The UNM Summer Youth Sports Program will once again provide a free sports program for disadvantaged youngsters in the community. The program, which falls under the College of Education’s Department of Health, Exercise and Sports Sciences (HESS), begins Wednesday, June 3 and concludes Tuesday, June 30. Program hours are 7:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. daily. Physicals and pre-registration will be held June 1, 2 and 5 at Johnson Center from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
The UNM SYSP combines sports instruction with exciting educational programs for children ages 9-14. All participants must have a physical to participate. However, SYSP will accept a current physical from a participant’s own doctor if it’s within the past 10 months. All applications must be brought to Johnson Center on registration/physical days.
Sports activities include basketball, football (touch), volleyball, tennis, swimming, soccer and rugby. The education program includes alcohol and other drug - abuse prevention, nutrition and personal health, career and educational opportunities and job responsibilities, as well as higher education and community concerns.
Orginally, the NYSP was created nationally in 1969 with $3 million from Congress. It serves nearly 40 states nationally by utilizing sports instruction and competition as a means to enhance self-esteem, promote respect for oneself and others, reinforce the importance of education to one's future, and to promote active, healthy lifestyles.
UNM has continued its support of this program to improve the health and physical fitness of youth in the community. The local program now gets most of its funding from UNM and Albuquerque’s Gorham Foundation.
For more information, including a physical form and program application, visit: UNM SYSP. No applications will be accepted by mail. All applications must be brought to Johnson Center on registration- physical days. Interested participants may also call UNM’s Department of Physical Performance and Development at (505) 277-8209.
Media Contact: Steve Carr (505) 277-1821; e-mail: scarr@unm.edu