Nearly 300 local children took part in annual clinic on Saturday PHOTO CREDIT: instagram.com/gorhodyrams
In its 14th year, URI athletics’ annual “National Girls and Women and Sport Day” clinic returned to Mackal Field House this past weekend.
With free registration, the clinic provides children from the community ages three to 12 with the exclusive opportunity to learn and interact with female student-athletes throughout the department.
Athletes from the University of Rhode Island’s volleyball, softball, track and field, rowing, soccer teams, as well as the cheer squad made an appearance to help out the nearly 300 participants who signed up.
The participants were divided into groups as they traveled around stations created by each team. At each station, the participants were taught the basics for each sport, as well as engage in exciting mini-games to fine-tune their newfound skills.
Volleyball head coach Angel Agu was in attendance with her team, noting the importance of a clinic such as this for the core values each sport instills.
“It’s incredibly important for these young girls and boys to participate in sports, you know?” Agu said. “You’re staying active, setting goals, working hard for something. For them to be here and interact with these older women who represent everything they are working towards is really special.”
Mackal was filled with enthusiasm as the participants transitioned through each team’s unique station. While the clinic provided a basic understanding for most skills, Agu noted the exposure to some of the lesser known sports, such as rowing, was the most influential factor throughout the day.
“Specialization in any sport is important, whatever it may be, you’re gaining muscles, endurance, etc,” Agu said. “But I think for the rowing team to be here, for example, really opens their eyes as to what is out there. This provides them with a different outlook on opportunities they may not have known were there.”
At their respective station, members of the 2022 Atlantic-10 champions rowing team brought in their machines in to provide participants with a behind the scenes perspective of a typical Division-1 practice workout.
“You don’t really see a lot of rowing on TV, even around on campus,” fourth-year captain Julia Fortin explained. “It’s really incredible to be able to introduce what we do here and hopefully get them excited to try it out.”
After the clinic, all participants were invited to an autograph session and received free tickets to the women’s basketball game vs George Washington on Wednesday. Although unable to attend due to travel, the women’s team honored the event on the actual date of National Girls and Women in Sports Day, three days prior with a double overtime win over St. Joseph’s.
“It’s everything,” head coach Tammi Reiss said following the game. “We respect the past, we are the present and then the future. All those little girls that had our camp jerseys on and they’re here and they’re watching this, it inspires them.”
Inspiration filled the walls of the field house as athletes, coaches and participants alike embraced the atmosphere.
“To see those young girls excited to run, play at their specific sport, It’s something for them to look forward to.” Agu said. “The clinic emphasizes not only the growth of women and sports, but the growth of Rhody athletics as a whole. Just a terrific day overall.”
It was yet another successful day for the 14th edition of the annual clinic, highlighting the vital importance of women and girls in the world of sports to hundreds of local children that shape the future of local sports.