National Women in Sports Day a hit with youth
Amanda Piccirilli
Issue date: 2/12/08 Section: Sports
Over 400 pompoms, highlighter-green T-shirts and enthusiastic young female athletes filled the stands of Reitz Arena on Sunday afternoon to help motivate the Loyola women's basketball team to a win over St. Peter's. It was a perfect ending to Women in Sports Day at Loyola College.
This was Loyola's fifth year hosting Women in Sports Day, where local girls in kindergarten to eighth grade come to the college to partake in entertaining activities with Loyola's female athletes.
Festivities started at 10:30 in the morning in McGuire Hall, an hour and a half before tip-off.
A wave of vibrant green shirts covered the floor, while chit-chat and giggles added to the exciting atmosphere. As every girl entered into the room, the energy level kicked up one more notch.
In McGuire, Loyola's athletes became artists in the face painting and poster making stations, assisting the young girls with their creative ideas. Verizon sponsored this year's event, bringing with them fun games and stations for the children.
"[Today] is fun because you get to play and do different games," said young Rebecca Doyle, a first time attendee to Women in Sports Day. "It's good because you get exercise when you do different sports."
The energy within McGuire seeped out of the doors into the athletic-department hallways. The girls followed the vibe by participating in a scavenger hunt. During the hunt the girls were able to see locker rooms, the weight room and film room the Loyola athletes use on a daily basis.
After eating lunch provided by Sodexho, the girls and their guardians traveled over to Reitz Arena where they watched the women's team take on the Peahens. The girls were able to experience the game atmosphere that Loyola brings to every home game.
"When the kids are in the gym all together -- wearing the same shirts and their pompoms in hand -- it is the biggest highlight of the day for me," said Joann Austin, co-director of Women in Sports Day at Loyola.
At halftime, the girls and all of Loyola's female athletes met in the middle of the basketball court where a group photo was taken.
"I think the kids appreciate the event and all the students coming out," said David Doyle, father of Rebecca. "Everyone is so friendly. I think it's a great day for the kids; they're seeing role models."
National Girl and Women in Sports Day (NGWSD) is organized by the National Girls and Women in Sport Coalition, which combines the experience and resources of the seven premiere female-serving organizations in the United States:
American Association of University Women, Girl Scouts of the USA, Girls Incorporated, the National Association for Girls and Women in Sport, National Women's Law Center, the Women's Sports Foundation and the YWCA USA.
This was Loyola's fifth year hosting Women in Sports Day, where local girls in kindergarten to eighth grade come to the college to partake in entertaining activities with Loyola's female athletes.
Festivities started at 10:30 in the morning in McGuire Hall, an hour and a half before tip-off.
A wave of vibrant green shirts covered the floor, while chit-chat and giggles added to the exciting atmosphere. As every girl entered into the room, the energy level kicked up one more notch.
In McGuire, Loyola's athletes became artists in the face painting and poster making stations, assisting the young girls with their creative ideas. Verizon sponsored this year's event, bringing with them fun games and stations for the children.
"[Today] is fun because you get to play and do different games," said young Rebecca Doyle, a first time attendee to Women in Sports Day. "It's good because you get exercise when you do different sports."
The energy within McGuire seeped out of the doors into the athletic-department hallways. The girls followed the vibe by participating in a scavenger hunt. During the hunt the girls were able to see locker rooms, the weight room and film room the Loyola athletes use on a daily basis.
After eating lunch provided by Sodexho, the girls and their guardians traveled over to Reitz Arena where they watched the women's team take on the Peahens. The girls were able to experience the game atmosphere that Loyola brings to every home game.
"When the kids are in the gym all together -- wearing the same shirts and their pompoms in hand -- it is the biggest highlight of the day for me," said Joann Austin, co-director of Women in Sports Day at Loyola.
At halftime, the girls and all of Loyola's female athletes met in the middle of the basketball court where a group photo was taken.
"I think the kids appreciate the event and all the students coming out," said David Doyle, father of Rebecca. "Everyone is so friendly. I think it's a great day for the kids; they're seeing role models."
National Girl and Women in Sports Day (NGWSD) is organized by the National Girls and Women in Sport Coalition, which combines the experience and resources of the seven premiere female-serving organizations in the United States:
American Association of University Women, Girl Scouts of the USA, Girls Incorporated, the National Association for Girls and Women in Sport, National Women's Law Center, the Women's Sports Foundation and the YWCA USA.
Be the first to comment on this story