolliver
LENGTH: Medium: 81 lines
Over the years, Terry Foster has become increasingly disturbed about the lack of basic skills he sees in area youth athletes.
Especially the beginners.
So he's decided to do something about it.
Foster, a former professional basketball player and one of the area's top softball players, has been coaching youth league teams in several sports for the past few years.
Beginning in March, he will hold six classes for both parents and their young athletes. The sessions will meet March 6 (throwing), March 8 (catching), March 13 (fielding), March 15 (hitting), March 20 (base running) and March 22 (rules).
The classes are designed to teach both parent and child how to work with each other at home to practice basic skills needed for baseball or softball and are for youngsters 7-10.
``I get so many parents who come to me and say `if I'd have known that, I would have taught them at home,' '' Foster said. ``I really love teaching kids, but there are some things the parents should be teaching their kids at home. And I realize that some parents don't know these things, so that's what these classes are going to be about.
``I hope to do basketball soon and then try other sports. I think this is the kind of thing that will catch on. As a parent, I know those times spent out in the back yard practicing skills are quality times.''
The cost for Foster's course is $30 for all six sessions and space is limited. For more information, call him at 431-1169.
Speaking of lessons: Billy Sugg - one of the area's top freshwater and saltwater anglers - will hold his 15th annual Saltwater Fishing Class beginning class.
The classes, featuring some of the top anglers in the area, will begin March 7 and run through April 11 - meeting every Tuesday from 7 to 10 p.m. at Lockhart's Seafood in Norfolk. Registration is $60 and the class is limited to the first 40 who sign up.
``We teach a lot of how-to's and other tips, locations and equipment, and we've got some of the best in the area giving the talks,'' Sugg said.
The courses will deal with all saltwater species in the Virginia and North Carolina.
For information, call Sugg at 255-2833.
Hot shooters: The Saint Gregory youth basketball program is one of the hottest in the area and the recent junior and seniors Tidewater Catholic Basketball League tournaments for fifth and sixth (juniors) and seventh and eighth (seniors) results prove it.
The St. Gregory's youth girls won the regular season and lost in the tournament championship to Star of the Sea. The senior girls won both the regular season and the championship.
The junior boys also won both titles, as did the senior boys.
NSA awards: The local chapter of the National Softball Association held an awards banquet at Footer's Sports Pub last week to honor top teams and individuals from last season.
Mike Griffiths of Sweitzer-Foster was named the male player of the year, while Shannon Moore of the Lady Hi-Tides earned top female honors. Both players are Virginia Beach residents.
The Hudgin's-Superior coed team was named the outstanding team in NSA play, and two of its players took top individual coed honors. Mike Casper was the male coed player of the year, while Regina Sivells earned top female awards. Again, both athletes are from Virginia Beach.
The NSA world series team of the year was Sisters of Norfolk. The team won its divisional national championship last season.
Virginia Beach has become a hub for NSA play in the state under the direction of commissioner Dennis Nixon.
``And we're going to have a heck of a year coming up also,'' Nixon said. ``We're starting a youth fastpitch league and we've got more adult tournaments than any area of the state, as far as NSA is concerned.
``We've been getting bigger every year and things are really improving.'' MEMO: Got an interesting sports-related story to tell. If so, call The Beacon
at 490-7228 and let us know about it, or write to The Beacon, Sports
Department, 4565 Virginia Beach Blvd., Virginia Beach, Va., 23462. The
fax number is 490-7235.
by CNB