(Posted March 20, 2001)

The 15th annual National Girls & Women In Sports Day which was nationally-recognized on February 7, 2001, will be celebrated formally on the Juniata College campus on Thursday evening. Due to scheduling conflicts in Juniata's Kennedy Sports+Recreation Center, the College Hill department of athletics was forced to bump its festivities for the day back to this coming Thursday evening. For the third straight year, Juniata will host a sports night for grade school and junior high school girls (fourth grade through eighth grade) and their parents at the Kennedy Sports+Recreation Center from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. There is no charge for attending the event.

Juniata will offer a clinic with coaching and hands-on teaching in a wide variety of sports. Coaches and student-athletes from varsity sports teams on College Hill will instruct those in attendance in sports from the following list: basketball, volleyball, field hockey, soccer, swimming, and track and field. Those attending will be permitted to receive instruction from two of the sports represented. There will be two learning sessions during the three-hour outing. If a girl wishes to participate in swimming, she should bring a bathing suit and towel, and everyone should bring a pair of sneakers for the evening's activities.

National Girls and Women in Sports Day is a special day for girls and women to celebrate their participation in sports. For decades, female athletes have been discouraged from playing sports because of their gender. Countless athletes have been turned away by leagues and administrators who have said that girls and women are not allowed to participate in sports, regardless of their athletic abilities.

Recently, the world has seen an explosion in the amount of athletic opportunities open to girls and women. One in three girls in high school now participate in athletics. Newly formed professional women's leagues have raised young female's athletic aspirations. There are more sports opportunities for women and girls today than there were 25 years ago. In recognition of the strides that have been made, girls everywhere can proclaim it's, "Our Day, Everyday".

For more information on the outing sponsored by Juniata College contact Jenell Patton (814) 641-3365 or Amy Buxbaum at (814) 641-3518. A parent or guardian will have to sign a liability form in order for their daughter(s) to participate. Forms will be available at the registration desk that evening. Registration will that evening from 6:00 - 6:30 and the registration table will be located inside the entrance located by the Rec Center parking lot. For more information about National Girls and Women in Sports Day, check out the sponsor's web site at www.womenssportsfoundation.org

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.