Pubdate: Mon, 18 Apr 2005 Source: Pacific Daily News (US GU) Copyright: 2005 Pacific Daily News Contact: http://www.guampdn.com/customerservice/contactus.html Website: http://www.guampdn.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1122 Author: Natalie J. Quinata Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) HOOPIN'IT UP ... AND STAYING DRUG-FREE Program Helps Kids Sharpen Athletic Skills, Stay Drug-Free Research shows that youths who are involved in constructive, adult-supervised activities are less likely to use drugs than youths with a lot of free time. Studies also show that youths with positive role models are less likely to fall into substance abuse. With these facts in mind, the Guam Youth Basketball Association and the Department of Parks and Recreation have teamed up with other agencies and businesses to organize the Shell Guam 2005 Drug-Free Youth Basketball Clinic and League. And thanks to this program, more than 900 of Guam's youth are taking time after school to learn how to shoot hoops and say "no" to drugs. In addition to teaching participants some basketball skills, Jean Cepeda, one of the GYBA directors, said organizers decided to add sessions that teach kids about being drug free. "The whole basis was to make it a drug-free league. We make it fun for them, and instead of just teaching them sports, we also throw in something they can use throughout their lives," Cepeda said. During practices, presenters from the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse and the Guam Army National Guard come to the practice sites and talk to kids about the harmful effects of substance abuse. Members of the National Guard recently gave an anti-smoking presentation that hit home for some of the players. "I had one player tell me he was going to go home and ask his dad to quit smoking," Cepeda said, explaining that the presentation involved showing kids an actual model of how a typical smoker's lungs look like. The league coaches also act as role models by pledging to promote sportsmanship and a drug-free lifestyle. Cepeda said coaches are prohibited from smoking or drinking in front of their participants and are not even allowed to carry a pack of cigarettes during practices. "We're promoting a drug-free, substance abuse-free lifestyle to our kids, and we're teaching them about the importance of health and wellness throughout life," said Mavericks Basketball Club coach Sid Guzman. - ---