April 08, 2019
Snow Valley: A Learning Environment For Coaches – Part III
This is part three of a four-part series on the history of Snow Valley Basketball Camps written by Pete Van Mullem. For the full part three of the four-part article series, follow the link.. http://www.pheamerica.org/2019/snow-valley-a-learning-environment-for-coaches-part-iii/
Herb Livsey started Snow Valley Basketball Schools with the idea of creating a camp environment unlike anything else out there. He knew the key to this was in the coaches he hired and the ideas they shared. He hired coaches at every level including high school, club and college and made sure that everyone who came was coming to learn and share their talents. Over the years, drills and ideas created by Snow Valley Coaches found their way onto courts and into locker rooms all over the world.
The coaching line-up at Snow Valley has been impressive and included some major names in basketball. Before Don Showalter was a 10-Time Developmental USA Basketball Coach of the Year, he started out as a camp counselor in 1974. After filling in last minute for a coach who fell ill, Showalter went on to work at the John Wooden Basketball Camp for 25 year and eventually to direct the Snow Valley Basketball Schools in Iowa held at Wartburg College. He also continued onto a successful high school coaching career where he has earned over 600 wins and was inducted into the Iowa High school Athletic Association Hall of Fame. Coach Showalter is currently also serving as Head Coach of USA Men’s Basketball U16 and U17 Junior National team and has for the past the past 10 years where his teams have been undefeated (62-0).
Another notable coach alum is Pat Riley. Before Pat Riley went on to be the head coach of the Lakers in 1981, he was a coach at Snow Valley. Livsey saw that Riley had a knack for teaching and when asked about him he said, “He created an outstanding learning environment during his clinic,” remembers Livsey. “It was a great presentation.” After his time at Snow Valley Riley went on to lead the Lakers to four NBA titles in the 1980’s and he earned a fifth title with the Miami Heat in 2006.
Snow Valley was created to be a place where coaches who care about the game meet and discuss the latest in teaching techniques. The drills and curriculum taught have influenced coaches all over the world. The Box Drills, created by Coach Bob Knight are used today to help athletes learn proper footwork, the Oiler Drills, created by Charlie Sands are used as conditioning and shooting drills that pushes a player to practice at game speed, and The Warrior Drills created by Herb Livesy is a book of 50 drills designed to improve a player’s footwork relative to shooting. These drills not only helped campers improve, but they changed how the game of basketball was taught.
Snow Valley Basketball Schools has influenced and changed the game. The supportive community has helped nurture a learning environment for both coaches and athletes that has and will continue to shape the game.
Players, coaches, and parents interested in Snow Valley Basketball Schools can visit https://www.snowvalleybasketball.com/ or call 1-800-645-3226.
About US Sports Camps
US Sports Camps (USSC), headquartered in San Rafael, California, is America's largest sports camp network and the licensed operator of Nike Sports Camps. The company has offered summer camps since 1975 with the same mission that defines it today: to shape a lifelong enjoyment of athletics through high quality sports education and skill enhancement.
