This summer, 300 low-income youths from the region will be given a racket, a ball and a glimpse of college education at UC Davis, thanks to a $47,000 matching grant from the National Collegiate Athletic Association. UC Davis will join 174 other colleges around the country in providing sports instruction and college-related experiences to students ages 10-16. The National Youth Sports Program, brought to campus by Al Beaird of the campus sports camps program, requires that students receive the five-week summer school for free. At least 90 percent of the participants must meet federal poverty standards. "Every year I get calls from lots of kids and single moms who can't afford to come to our campus programs," Beaird says. He and colleagues will be working with the campus Early Academic Outreach Program, community service organizations and schools to identify the student participants. They will be visiting both the schools and the business community where the students are expected to be chosen: Broderick, West Sacramento, Vacaville, Dixon, Davis, Winters, Woodland and Esparto. Campus units will be donating facilities, transportation, services, supplies and assistance.