On Sunday, Feb. 9, the Hamilton College Department of Athletics celebrated National Girls and Women in Sports Day by hosting its seventh annual sports camp inside Margaret Bundy Scott Field House. The clinic invited girls in grades K-8 to participate, develop new skills and learn to play various sports. This year’s camp had the highest turnout in recent years, with more than 50 pre-registrations from the towns of Clinton, New Hartford, Hamilton, Vernon and more. Importantly, this event was free, and a canned food donation was organized to support the Utica Rescue Mission.
The event’s organization is credited to the determination and flexibility of Hamilton Athletics. Athletes from all thirteen Hamilton Varsity Women’s teams volunteered to help coordinate the event. Although Women’s Ice Hockey returned from dominating Bowdoin over the weekend, arriving at 1 a.m., players still managed to be present at the 10 a.m. clinic. Additionally, many in-season sports, such as Men’s Tennis, opted to delay their practices to allow the clinic to use the indoor tennis courts. Moreover, it is important to note that in-season athletes only have one day off per week, per NESCAC rules. And for many, including Women’s Ice Hockey, Sunday was many teams’ day off. Regardless, many in-season athletes still volunteered to help run the event. Ultimately, the entire Hamilton Athletics Program contributed to the success of Sunday’s event.
The clinic was designed to expose the young girls to all of Hamilton’s Women’s sports. Hence, the program divided the participants into several groups where each group would spend eight to ten minutes at each sport. Some sports, such as swimming and diving, were unable to be implemented into the clinic due to the time constraint. However, the Continentals’ Women’s Swim and Dive team still managed to get involved by leading warmups and stretches at the beginning of the event.
Furthermore, the Women’s Golf team showcased creativity by incorporating mini-golf into their instruction, providing a unique and engaging way for young athletes to interact with Hamilton’s Golf Team while enjoying the fundamentals of the game. Similarly, Women’s Ice Hockey led their station on the track, similar to how street hockey is played, to teach young girls the principles of hockey. The lacrosse, softball and soccer teams hosted their stations on turf adjacent to the field house while squash operated at the squash courts. The tennis, volleyball and basketball teams also offered instruction and gameplay using the fieldhouse courts, which provided the necessary space and facilities.
Hamilton’s annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day Camp allowed young girls to experience playing various sports while also allowing athletes from the Hamilton Women’s sports team to engage and give back to the community. Many young participants left the event not only with new skills but also with a deeper appreciation for sports and the role they can play in fostering teamwork, discipline and confidence. Seeing college athletes take the time to teach and encourage them was inspiring for many young girls, some of whom may one day pursue sports at a higher level. In addition to celebrating women in sports, the event supported a charitable cause, being able to collect canned goods for the Utica Rescue Mission. This aspect of the event reinforced the importance of community service and giving back, values that Hamilton College publicly aims to promote within its athletics program.
Immediately after COVID-19, this event struggled, but it has regained popularity over the years. The steady increase in participation highlights the growing enthusiasm for women’s sports and the eagerness of the local community to engage with Hamilton’s athletics program. With the support of Hamilton’s female athletes, the Hamilton College Department of Athletics looks forward to continuing this event’s tradition of celebrating girls and women in sports.
