By Yvonne Condes
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Students who like basketball and enjoy working with children are encouraged to apply for the ASUA-University Learning Center Boys and Girls Basketball League running from Jan. 27 through March 3, 1996.
The program is designed to acclimate school children to the UA campus, said ASUA Senator Gahl Leddel, project commissioner.
"The focus is education through the means of basketball," Leddel said.
Almost 200 underprivileged boys and girls in grades 5-through-8 will be placed in teams coached by UA volunteers.
Coaches can be sponsored by an organization, such as a fraternity or residence hall, and must have a knowledge of basketball. There are other positions for those who do not.
Volunteering is not time-consuming, Leddel said. It will require only a few hours a week, he said, with a little more for coaches.
Practices will be held at Bear Down Gym and the championship will be at McKale to introduce the players to the UA campus.
The program is UA student-run and is the brainchild of Leddel, who participated in a similar program in Arcadia, Calif. He said he wants to bring in guest speakers from the Phoenix Suns and the UA men's and women's basketball teams.
The first meeting is being held at 5 p.m. Thursday in Student Union Room 280 to organize and answer questions.
ASUA is accepting applications until Sept. 26 for positions on the Board of Directors; coach and referee position applications are due October 3.
For more information, call Gahl Leddel at 621-6635.