UCR's Summer Youth Sports Program Accepting Applications

Applications are now being accepted for an award-winning summer sports and educational program at the University of California, Riverside, especially for children ages 10 to 16.

The National Youth Sports Program (NYSP) will combine sports activities such as basketball, karate, volleyball, soccer, and swimming with academic classes on alcohol-and drug-abuse prevention, nutrition and personal health, and higher education and career opportunities. There will also be a hands-on mathematics and science classes, including an interactive computer lab.

The program begins Monday, June 25 and ends Saturday, July 28. Sessions are held between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. Monday through Friday, plus one Saturday. Enrollment is free. Applicants must attend local schools where at least half of the students receive reduced-cost or free lunches.

The 33-year-old program is jointly sponsored by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the federal Department of Health and Human Services and is being offered for a fourth summer at UCR through a $61,000 grant awarded to the African Student Programs office.

In 1998, the first year the summer program was offered at UCR, the African Student Programs office received a recognition award from the NCAA and Department of Health and Human Services. This year, about 300 youth are expected to participate.

The program is co-sponsored by UCR's Intercollegiate Athletics Department. Participants will use campus sports facilities. Dr. E.M. Abdulmumin, UCR project administrator of the National Youth Sports Program, said the summer activities are intended to provide a safe and structured environment for youth from low-income families to learn sports, meet new friends, become familiar with a college campus and further develop their academic skills.

UCR students, faculty, staff, and volunteers from the campus and the community will staff the program.

All youths participating in the program much first pass a free physical examination provided through the program by volunteers from the UCR Biomedical Sciences division, and physicians at the UCR Student Health Center.

The program includes free meals, accident/medical insurance and transportation.

Registration is on a first-come, first served basis. To receive application materials or for more information, call the UCR African Student Programs office at (909) 787-4576.