NFL, USA Football, GENYOUth And Fuel Up To Play 60 Expand Commitment To Youth Health & Wellness

NEW YORK, April 27, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The NFL, USA Football, GENYOUth and Fuel Up to Play 60 announced today the expansion of the Fuel Up to Play 60 NFL FLAG Essentials program, the partners' commitment to increase physical activity of youth, with the distribution of NFL FLAG Essentials Kits to 4,000 schools nationwide, reaching 1.5 million new students and doubling the number of resources provided in the first two years of the program. With this commitment, the partners will have supplied approximately 8,500 schools nationwide, including in all 32 NFL club markets, with much-needed resources for their physical education programs since 2014, resulting in three million students getting active through NFL FLAG. The expansion was made possible by a $1.5 million commitment from the NFL Foundation.

"This partnership continues to positively impact the health and wellness of youth nationwide by helping kids be physically active, while also providing many of them with their first experience playing football," said NFL Commissioner ROGER GOODELL. "We are excited to offer more kids the opportunity to get involved in the sport and play 60 each day."

While research shows that active kids do better, both physically and academically, an astounding number of kids (2 out of 3), aren't moving enough¹. In 2014, the NFL and GENYOUth developed a turn-key approach to the crisis in physical inactivity by supporting America's PE teachers with resources to help students build a foundation for healthy, lifelong physical activity through football. NFL FLAG Essentials Kits, which include footballs, flag belts, posters and a PE curriculum designed by SHAPE America for elementary and middle school students, allow for students to get active and learn the basics of football in a fun environment.

"The flag program has been successful in part because it's dynamic, strategic, challenging, safe, and fun and it teaches kids of all different abilities teamwork, resiliency, and respect," ALEXIS GLICK, CEO of GENYOUth.  "We are thrilled to partner with the NFL to bring this solution to educators and students and are enthusiastic about the results we're seeing, especially in the number of girls who are feeling empowered to get involved and get out and play."

The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommends that activity time for children and adolescents include moderate to vigorous aerobic activity, muscle strengthening, and bone-stretching exercises, and that kids should be encouraged to participate in age-appropriate, enjoyable, and diverse activities. NFL FLAG Essentials Kits help achieve that goal, enabling kids to learn new skills and get active through football.²

In addition to supplying NFL FLAG Essentials Kits, the partners will provide in-person NFL FLAG trainings, using a curriculum developed by USA Football and SHAPE America, for PE teachers in 18 NFL club markets this fall, including: Baltimore, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Denver, Detroit, Green Bay, Houston, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Nashville, New Orleans, New York, Oakland, Philadelphia, San Diego, Tampa Bay, and Washington, D.C. The dedicated trainings will help educators build flag football into their PE programs and increase physical activity among their students. To date, more than 1,500 PE teachers have received in-person NFL FLAG trainings.

Schools can apply for the NFL FLAG Essentials Kits starting today, via the Fuel Up to Play 60 website:  www.FuelUpToPlay60.com. Kits will be provided at the beginning of the 2016-17 school year while supplies last. To learn more about NFL FLAG trainings, go to www.FuelUpToPlay60.com and to find or start an NFL FLAG league in your community, visit the NFL's FLAG website: www.NFLFLAG.com.

About The NFL Foundation
The National Football League Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of those touched by the game of football – from players at all levels to communities across the country. The NFL Foundation represents the 32 NFL clubs and supports the health, safety and wellness of athletes, youth football, and the communities that support our game. For more information on The NFL Foundation, visit: www.NFLFoundation.org.

About NFL FLAG powered by USA Football
NFL FLAG powered by USA Football (www.nflflag.com/) provides opportunities for children ages 5-17 to enjoy America's favorite sport. With more than 250,000 participants nationwide, players benefit by being physically active through non-contact, continuous action while learning the fundamentals of football, lessons in teamwork and sportsmanship. NFL FLAG is a program of PLAY 60, the NFL's campaign to encourage kids to be active for 60 minutes a day in order to help reverse the trend of childhood obesity.

About Fuel Up to Play 60
Fuel Up to Play 60 is an in-school nutrition and physical activity program launched by National Football League (NFL) and National Dairy Council (NDC), which was founded by America's dairy farmers, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Fuel Up to Play 60 is designed to engage and empower youth to take action for their own health by implementing long-term, positive changes for themselves and their schools. The program additionally encourages youth to consume nutrient-rich foods (low-fat and fat-free dairy, fruits, vegetables and whole grains) and achieve at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day. As a result of the program, last year 14 million students made better food choices and are getting more physically active during the school day. Fuel Up to Play 60 is further supported by several health and nutrition organizations: Action for Healthy Kids, American Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy of Pediatrics, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Association/Foundation, National Hispanic Medical Association, National Medical Association and School Nutrition Association. Visit FuelUpToPlay60.com to learn more.

About GENYOUth Foundation
GENYOUth empowers students to create a healthier future for themselves and their peers by convening a network of private and public partners to raise funds for youth wellness initiatives that bolster healthy, high-achieving students,

schools and communities nationwide. We believe that all students are change-agents, who deserve the opportunity to identify and lead innovative solutions that positively impact nutrition, physical activity, and student success. For more information about GENYOUth, visit: www.genyouthfoundation.org.

About USA Football
Indianapolis-based USA Football (www.usafootball.com) is the sport's national governing body, leading the game's development for youth, high school and other amateur players. The independent nonprofit partners with leaders in medicine, child advocacy and sport to establish important standards rooted in education. USA Football trains more high school and youth football coaches combined than any organization in the U.S., advancing coaching education and player skill development for safer play and positive experiences through athletics. Follow USA Football at www.facebook.com/usafootball or on Twitter  @USAFootball.

About SHAPE America
SHAPE America - Society of Health and Physical Educators is committed to ensuring all children have the opportunity to lead healthy, physically active lives. As the nation's largest membership organization of health and physical education professionals, SHAPE America works with its 50 state affiliates and national partners to support initiatives such as the Presidential Youth Fitness Program, Let's Move! Active Schools and the Jump Rope for Heart/Hoops for Heart programs.

Since its founding in 1885, the organization has defined excellence in physical education, and our resources provide the leadership, professional development and advocacy that support health and physical educators at every level - from preschool to university graduate programs. For more information, visit  www.shapeamerica.org.

¹ National Association for Sport and Physical Education. The Fitness Equation: Physical Activity + Balanced Diet = Fit Kids. Reston, VA: National Association for Sport and Physical Education, 1999.

² Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2008.

SOURCE GENYOUth