News Release
Watch Future NCAA Athletes in the Making! Yes® Clinics in Metro Detroit, as part of Final Four®
April 4, 2009 from 9 a.m. to noon, boys and girls (ages 10 to 16) have the opportunity to catch the spirit of the NCAA Final Four® in the Detroit area by participating in the YESº Clinics. Many successful collegiate and high school basketball coaches and student-athletes will be offering free basketball clinics for local youth at three metro Detroit locations:
- Renaissance High School, 6565 W. Outer Drive in Detroit
- Joe Dumars Fieldhouse, 45300 Mound Road, Shelby Township
- Western International High School, 1500 Scotten Street, Detroit
Attending the clinics is free but advance registration was strongly encouraged as all participating student athletes will be accepted on a first come-first serve basis. The YES® Clinics are being coordinated in conjunction with the 2009 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship tournament. the Final Four®.
University of Detroit Mercy is proud to be the host institution for the Men's Basketball Final Four® tournament. UDM successfully hosted the 2008 Midwest Regional Games at Ford Field in Detroit and is excited to bring the big games back to Detroit this weekend. Officials estimate the Final Four® has about a $30-50 million economic impact on its host city.
The Youth Education through Sports (YES®) Clinics, hydrated by vitaminwater revive are conducted by the National Youth Sports Corporation (NYSC). The YES® Program is the NCAA’s premier outreach to youth across the country, connecting young athletes with collegiate coaches and student-athletes to provide fundamental instruction in sports, conditioning and life skills at select collegiate championships.
Along with basketball instruction from NCAA coaches and student-athletes, students will also learn from experts in conditioning and life skills who will conduct activities to improve mental and physical fitness both on and off the court. The specific skill sessions will be more instructional in format, and teach the “FUN” in fundamentals of sports and life. Participation in this clinic will allow youth to experience the excitement of the 2009 Final Four® first-hand. All participants should wear athletic shoes and be dressed for physical activity.
Each participant, in addition to the clinic instruction, will receive a souvenir YES® T-shirt, printed materials on basketball skill development, nutrition and academic topics and other gift items.
Parents and/or guardians are encouraged to attend a special session specifically designed for them. In this session, attendees will have the opportunity to discuss issues relating to youth sports, nutrition, sportsmanship, recruiting, college entrance preparation and injury prevention with experts from the community.
For more information, visit www.NCAA.com/yesclinics. If you have specific questions, please contact Rueben Washington, the Detroit-area coordinator at 313-770-9461 or Gary Lichtman, UDM, Director of Media Relations at 313-993-1254.
About the NCAA
The NCAA is a membership-led nonprofit association of colleges and universities committed to supporting academic and athletic opportunities for more than 380,000 student-athletes at more than 1,000 member colleges and universities. Each year, more than 49,000 student-athletes compete in NCAA championships in Divisions I, II and III sports. For more information, visit www.ncaa.org and www.ncaasports.com.
ATTENTION MEDIA:
Great photo opportunities with future NCAA basketball athletes on Saturday, morning at Renaissance High School, 6565 W. Outer Drive in Detroit.
Interviews with Coordinator Rueben Washington, participating basketball coaches, youth and parents will be coordinated at the Renaissance High School site only. Contact Gary D. Lichtman and Elizabeth Patterson , UDM at the event.
Release date: March 30, 2009
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