Liberty Mutual Insurance Declares September "Sportsmanship Month"

BOSTON, Sept. 1, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Just in time for back-to-school and back-to-sports, Liberty Mutual Insurance announces September as "Sportsmanship Month" across the country. Throughout the month, Liberty Mutual, through their Play Positive program, will celebrate fair play and teamwork by encouraging coaches and parents to pledge their own commitment to sportsmanship and a positive youth sports environment. On the heels of its recent Sportsmanship Survey that showed sportsmanship is something many coaches and parents see on the decline among young athletes, Liberty Mutual is poised to use the month as a rallying cry to encourage positivity and respect in youth sports.

For the entire month of September, Liberty Mutual and its sports partners will spread the word about the importance of playing the game the right way, while also encouraging parents and coaches to make a commitment to sportsmanship by taking the Play Positive Pledge at PlayPositive.com/Pledge. Teams that take the pledge between Aug. 15 and Oct. 15, 2015 will be eligible for the chance to win one of ten $2,500 grants given to programs that demonstrate a commitment to honor and respect their sport, teammates, opponents and officials.

In addition to driving pledges online, Liberty Mutual will travel to sporting events across the country in September, educating parents, coaches and fans about how they can get involved with the Play Positive program and take the pledge in person. Liberty Mutual will have a presence at the U.S. Youth Soccer Starfire Labor Day Cup (Sept. 4-7, Tukwila, Wash.), the USA Wresting Senior World Championships (Sept. 7-12, Las Vegas, Nev.), and the USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game (Sept. 24, Buffalo, N.Y.). The brand will be teaming up with some of the sports' best current and former athletes at each event including 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup champion and three-time Olympic gold medalist Heather O'Reilly, Olympic gold medalist Dan Gable and Hockey Hall-of-Famer Brian Leetch to spread the message of responsibility, integrity and fair play in all sports.

"We believe youth sports play a vital role in the health and vibrancy of our communities, and the Play Positive program celebrates the important life lessons that coaches and parents can impart on children through sport," said Anthony Storm, executive vice president and Chief Marketing Officer, Liberty Mutual Insurance. "We are excited to team up with our partner organizations and some of their greatest positive role models, as we dedicate the month to supporting, promoting, and educating about the importance of sportsmanship in youth sports across the country."

"As an athlete and a parent, the lessons of teamwork, fair play and respect for your opponent have always been and continue to be important values for me," said former NHL All-Star and Hockey Hall-of-Famer Brian Leetch. "I'm looking forward to working with Liberty Mutual and their Play Positive program to discuss the importance of sportsmanship with today's young athletes and their parents and coaches."

The Play Positive program offers tools and resources to help athletes, parents, and coaches understand the importance of sportsmanship, have open and informative conversations about positivity and teamwork, and enact these values on the field and in their communities. To learn more about the program and take the pledge visit PlayPositive.com/Pledge.

About Play Positive

Liberty Mutual's Play Positive program is a community-based program providing resources, tools, tips and advice for volunteer youth sport coaches and sport parents. Powered by Positive Coaching Alliance, Play Positive offers parents and coaches constructive tips, expert advice and practical examples to help create a positive sports environment for children. Since 2007, the Play Positive Pledge program has reached more than 1 million parents and coaches and donated more than $750,000 to youth sports teams, organizations and schools for community participation in the online Play Positive curriculum. Liberty Mutual is proud to support youth sports organizations, including ASA Softball, US Youth Soccer, USA Hockey, USA Softball, USA Volleyball, USA Water Polo, and USA Wrestling. To access the Play Positive resources, visit www.PlayPositive.com.

About Liberty Mutual Insurance

Liberty Mutual Insurance helps people preserve and protect what they earn, build, own and cherish. Keeping this promise means we are there when our policyholders throughout the world need us most.

In business since 1912, and headquartered in Boston, Mass., today Liberty Mutual is a diversified insurer with operations in 30 countries and economies around the world. The company is the third largest property and casualty insurer in the U.S. based on 2013 direct premium written as reported by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. Liberty Mutual also is ranked 78th on the Fortune 100 list of largest corporations in the U.S. based on 2014 revenue. The company employs over 50,000 people in more than 900 offices throughout the world.

The fifth-largest auto and home insurer in the U.S., Liberty Mutual (libertymutual.com) sells full lines of coverage for automobile, homeowners, valuable possessions, personal liability, and individual life insurance. The company is an industry leader in affinity partnerships, offering car and home insurance to employees and members of more than 14,000 companies, credit unions, professional associations and alumni groups.

Liberty Mutual Insurance is the official property and casualty and life insurance partner of the U.S. Olympic Committee for the 2016 Olympic Games and 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The company also is the proud sponsor and partner of several national governing bodies, including ASA/USA Softball, USRowing, U.S. Soccer Federation, US Youth Soccer, USA Hockey, USA Volleyball, USA Water Polo and USA Wrestling.

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SOURCE Liberty Mutual Insurance

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