It was a game of Duck, Duck, Goose that got out of control.

The object was to kick a soccer ball in a circle while chasing an opponent who also was kicking a soccer ball. As the balls got away from the elementary-age girls who were controlling them, the girls ended up far from the circle, running in every direction.

The game, which is supposed to foster basic soccer dribbling skills, was only part of the Girls Get Going Sports Clinic, held Saturday morning at IM Sports-West. Local girls in third through eighth grades were invited to participate in the clinic, hosted by kinesiology students.

The women are members of Phi Epsilon Kappa, the professional fraternity for kinesiology students. Girls participated in 30-minute soccer, basketball, softball, volleyball and self-defense workshops.

"One particular sport isn't right for everyone," said Sally Belloli, assistant director of the sports facility.

The clinic was Belloli's brainchild, conceived after the initial idea of working with MSU student-parents. That expanded to include Girl Scouts, and again to include the MSU community. Saturday's clinic was the first.

"I was very pleased for the first time," Belloli said. "When I asked the girls if they'd come back, they all said yes."

In addition to members of the fraternity, members of the MSU women's basketball team were on hand to teach the girls.

"I thought it was really interesting to get to meet real athletes," 10-year-old Kaitlin McLain said.

The Jackson fifth-grader plays basketball and softball at school, and said she likes basketball the most.

"I probably enjoy the most just being able to have fun," McLain said. "It helps you get away from the noise and your worries."

Having fun was something kinesiology senior Tara Hengesbach remembers most about playing softball as a child, and said she enjoyed "being outside and playing with my friends."

Hengesbach, who coaches softball for local community teams, has been playing since she was 5 years old. She helped the girls with throwing and catching skills, showing them how to correctly use a mitt by emphasizing its "long fingers" that are good for scooping the ball into the glove. They also learned batting and base-running techniques.

"It's so rewarding to work with children," Hengesbach said. "You can even see children grow, even in this short time we work with them.

"You can see the confidence grow."

Kinesiology senior Katie Wood taught basic soccer drills to the students. An aspiring gym teacher, Wood, also the president of Phi Epsilon Kappa, said she enjoyed watching the girls participate.

"Their enthusiasm is what keeps us enthused to keep on teaching," Wood said. "It's fun to see the kids sweating but keep on playing, like, 'We're tired,' but keep on playing."

Belloli said she thinks it is important for girls to become involved in sports, not only for positive health but also because the girls were able to witness role models in their coaches - the MSU female athletes.

"It's important for them to have some options," Belloli said, "and to know that there are a lot of things they can do."