Princeton athletes coach younger generation at sports fair

By Eric Quiñones on Feb. 13, 2006, 4:06 p.m.
National Girls and Women’s in Sports Day

Princeton squash player Alex Day, a junior, shows a local youngster the proper technique during the National Girls and Women in Sports Day fair.

At left: Freshman lacrosse player Marine Graham was among many female student-athletes who dedicated their time to help local children learn more about sports.


Photos: Beverly Schaefer

Many of Princeton's female student-athletes took time on Saturday, Feb. 11, to play the role of coaches for local youngsters on National Girls and Women in Sports Day.

Joining in a national effort to teach children about the value of sports, the Department of Athletics sponsored an interactive fair in Jadwin Gymnasium prior to the Princeton women's basketball game against Ivy League rival Dartmouth.

Athletes from numerous women's teams staffed stations to help teach young boys and girls from the community about their respective sports. Featured sports included cheerleading, crew, fencing, field hockey, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, squash, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field, volleyball and water polo. Stations explaining the physics of sport also were included. 

The University's event was one of many held nationally to celebrate the importance of athletics for girls and women of all ages. National Girls and Women in Sports Day was chartered by Congress in 1986 in memory of former U.S. Olympic volleyball team captain Flo Hyman, honoring her athletic achievements and her work to assure equality for women's sports.

Following the fair, the University recognized the 35-year history of women's sports at Princeton with a halftime ceremony during the women's basketball game.

For more information about Princeton athletics, visit the department's Web site.

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