DALLAS, January 28, 2019 — Getting 60 minutes of physical activity a day through moderate-to-vigorous and bone strengthening exercise is what is recommended for school-aged kids according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans[1].
The guidelines recommend physical activities such as playing games that require catching and throwing, active games involving running and chasing and sports that involve jumping or rapid change in direction. These exercises have been proven to help to strengthen bones and provide cardiovascular benefits such as improved cognitive function, cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness, bone health. Kids who are regularly active also have a better chance of living healthy as adults.
Kids participating in the NFL PLAY 60 Kids Day LIVE Virtual Field Trip (VFT) live from Atlanta on Wednesday, January 30, 2019 at 12 p.m. ET/ 11 a.m. CT will participate in these types of activities in their own classroom thanks to the free, virtual instruction live-streamed in classrooms across the country.
The American Heart Association, the leading voluntary health organization devoted to a world of longer, healthier lives, and the National Football League in collaboration with Discovery Education, the leading provider of digital curriculum resources, digital content and professional development for K-12 classrooms, are working together to make physical activity fun and inspire healthy lifestyles.
Atlanta Falcons players Matt Bryant and Matt Bosher will teach students the cardio and strength exercises NFL players use to stay physically fit. The session will also feature a Q&A, a physical activity session designed for a classroom setting and a behind-the-scenes look at the Atlanta Falcons practice facility and stadium, which is home to Super Bowl LIII. The event will be co-hosted by the NFL Network’s Kay Adams and American Heart Association volunteer, Fred Blankenship of Atlanta’s WSB Channel 2.
The program teaches the importance of healthy living and breaks down the top 10 moves plays to PLAY 60. Hollywood Records recording artist, JD McCrary, the voice of Young Simba in the upcoming live action remake of The Lion King, will lead students in fun and engaging physical activity at the NFL PLAY 60 Kids Day Live.
“Prevention in the form of lifelong healthy eating and regular physical activity is key to improving cardiovascular health and reducing heart disease and its risk factors. Engaging children in PLAY 60 is a strategy to make movement fun,” says Eduardo Sanchez, M.D., MPH, the American Heart Association's chief medical officer for prevention. “Active kids learn better. When kids are active, they focus more, think more clearly, react to stress more calmly, and perform and behave better in class. Teaching kids to be physically active now will help build healthy kids and future generations of adults with good health.”
“The NFL’s longstanding partnership with the American Heart Association on PLAY 60 programs has helped to raise awareness around childhood obesity and physical inactivity and promote the benefits of exercise and healthy nutrition. The NFL PLAY 60 Kids Day live virtual field trip builds on that commitment through an innovative and fun experience for students across the country, " said NFL Senior Vice President of Social Responsibility, Anna Isaacson. “We are excited to continue building healthier generations of youth through innovative PLAY 60 programming in partnership with our 32 teams, players and partner organizations.”
NFL PLAY 60 Kids Day gives more than 2,000 local youth the opportunity to spend time with NFL players, mascots and cheerleaders at the 2019 Super Bowl Experience while virtually connecting with thousands of student peers nationwide.
“Discovery Education is proud to team up with the American Heart Association and the National Football League during the week of Super Bowl LIII to engage students in healthy lifestyles in schools and communities nationwide,” said Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of Discovery Education Lori McFarling. “The NFL ‘PLAY 60 Kids Day’ live Virtual Field Trip experience is fitness-focused and digitally immersive. We’re excited to inspire educators and motivate students to go the extra mile to learn more about physical activity and nutrition.”
The NFL and the American Heart Association have teamed up since 2006 to inspire kids through a fun and engaging way to get physically active each day. Research has shown that physical activity leads to increased academic performance, and that in-classroom physical activity breaks improve cognitive skills and classroom behavior[2].
In addition to the Virtual Field Trip, the free PLAY 60 app has been redesigned this year. The PLAY 60 app allows users to control personalized avatars onscreen with their own physical movement. The app is available for iOS and Android devices.
To learn more about this program and to access the free resources, visit www.aha-nflPLAY60Challenge.org.
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About American Heart Association:
The American Heart Association is a leading force for a world of longer, healthier lives. With nearly a century of lifesaving work, the Dallas-based association is dedicated to ensuring equitable health for all. We are a trustworthy source empowering people to improve their heart health, brain health and well-being. We collaborate with numerous organizations and millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, advocate for stronger public health policies and share lifesaving resources and information. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, Twitter or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.
About NFL PLAY 60:
In 2007, the NFL launched NFL PLAY 60, a national youth health and fitness initiative focused on increasing the wellness of young fans by encouraging them to be physically active for at least 60 minutes a day. The NFL has partnered with leading organizations to increase physical activity among youth and has committed more than $350 million to youth health and fitness through PLAY 60 programming, grants, and media time for public service announcements. Over the past decade, with the help of NFL teams, players and partner organizations, PLAY 60 programming has been implemented into more than 73,000 schools, and over 250 NFL Youth Fitness Zones have been constructed nationwide, providing millions of kids with access and resources to play. Fans are encouraged to join the PLAY 60 movement and show how they get active for 60 minutes a day using the hashtag #PLAY60 and tagging @NFLPLAY60 on Twitter for a chance to be featured on NFL.com/PLAY60. For more information, please visit http://www.nfl.com/play60.
About Discovery Education:
As the global leader in standards-based digital curriculum resources, digital content, and professional development for K-12 classrooms worldwide, Discovery Education is transforming teaching and learning with award-winning digital textbooks, multimedia content and the largest professional learning community of its kind. Serving more than 5 million educators and 51 million students, Discovery Education’s services are available in approximately half of U.S. classrooms and primary schools in the UK, and more than 90 countries around the globe. Inspired by the global media company Discovery, Inc., Discovery Education partners with districts, states, and like-minded organizations to captivate students, empower teachers, and transform classrooms with customized solutions that increase academic achievement. Explore the future of education at DiscoveryEducation.com.
For Media Inquiries: 214-706-1173
Linzy Cotaya: 504-473-6494; Linzy.Cotaya@heart.org
For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)
Discovery Education:
Charmion N. Kinder, Charmion_Kinder@discovery.com
NFL:
Dana Gordon
[1] Department of Health and Human Services, Physical Activity Guidelines, page 14. Available for download here: https://health.gov/paguidelines/default.aspx
