Hundreds of people were stretched across Manchester Village Field Thursday, taking part in whichever activity caught their eye. Some took shots on goal, some played Spikeball or tug-of-war. Some simply found some open space and danced to the music a DJ was playing over the sound system. There were University of San Diego student-athletes, visiting middle and elementary schoolers and more.
The one thing everyone on the field had in common was the same wide smile.
Inclusive Sports Day welcomed kids from around San Diego to USD’s campus for a fun-filled event centered around play and connection.
“I think you get so bogged down in everything that’s happening, whether it’s school or competition, but this really brings it back to the ‘why’ – why you love your sport, why you do it."
USD student-athletes from a wide range of sports set up stations around the field that younger students were free to bounce between and enjoy.
The event, done in partnership with the Inclusive Sports Foundation, gave Toreros the chance to engage with the community, and young students of all abilities a fun and supportive place to play.
For USD’s part, there were coaches involved, but this was student-led. They were having a great time interacting with the kids.
Life as a student-athlete can be demanding. You have intense time commitments of practice, workouts and competition on top of a full college workload. Thursday’s event was refreshing for everyone involved, and grounding.
"If you look around, there's not one frown. Everyone's smiling, having fun, and that's why you do this."