Written by Lia Armistead, Asst. Sports Writer

Each year, the Valdosta State Athletic department collaborates with Zaxby’s for an event called “Meet the Blazer’s” for kids in kindergarten through eighth grade who are interested in sports.

All athletic teams participate in Meet the Blazers before the beginning of each season.

The event is an hour long camp that has players and coaches working together to form multiple activities for kids to compete in during that time.

These activities include basic skills for the sport, short scrimmages, and fun games for every age group.

Last Saturday, the Lady Blazers soccer team participated in Meet the Blazers in which 50 kids showed up for the fun.

“It’s a great opportunity for the community to get to know the team and program here at VSU,” Rebecca Nolin, head coach said.

Both the team and coaches get excited to host the event each year in order to encourage young athletes to find a passion in sports, meet new people in the same age group, and have a good time while doing it.

The event is a not so serious camp in which both the participants and the VSU players can let loose and have fun, bonding together at the same time.

“[The best part is] seeing all the kids get excited to meet the girls and to hear the kids tell us they will be coming to the games,”  Nolin said. “The young ladies are role models for many of these kids so they take that very seriously and want to make the kids experience as positive as possible.”

The program is so popular among young kids that many come back years in a row, as they did this year, according to Nolin.

At the beginning of the event each participant receives a t-shirt sponsored by Zaxby’s and the athletic department.

These t-shirts are the kids “free ticket” into the first Lady Blazer’s game, encouraging them to come out and support the team, as long as they are wearing the shirt.

Nolin hopes to continue the ongoing VSU tradition next year and years to come, as well as participating in many community service events with her team throughout the year.

The Blazer’s football team and coaches will be taking part in their Meet the Blazers event this Saturday at 9 a.m. at the field house.