The Baltimore Ravens and Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association kicked off their promotion of the in-school PLAY 60 Challenge on Monday as part of the national NFL PLAY 60 campaign that is designed to encourage kids to be active for at least 60 minutes a day in order to help reverse the trend of childhood obesity.
The first assembly was held at Collington Square Elementary/Middle School in Baltimore. The Ravens are challenging local students to be physically active for at least 60 minutes every day through an incentive-based system. Ravens wide receiver Steve Smith Sr. and linebacker Daryl Smith were at the school to participate in activities such as four square and other playground games. Ravens cheerleaders and mascot Poe were also on hand to encourage the kids.
The kids got the opportunity to ask the players questions at an assembly before they went outside and played for 60 minutes. Daryl Smith spoke about the importance of having a balanced diet. “I drink a lot of milk and water to keep my body nourished. It’s important to eat fruit and vegetables, the more healthy food and cut out the fatty foods that aren’t good for you.”
Steve Smith Sr. brought the same intensity that he has on the football field to the playground. He took a moment to tie his sneakers tightly before playing a chasing game. It seemed like he had as much, if not more fun than the kids. “I have fun getting out there be a kid out there in their world. We played four square, wall ball, all that stuff. That’s fun. It’s something that both parties are going to remember.” Smith Sr. said.
It is important that the NFL does this Play 60 program because physical education is being taken out of schools across the country. Smith offered a pretty strong argument for keeping kid’s active and keeping physical education in schools. “Physical education is great because you will have things in gym that require problem solving.” Smith continued; “Also, you have to be able to get that nervous energy out so that they can focus in the classroom. You can’t just have eight hours of class room and no physical activity, 1. For their health and 2. mentally. They have to get that frustration out instead of sitting in the classroom for so long. You want to get out and spread your wings so to speak.”
Sports are looked at as a game but it is something that is an outlet and helps to develop discipline and other personality traits that will transfer over to life. That’s another point that Smith made when I spoke to him.
“Sports are used as a tool. Without the classroom, you can’t play sports. Have to have the grades. You will always physically and mentally be challenged in sports because you have an opponent. Society is so focused on how everyone is a winner. Sometimes, it has to be revealed that you didn’t win that day. When you don’t win, how are you going to handle it, what are you going to do, where are you going to go? They need to experience those things so that they can be able to handle it and know how to handle it when they become older. “
Melvin Holmes Jr. is the principal at Collington elementary. He was very appreciative of the Ravens and their players that came out to help encourage the kids to be active. He is actually a Ravens fan so it was a great occasion for him. Holmes said that the school partnered with a group called Playworks which helps out during recess. They make sure that recess is organized and offer gym like classes that the kids take part in for 45 minutes a day. Playworks reached out to the Ravens and got them to come to the school. The school has started to change lunches to include less junk and sugar filled foods.
In-classroom tracking materials and individual student guides were distributed for the kids to record their physical activity throughout the duration of the four-week program. The tracking materials include specified benchmarks. Students will be awarded prizes such as water bottles, footballs and other Ravens items by reaching the benchmarks. The program will cover a range of schools in the Baltimore area. One lucky student from a selected school will get the chance to attend the Ravens vs Chargers game on November 30th and take part in a pre-game ceremony. Top performers from participating schools will attend a prize luncheon in the spring of 2015. Please be sure to encourage any kids that you know to go out and play for 60 minutes every day, it’s good for them!
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