Girls Got Game promotes sports to young girls

Val Harris, executive director of Teens in Perspective, tells the girls at the Wilmington PAL Center not to get discouraged if they don’t succeed in sports right away.

10:25 a.m., Dec. 8, 2006--About 60 girls, ages 8-14, got a taste of fencing, rowing, juggling, soccer, lacrosse, field hockey, basketball and cheering through a UD service learning program called “Girls Got Game” on Wednesday, Nov. 29, at the Wilmington PAL Center.

"Girls Got Game," funded by UD's Office of Service Learning, is administered by Nancy Getchell, assistant professor of health and exercise sciences, and hosted by students taking HESC/WOMS 484, “Women in Sports.” The program promotes sport and physical activity for young girls as part of a healthier lifestyle that encourages self-discovery and achievement.

Amber Graves, of Media, Pa., checks out a lacrosse stick.

The girls and their parents who attended the PAL Center program got pizza and refreshments while listening to representatives of different organizations urging them to get involved in sports.

Val Harris, executive director of Teens in Perspective, asked the girls how many of them played sports. Only about one-third of those in the room raised their hands.

Harris told them not to get discouraged if they don't succeed in sports right away. She said when she was in middle school, she tried out for basketball, volleyball and track but didn't make the teams. When she started high school, her science teacher told her she could get a basketball scholarship for college if she could master a certain shot. Harris said she practiced until she was perfect at the shot and made the junior varsity basketball team, then the varsity. By the time she finished high school, Harris said, she was an All-American basketball player, one of the top recruits in the nation and after college coached at Florida Atlantic and Delaware State universities.

“I didn't play sports until high school, and then sports became my avenue to important things in life. I learned a lot about myself, my limitations, my strengths, and I learned discipline. Sports allowed me to go to college, and it made me what I am today, and it's not too late for you to get started,” Harris said.

Kimberly Libus, of Aston, Pa., tries out a rowing machine.

Brighid Dwyer, a swimmer with Black Women in Sport, asked the girls in the room why they are interested in sports. “To say fit,” one girl said. “Because it's fun,” said another. Others offered, “To keep myself out of trouble,” To meet new people,” “Because I'm bored,” “To get awards,” “To be with friends.”

After the talks, the girls moved to the gym where they were encouraged to try several different sports, including rowing, fencing, lacrosse, field hockey, soccer and juggling.

Later, there was a raffle followed by demonstrations of the skills they had learned and a “Girls Got Game” T-shirt giveaway.

Article by Barbara Garrison
Photos by Greg Drew

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