CLINIC REGISTRATION (CLOSES JAN. 31)
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (January 22, 2019) – For the seventh consecutive year, the Northern Arizona Athletics Department will celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day on Saturday, Feb. 2 starting with a free youth sports clinic at 11:30 a.m. leading into the NAU women's basketball game versus Eastern Washington at 2 p.m. Both the youth clinic and the game will be held in the Rolle Activity Center.
National Girls and Women in Sports Day, a national observance celebrating the extraordinary achievements of women and girls in sports, will be celebrated nationally for the 33rd consecutive year. This year's NGWSD theme is "Lead Her Forward" to honor the many ways that sports push girls and women to achieve excellence and realize their boundless potential.
"When you look at the big picture, we're trying to shape young women to be empowered and how significant a role sports can play in any young women's life," said head women's basketball coach
Loree Payne. "We definitely want to celebrate the importance of this day in any opportunity we have."
The NGWSD events will begin with NAU Athletics' free youth sports clinic, open to all boys and girls between kindergarten and eighth grade. The clinic is free for all participants. The Rolle Activity Center doors will open at 11 a.m. for check-in with the clinic running from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
All participants must pre-register at this
link no later than Thursday, Jan. 31 at 5 p.m.
The clinic will include instruction from a variety of NAU student-athletes, coaches and staff in sport-specific activities in rotating stations. The first 100 clinic participants will receive a free t-shirt and food will be available for all participants at the conclusion of the clinic.
Following the clinic, all youth participants will receive admission to the women's basketball game versus Eastern Washington in the Rolle Activity Center at 2 p.m.
The women's basketball team will not be the only team in action on Feb. 2 with the track & field team hosting the Mountain T's Invite in the Walkup Skydome. Meanwhile, the NAU divers will be in competition at their Lumberjack Diving Invite at the Aquatic and Tennis Complex.
National Girls and Women in Sports Day began in 1987 as a special day in the nation's capital to recognize women's sports and is now celebrated annually across the country in all 50 states. It also served as a remembrance of Flo Hyman, an Olympic volleyball player who passed away in 1986 of Marfan's Syndrome, for her athletic achievements and dedication to promoting equality for women's sports.
NGWSD has since evolved into an event to acknowledge the accomplishments of female athletes, the positive influence of participation in sports and the continued struggle for equality for women in sports.
