Contact: Phil Hearn
STARKVILLE, Miss.--Students from Mississippi State's kinesiology department will help local children develop their skills at volleyball during a special Friday [July 14] program at the Starkville Boys and Girls Club.
The training session will take place 10-11 a.m. at the club's facility at 911 Lynn Lane.
"The goal is to teach children skills that will help them lead a more active lifestyle, thus reducing the risk for health problems caused by being overweight," said Paul Rukavina, an assistant professor in the university department.
"Not only will the children benefit from the opportunity, but the MSU students will get valuable teaching experience and the opportunity to be a role model," added Rukavina. "The MSU students plan to be teachers and coaches."
Nationwide, 16 percent of youth 6-19 years of age are overweight, he observed.
"Teaching children skills and how to live a physically active lifestyle is important--especially in Mississippi, which has one of the highest obesity rates in the country," Rukavina added.
NEWS EDITORS/DIRECTORS: For more information, contact Dr. Rukavina at 662-325-7231 or prukavina@colled.msstate.edu. The Starkville Boys and Girls Club's telephone number is 662-615-9980.