Attendance Grows for Girls' Second Annual 'Sports Day' Clinic

Published 02.29.2016

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Pennsylvania College of Technology's Athletics Department hosted its second annual Girls & Women in Sports Day Clinic on Saturday. Sixteen student-athletes from softball, soccer, volleyball and basketball instructed more than 35 local elementary-aged girls in their respective sports. Each girl had the opportunity to participate in all four sports.



Penn College student-athletes (in white shirts) gather with the elementary-aged girls they championed in Saturday's daylong clinic."I was very pleased with how many local girls participated in the clinic this year," said Jackie Klahold, Penn College's head softball coach and senior women's administrator. "We saw an increase in about 15 more participants than our first year and we hope that number continues to grow in the future.

"Our student-athletes did an outstanding job of instructing the girls on the basics of their respective sports and making it fun for the girls. We're all very appreciative of our students taking time out of their busy lives to give back to the community."

NGWSD began in 1987 as a day to remember Olympic volleyball player Flo Hyman for her athletic achievements and her promoting equality for women's sports. Hyman died of Marfan's Syndrome in 1986 while competing in a volleyball tournament in Japan. Since that time, NGWSD has become a day to acknowledge the accomplishments of female athletes, recognize current sports achievements, the positive influence of sports participation, and the continuing struggle for equality and access for women in sports.

Since its inception, NGWSD has been celebrated annually in all 50 states with community-based events, award ceremonies and activities honoring the achievements of female athletes and encouraging participation of girls and women in sports. NGWSD is organized by the members of the National Girls & Women in Sports Day Coalition. Women's Sports Foundation Founder Billie Jean King and past Women's Sports Foundation Presidents Donna de Varona, Nancy Hogshead-Makar, Jessica Mendoza, Aimee Mullins and Dominique Dawes are among the champion women athletes that have contributed to the annual NGWSD activities alongside the coalition organizations.