Youth Day a Big Success

Sept. 16, 2006

The late week rain and the Saturday forecast caused alterations in the plan, but it did not take the bite out of Yale Youth Day 2006 at Yale Bowl, which hundreds of New Haven area school children enjoyed on a spectacular day.

Yale coaches and athletes worked with area youth in clinics and other activities, while youth football teams from Madison and Tri-Town met on the Yale practice field. The 8:30 a.m. game was scheduled for Yale Bowl but Friday's foul weather made the re-location necessary. That did not deter two good teams and a large crowd from gathering behind Yale Field for a spirited contest.

Everyone gathered after these events for lunch in hospitality village, prepared by the Bulldog men's and women's squash teams. Next to the village was a well-attended youth fair that included the following groups: American Medical Response; Bridgeport Sound Tigers; CT Children's Identity Program; Dick's Sporting Goods; Girl Scouts Connecticut Trails Council; New Britain Parks and Recreation Department; New Haven County Cutters Baseball; New Haven Fire Department; New Haven Police Department; Peabody Museum; Radio Disney; US Army; West Haven Police Department; Yale Anti-Gravity Society; and Yale University Police Department. "It went very well inspite of a lot of changes because of the weather forecast," said Donald Scharf '55, co-chairman of the Yale Youth Day Committee. "All the kids had a good time. It was a very successful day, one that shows how interested Yale is in the city of New Haven and the surrounding area. Having athletes and coaches from Yale working with young kids, helping them and setting an example is a great thing."

The day culminates with the kids taking part in the halftime show. The Yale Band gathers to form the "Y" at midfield with youth day participants filling in the open areas, now a special tradition that can't be matched at any other school.

Reported by Steve Conn, Yale Sports Publicity Director