University of Connecticut Athletics
Women’s Programs Celebrate NGWSD with Youth Clinic
2/11/2019 3:00:00 PM | General
Women's Programs Celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day with Youth Clinic
50 Girls Participate in Multi-Sport Clinic in Greer Field House on Saturday
STORRS, Conn. – Former UConn women's basketball player and current TV analyst Meghan Culmo stood watching her daughters, Kathleen and Claire, in the Greer Field House on Saturday morning – taking in the sights of a familiar location her college teams once called home.
Culmo recalled the days when the Huskies played on a wooden floor within the indoor track and metal bleachers were rolled in to accommodate fans. Fast forward to mid-afternoon on Saturday following UConn's 109-74 win over Temple in Gampel Pavilion in a front of a sellout crowd of 10,167, and it is a different story.
Opportunities have never been more plentiful and interest never so high in women's sports, with 50 young girls seeing that firsthand this past weekend.
When UConn Athletics held its first annual National Women and Girls Multi-Sport Clinic, female student-athletes stood at their respective sport stations in Greer intent on opening the eyes of a younger generation to all the opportunities within their collective grasp.
Celebrated around the world, National Girls and Women in Sports Day has served to empower women and girls to achieve their life's potential using sports and physical activity as a way to develop teamwork skills, leadership traits and enhance character-building.
Jamelle Elliott, Associate Athletic Director of the National C Club within UConn Athletics, organized the multi-sport clinic to be as wide-ranging and inclusive as possible – giving all girls in attendance a variety of opportunities in just a two-hour window.
"(NGWSD) is a weeklong initiative and we are just trying to introduce girls to sports and teach them how sports can make you a better teammate, learn discipline and prepare you for your future," said Elliott. "A lot of these young ladies have played a sport, but we thought it was important to have all of our women's sports represented in case they haven't been introduced to one."
Seven stations were set-up around Greer, giving participants about 10 minutes to learn some of the basic rules and skills involved. UConn student-athletes shared their knowledge and talents with each group on a rotational basis, giving them an idea of how the game is played.
"I think (us student-athletes) being here is a testament to the opportunities that sports give," said Amelia Iacobucci, a senior on the field hockey team. "I came to UConn because of field hockey and it was the best decision I could have ever made. We have to go out and show young girls that it's possible for them to do anything."
Registration opened on Saturday morning at 10 a.m., as families from surrounding communities braved the bitter-cold wind on campus to take part in the event.
"For my daughters, they can come to an event like this and understand that sports are such an important part of life," said Culmo, who played basketball from 1988-92. "They can aspire to be like the great female athletes that are at UConn. They didn't have anything like this when I was a kid. I applaud Jamelle (Elliott) for putting this event together. It's a wonderful initiative for all young girls."
Participants had the chance to move around the stations to try volleyball, rowing, soccer, field hockey, basketball, lacrosse and swimming and diving. Around noon, the UConn dance team taught the group a cheer before certificate distribution and lunch.
"We are so grateful to the student-athletes for volunteering their time to come do this," said Elliott. "It's just great that our current student-athletes want to give back and understand the role that sports play in that journey throughout your life."
"I have had a lot of great women role models in sports and everybody has not been as lucky to have that influence. Every chance I get personally to be a mentor for young girls, I'm going to do it," said Adashia Franklyn, a graduate assistant for the women's basketball team and former scholarship player at St. Joe's.
The afternoon was just beginning after the clinic wrapped-up, as the participants headed over to Gampel Pavilion to watch thousands of people cheer on the women's basketball team against Temple – a fitting end to an exciting day for an enthusiastic group.
Franklyn added, "Girls can do anything. What better place than UConn to emphasize that with an event like this?"
ABOUT NGWSD
NGWSD began in 1987 in Washington, D.C. to recognize women's sports, relying on premiere organizations and elite female talent to bring national attention to the promise of girls and women in sports. 2019 marks the 33rd annual celebration of the event, which is powered by the Women's Sports Foundation. This year's theme was "Lead Her Forward", honoring the many ways that sports push girls and women achieve excellence and realize their full potential.
