Some people play whiffle ball on the Lawn. Some park themselves in front of their computer screens for hours playing Snood. Others choose to teach sports to Charlottesville kids to get in touch with their child side.
"I usually teach 4-and 5-year-olds, which is great since I'm basically a child myself," third-year College student Tom Keegan said. "For 45 minutes, I get to splash around a warm-water pool playing with kids - and they pay me for this."
Keegan works for the Youth Sports program, which caters to children under 8 years old, teaching them physical skills to help build confidence. Intramural-Recreational Sports runs the program on weekends, and Keegan can only describe his experience as heartwarming.
"The part that meant the absolute most to me was when a mother told me that her 6-year-old son, who had been slightly afraid of the water and reluctant to go to lessons, came home and said, 'Today was the best day of my life.' That is why I make time to teach," Keegan said.
The Saturday youth instruction includes classes such as Toddlers on the Move, a movement exploration class that works on balance, coordination and motor skills. The program also offers Skill Builders, which teaches striking, kicking and tumbling. Students also interact with children by playing lacrosse, Judo, tennis, dance, soccer and basketball.
Sunday swimming instruction attracts the largest crowds, boasting an enrollment of 250 kids. The participants are mostly children of professors and students, although there are other local Charlottesville children enrolled.
"It's a way of breaking the age-monotony of college life," fourth-year College student Maisie Ketron said. "We're surrounded by people in their 20s and the professor age-range all day. It's grounding to be with 7-year-olds, and it helps me remember how to have simple fun."
Ketron, who also teaches swimming lessons to adults through other programs, has valued her time with the children and what she has learned from them.
"Teaching swimming can be an extremely rewarding experience as progress is so visible, especially as compared to academic progress," she said.
The Youth Sports program strays from developing the children's competitive fires and instead focuses primarily on the instruction.
"The thing that is different about our program is that we focus totally on skills," Asst. Director Anne Armstrong said. "We don't do leagues or do any competitions. We think it is more important to develop the skills and a basis to get more children to participate in sports."
For the past three years, third-year College student Selena McKnight has forgone late-night Friday celebrations in order to work as a Youth Sports coordinator on Saturday mornings.
What began for McKnight as a replacement work-study job has blossomed into her life's passion.
"I just walked over here one day during first year looking for a new work-study job," McKnight said. "I knew that the AFC had instruction programs and I wanted to see if they had basketball. Ever since, I have been here."
Even though her job shortens her Friday nights, her dedication is an essential part of the program.
"It takes a high level of dedication because it is Saturday morning," Director of Recreation Instruction Amy Davidson said. "Most semesters, the instructors have to be there by 8:30 or 9 a.m." Davidson said the dedication is crucial so the children can have some consistency.
And McKnight sees that her presence makes a difference to the kids.
"I definitely want to work with kids in a career," McKnight said. "When I started working, it made me feel closer to home since I have been working with kids all my life."
Besides the actual classes on the weekends, McKnight spends three days a week in the office making rosters, certificates and goal sheets for the kids, as well as finding instructors and substitutes for those who cannot make it. All of this is done in an effort to make things run more smoothly come Saturday morning.
McKnight recruits fellow University students, including her roommate Amitra Mamdouchi, to work in the program.
Mamdouchi, a third-year College student, teaches Toddlers on the Move, Skill Builders and youth dance classes for the program.
For Mamdouchi and McKnight, their experiences with the Youth Sports program have been life-altering and have given them positive direction.
"We plan to open our own children's wellness center in the future," Mamdouchi said about her plans with McKnight. "Hopefully we can branch out and get on 'Oprah.'"
But for now, McKnight relishes her escape back to childhood and away from Grounds.
"It gives me a chance to get away from the school aspect," she said of the Youth Sports program. "It is hard to come in at 9 in the morning, but when you see them running in jumping all over you, it kind of makes everything worthwhile."
|
University Affiliated Youth Sports Programs |
||
| Name of Program | Dates Offered | Ages |
| IM- Rec Saturday Youth Classes: Spring Session II | March 24-April 28 |
5-13 |
| Virginia Soccer Camp of Champions | June 24-June 27, July 14-July 18 | 9 and up |
| Cavalier Day Camp | June 18 - August 10, 2001 | Grades 1-5 |
| Madison House volunteer programs | by semester | varies by program |
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