Neighbor Sports
Baseball, softball
February camp:ŒBlue Chip Sports will host a baseball camp from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Presidents Day, Monday at the Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates for players 8-13 years of age. Gene Belmonte, head baseball coach at St. Edward's High School, and a number of other high school coaches will put the players through their paces.
On the arena floor of the Sears Centre players will work on skills, drills and fundamentals. Each player will get a hat, T-shirt and playbook of exercises and drills they can do at home to prepare for their upcoming season. Lunch will be provided. There will be a discount for teams that register together. Female ballplayers are welcome.
For information and/or an application call Bob Suvada at (847) 373-0300 or e-mail Baseball@BlueChipSports.net.
Hitting Bash:ŒFastball USA (Elmhurst) is holding a Presidents Day Hitting Bash from 9 a.m. to noon Monday. It includes a three-hour hitting clinic plus free hitting time for one hour after the clinic. All players will be tested on bat speed, exit speed, timing and technique. A video evaluation, along with classroom session, is included. Students will learn drills to maximize technique and how to improve timing to increase percentage of hard hit balls. An online video lesson will be added for students to review technique and drills at home.
The Hitting Bash at Fastball USA, 137 Diversey, Elmhurst, will be led by an associate scout with the Seattle Mariners, Coach Mike Ryan. Discounted registrations will be honored for the first 12 registered. Call (630) 532-5107 or go the Web site at www.fastballusa.com.
Basketball
2 Ball Competition: Get a partner and join the Chicago Bulls and Palatine Park District for the free 2 Ball Competition on Monday at the Community Center Gym, 250 E. Wood Street, Palatine.
Participants will compete as a team of two for one minute trying to score as many points as possible from eight designated spots on the court. Divisions will include boys, girls, and adult and child. Ages of children eligible range from 9 through 14 years. Preregistration is recommended and you must have your own partner. Children must bring a birth certificate the day of the event. Registration will only be available at the Community Center on the day of event.
For details, call (847) 991-0333.
Basketball
AAU tryouts:ŒThe Netburners will hold tryouts for boys and girls on Feb. 29 at Birchwood Recreation Center, 435 W. Illinois Ave., Palatine at the following times.
• Fourth- and fifth-grade girls and boys -- 6 to 7 p.m.
• Sixth- and seventh-grade girls and boys -- 7 to 8 p.m.
• Eighth-, ninth- and 10th-grade girls and boys -- 8 to 9 p.m.
The registration fee at door costs $10 or $5 by e-mail before Feb. 27.
Contact Lonnie Welch at (847) 338-7099, by e-mail lonnie.netburners@gmail.com or visit netburners.com.
Football/cheer
Registration: Streamwood Falcons Football & Cheerleading registration for 2008 will be held at the following times and places in Streamwood.
• Today -- 6 to 9 p.m., Streamwood Community Center ,777 S. Bartlett Road.
• Saturday -- 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Streamwood Community Center, 777 S. Bartlett Road.
• March 1 -- 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Park Place Family Recreation Center, 550 S. Park Blvd.
The Streamwood Falcons traveling football program gives participants the opportunity to learn how to play football and cheer in a structured environment. The football program is open to ages 5- to 13-year-old players, and the cheer program includes those in kindergarten through eighth grade. The season begins in early August and runs though the end of October, excluding playoffs.
A minimum $100 payment per child is required at registration. The total fees are $255, which includes $70 of total refunds at the end of the year. The program is also open to nonresidents of Streamwood.
For more information call (630) 640-3765 or visit www.streamwoodfalcons.com.
Football/cheer
New program:ŒPop Warner Little Scholars, the nation's largest youth football and cheer organization, is expanding into the Des Plaines/Mount Prospect area. Pop Warner offers great travel football, cheer and academic rewards for boys and girls 5 to 15 years old. Chicagoland Pop Warner is a part of Mid-America Pop Warner which serves an 11-state region. The winner of the regional championships in both football and cheer travel to Disney World for the Pop Warner Superbowl as seen on ESPN.
The Maine Township Warriors will serve Des Plaines, Mount Prospect, Park Ridge and the surrounding area. Teams are being formed now. There are no tryouts and all players are welcome regardless of experience.
Board members are also needed to help with the program. Anyone who would like to be a part of the Pop Warner program, call (847) 534-6238 for details, e-mail cpwfc@comcast.net or go to the Web site at www.popwarner.com.