HOOPED TESTIMONIALS

My boys had a GREAT time at camp this week with Coach Brian and staff at BS - thank you!

Some random highlights: Kids loved the Gatorade prizes, and were so proud of recognition (eg teammate of the day); I love Brian's talks on behavior- he is such a good guy in the first place; My 5 year olds coach, Raley, was very accommodating - I picked them up early today and she was waiting with them at the door!; and of course they loved the ice cream truck visits...

All around, this is such a positive camp experience for them - they raced in the door each morning!

- Bethany

I would like to take a little of your time to thank you and the HoopEd coaches for an incredible confidence building experience that you have gave to my two sons (Romont, and Romell). Although Romont did not make last years Murch Elementary School Basketball Team, the coaching and incouragement that coach JB and his staff gave him on Saturday mornings made Romont confident, a better student, and serious about becoming a better basketball player. As for Romell, there is not a day that he reminds me to watch he and his brother Romont practice the skills coach JB showed them. Words cannot express the joy that I have watching my two sons work on their skills that HoopEd has given to them.

- Romont and La Bella (Parents of Romont and Romell)

I'm writing this email to let you know what a wonderful job Coach Jeremy Burden has been doing at the Saturday Beginner Ballers at Our Lady of Lourdes. This is the second year that our son Patrick has participated. Patrick is having a wonderful time and is learning a great deal not only about basketball but also about teamwork, discipline and following directions. Coach Burden is wonderful with all the kids. He's has a tremendous command of the kids' attention and is a great motivator and teacher. I would love to have Patrick continue with coach Burden perhaps over the summer or in the fall. Any information on where and when Coach Burden will be teaching would be most helpful.

Thanks again and keep up the great work!

- Michela and Brian (Parents of Patrick)

We loved Beginner Ballers session 1 ... Sawyer went from worried about learning a new sport to grinning ear to ear. Thanks to Coach and his team.

- Emily (Mom of Sawyer)

Just wanted to thank you for a fantastic party. The coaches were amazing and the kids all had the best time. My son told me there was only one bad thing about the party----that it had to end. We will definitely contact you guys again in the future and will send all our friends your way. Thanks so much!

- Heather

Last week, the boys attended at St. B's and loved it!! We r so impressed with your camps thus far. Caitlin was amazing at St. B's & all the guys r fantastic at BS! My boys r having a blast!

- Jaime

I had a chance to watch the Sports Skills class today. It is AWESOME!! Whoever came up with the idea for this class deserves a super medal!!!!

- Troy

I just want to thank you and your staff for an amazing winter camp. My son (Kedar) had the best time ever!!! We look forward to seeing you guys again over Spring break!

- Kamilah

Thanks for a great two weeks this summer at St. Ann's. My three kids all enjoyed camp (and ranked it their favorite of the camps they did this summer). Coach Brian and his crew made it a fun place to be and my kids are inspired to be better players. Thanks again.

- Jenny (Mom to Oscar, Charles and Marcus)

Jonathan, I wanted to let you know that West LOVED his session at HoopED. He rarely likes the camps he goes to, so this was a huge endorsement. The camp played all the games he loves with no other intention than to have fun. Thanks.

- Normandy (Mom to West)

Just wanted to say thank you for this week summer camp, my son Timothy had a really great time at Lafayette camp. He really enjoyed. The staff was really nice, all the activities and the location were super. Thanks again.

- Francia

Justin "Showtime!" is having a blast!!! Says he might want to do it again next week. You guys are awesome! Thanks for making it so much fun.

- Lisa

Ben has enjoyed EVERY camp session. His skills have really improved.

- Christopher (Parent of Ben)

Cole had a great time and we appreciate your camps very much. The all sports camps are a perfect fit for Cole - he enjoys the loose structure and being able to choose from different sports and also having the freedom to just play too.

- Margaret

My daughter just finished the winter basketball session at Lourdes. I just wanted to let you know what an excellent program this was! I was so impressed with your coaching staff, the organization, and the skills that were taught. My daughter loved the basketball and looked forward to going every Saturday morning. I would definitely sign up to do this program again. I have 3 boys behind her, so we will be doing this for many more years. Thank you for opening it up to the De Chantal kids. It was money and time well spent!

- Katie

...my feedback on HOOPED is that it is a genius program. For working parents to have a well-run, fun, great coaches program for no school days is truly a huge gift. The price is right and very reasonable. Tavis always has a good day. Thank you so much for having this program. My only sadness is that he will be 13 in February and therefore maybe too old for HOOPED.

One other thing - I notice a lot of learning happens through all the sports. Never a lost day in front of video games.

- Ms. Duvall (Grandmother)

I wanted to share with you how much my son, Blake, enjoyed camp today. He was at Blessed Sacrament and is 5 years old and was one of the younger campers. He had a ball (and is in fact sleep now). The Coaches were friendly and their love for the game was obvious. We plan to sign up for Spring Break Camp. Thanks again for today!!

- Linda

I just want to thank you and all of your staff for a wonderful summer of Sports Camp. We moved to DC mid-summer, and after a week, my children were bored to death. I found information about Sports Camp at Murch, and my six year old boy signed up immediately. After he did it for a week, my 9 year old girl gave it a shot and also loved it.

As a former teacher/department chair, I was so impressed with the coaches. They were not only fun, but encouraging, supportive and always positive. Your team made pleasant what could have been a miserable transition summer. Several times this weekend, my son has said how he is going to miss his friends from Sports Camp and can't believe he has to wait an entire year to do it again. We were very happy to learn this morning that after school sports camp occurs throughout the year as well as the skills classes. I'm sure we will be frequent flyers in your camps.

Many thanks for a great program and a great staff.

- Laura

Thank you for putting a great camp together! The boys, Lucas and Mateo loved both weeks they were in Hoop Ed. Hopefully they will be in it more weeks next summer. The coaches were amazing and very positive with the kids- something that we appreciate as parents. Have a great year and see you next summer.

- Yolanda

I wanted to let you know how much my son and I appreciate your program. Marc participated in a one-week camp at St. Ann's in Tenleytown earlier this month. This was our 3rd HoopEd session in a little over a year. Once again, I found the coaches to be extremely encouraging, engaging and respectful with both kids and parents. The positive learning/play environment did wonders for Marc's self-esteem, not to mention his appreciation of basketball and sportsmanship in general. One day, having observed the St. Ann's group on the Janney playground, my neighbor called me to comment on how great the coaches interacted with the kids and how much everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. I've recommended the program again and again to friends, but wanted to tell you personally what a fantastic job I think you're doing. Thank you for all you do to make a difference in the lives of kids (and parents). Keep up the good work!

- Victoria

I just wanted to thank you for the great week that Charlie had last week. He absolutely loved the camp and counselors and is looking forward to it next year. Thank you for providing such fun activities through your programs.

- Karoline

I will also take this opportunity to tell you how much we appreciate Coach Larry's work with Sam. Sam is very competitive and along with that takes losing very seriously. Coach Larry seems to really get this about Sam and has been helping Sam re-direct his frustration; not let it get him so down. Sam told me yesterday that it was the first day that he did not cry, what has been his typical response to losing. We are very impressed with how Coach Larry has connected with Sam and wanted to make sure you knew how much we parents think of him!

- Jessica

Thanks for the great job you and Larry did with the kids this year. Jean and Nathan have discovered the world of basketball in the nicest way possible and with the friendliest, most dedicated coaches. They loved it!

- Pascale

I wanted to write you to let you know how impressed I was with the HoopEd camp held at The Blessed Sacrament last week. This was the first time I was able to watch the kids and the coaches in action - and it was awesome.

It was great to see the interactions of the staff with the kids. The staff made every effort to use opportunities for teaching moments and it was very apparent that the kids were learning new skills. The kids respected the coaches and the coaches respected the kids. It really was a sight to see.

- Lynn

I just wanted compliment you on your team. Every team member I spoke with at the day camp was friendly, enthusiastic, encouraging -- just a pleasure to work with and I felt confident that I could safely entrust care of my son for a day to them. Very professional.

- Tela

I played basketball all through school, so I have been THRILLED for him to have the opportunity to participate in after school & camps - something DCPS does not have much to offer. I look forward to other programs you offer and this mom really thanks you.

- Melissa

My son really enjoyed this course.  Coach Brian was awesome at motivating the kids. Coach Brian gets 5+ stars from us!!!!

- Nicole, Mom to Langdone-Skills Class Participant

We wanted to take this time to thank you for an unbelievable girls' basketball season. Our child Tenaya (age 9) had never played basketball prior to 2015. She learned how to play basketball in two months, and helped her team win 2d place! Prior to her 1st practice, Tenaya was anxious and begging not to play. Now she's eagerly telling her friends how much she loves basketball.

We are so grateful to Hoop ED for creating this girls' league. We saw many of our friends' daughters play and hustle, and it is a joy to see these girls go for it and learn to play, win, lose with grace and sportsmanship.

Somehow magically Brian is able to teach every girl new skills, without singling out or embarrassing any player. He is the embodiment of teaching through affirmation -- both through individual comments and group praise (always appropriate). He not only teaches/coaches basketball skills, he models by example sportsmanship and good play. And somehow in the midst of all this, he models

- Joanne and Greg- parents of Tenaya and Shanwai

Just wanted to say that Brian did an awesome job as the referee for the Palasades league this season. Our Capitol Hill 4th grade daughter played organized basketball for the first time and Brian made her experiece really special. I'm sure you know this, but he really has the perfect balance of positive encouragement, humor, and solid "in game" teaching for the girls. You are very lucky to have him in your organization!

- David- Kara's Dad

My kids are loving camp at Murch and they really like Coach Emmett! Just wanted to give him a shout out!
-Murch All Sports & Games Summer Camp 2015

- Paula (Mom to Sam and Ally)

"My daughter has attended 3 summers now at the St. John's basketball camp. Every staff member, coach, assistant and helper is top notch! My daughter's skills and confidence grow more in that one week than they do in a season. The camp is for every level, they are inclusive of each and every player. Your child will go away feeling proud!! The spirit, sportsmanship and teamwork is bar none, the best in the business. We feel privileged to be a part of it. Thank you for yet another incredible experience at HoopED! A++++ all around!!!!"

- Susan, mom to Huntley

My children attended All Sports & Games Camp @St. Bernadette's while we were in town visiting friends. Here are my thoughts about this great program:
· HoopEd is great program to keep kids active in the summer, especially my daughters who aren’t into sports.
· My kids loved playing all of the “old school” outside games and can’t wait to teach their friends.
· Coach P is fantastic with the kids!
· My kids played so hard that when they came home they were pooped!

- Melissa, mom of three from New York

Hoop Ed has helped Eli grow as a player- and as a young man. I know he really respects Coach Brian and values his constructive basketball and life advice! He loved being a CIT this past summer.

I just want to thank all of you for running a top notch program! You are all responsive and professional. Many thanks from a grateful parent!

- Jenny- Mom to Eli

Just wanted to say thank you for making week 1 of winter camp so great at Oyster. My 3 kids had a blast and were never ready to come home after after-care.
Appreciate your dedication to good programing and excellent counselors!
We’ll see you for a future camp!

- Andrea- Mom of 3

I was hopeful you could share with all of your colleagues my feelings of gratitude for HoopEd during the pandemic. There have been so many times that my boys have enjoyed days outside because of you all.
Thank you for all you’ve done to be creative, helpful, and thorough.
All the best, Sarah (mother of 3)

- Appreciating HoopEd during the pandemic

Carter had a GREAT time this summer with Coach Keenan and Tania and the rest of the crew over there. Having Carter attend 1/2 days worked out really well for him this summer. He's had a successful summer and was happy to go EVERY SINGLE DAY! What a blessing for us this summer. It's been so great to see him re-emerge from the isolation of being at home and being scared to go anywhere.
He got great practice making new friends every single week which will go a long way towards making him feel more comfortable and confident as he goes back to in-person school in a brand new place.

- Amy