Physical activity boosting resources support classroom performance

DALLAS, September 8, 2023 — This back to school season the American Heart Association and the National Football League (NFL), in collaboration with its 32 NFL clubs, are offering students exciting ways to move more with NFL PLAY 60™. Physical activity is important as students return to the classroom. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, active kids learn better, focus more, think more clearly, react to stress more calmly, and perform and behave better in the classroom[1].

The American Heart Association, devoted to a world of healthier lives for all, recommends that kids get a minimum of 60 minutes of vigorous physical activity each day. Developing healthy habits and reducing sedentary behaviors in kids is key to immediate and long-term health benefits that can play a role in the classroom experience.

“Getting active for 60 minutes a day is critical as kids who are regularly active have a better chance of a healthy adulthood,” says Nancy Brown, chief executive officer of the American Heart Association. “For more than 15 years, the American Heart Association and the NFL have found innovative ways to bring fun and easy to access resources to classrooms, afterschool programs and homes to meet kids where they are in support of mental and physical wellness.”

Rooted in that science, NFL PLAY 60 helps children to develop healthy physical and mental health habits for a better chance of healthy adulthood. This year’s in-school activation will provide students opportunities to get physically active throughout the 2023-2024 NFL season from Kickoff to the 2024 NFL Draft.

One way students can get active with NFL PLAY 60 is through a series of NFL PLAY 60 Fitness Break broadcasts. The first of three broadcasts will air on Thursday, Sept. 21 at 1 p.m. ET/ 12 p.m. CT/ 10 a.m. PT. This 15-minute, synchronous back-to-school, back-to-football broadcast features the New Orleans Saints, Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, Kansas City Chiefs and Detroit Lions. The broadcast helps students to understand the connection between physical activity and classroom performance along with opportunities to move with exercise segments. Two additional Fitness Break broadcasts will be held later in the school year. A Super Bowl LVIII broadcast will be held on Feb. 8 and an NFL Draft broadcast on April 25. Advanced registration for all three broadcasts is required.

“NFL PLAY 60 gives students across the country an opportunity to participate in daily physical activity in school and at home,” says Anna Isaacson, Senior Vice President of Social Responsibility. “Our continued partnership with the American Heart Association and expansion of video resources is an important tool in promoting a healthy lifestyle among our young fans. With participation from players and teams, we are looking forward to continuing our commitment throughout the 2023-2024 season.”

The second opportunity for students to get active is through a new weekly series of NFL PLAY 60 Movement Moments, which will launch in October and run through December. The Movement Moments feature NFL teams playing each week throughout the season in head-to-head exercise videos from the NFL PLAY 60 Exercise Library, on-demand exercises from the 32 NFL teams. Classrooms will be asked to vote on their favorite team or video at the end of each week, and the three classrooms with the most votes at the end of the Movement Moment series will be eligible for a $1,000 grant to use for physical activity equipment. One national winning school, receiving an additional $1,000 grant, will be named in the Super Bowl Fitness Break broadcast. Registration for the Movement Moment weekly matchup is available on www.heart.org/nflplay60.

Lastly the NFL PLAY 60 app, free and available for iOS and Android devices, allows users to select their favorite team and control personalized avatars onscreen with their own physical movement. Users can create custom workouts and earn special PLAY points and unlock cool NFL gear for on-screen PLAY 60 avatars. Launching again, this is the NFL PLAY 60 Fitness Tracking Competition which will run from Jan. 22 to Feb. 9. Using the Group Quickplay feature in the app, students will get active together adding to their classroom’s total activity minutes. At the end of the three-week competition, the classroom with the most activity minutes in each of the 32 NFL markets will receive a $1,000 grant with an additional $1,000 grant being awarded to the top classroom overall.

For more information on NFL PLAY 60, visit heart.org/NFLPLAY60.

Additional resources:

• Multimedia available on the right column of the release link.
• Spanish news release to be added as available.

###

About the American Heart Association 

The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. We are dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities. Through collaboration with numerous organizations, and powered by millions of volunteers, we fund innovative research, advocate for the public’s health and share lifesaving resources. The Dallas-based organization has been a leading source of health information for nearly a century. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, X, or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1

About NFL PLAY 60

NFL PLAY 60 is the League’s national youth health and wellness platform. In its 17th season, the initiative empowers millions of youth to get physically active for at least 60 minutes a day and provides support for programs and resources so that kids everywhere can lead a healthy lifestyle. Alongside the NFL’s 32 NFL clubs and partners, the PLAY 60 movement will continue to serve and motivate the next generation of youth to get active and PLAY 60. For more information, visit NFL.com/PLAY60.

For Media Inquiries:

American Heart Association

Linzy Cotaya: 504-872-3446; linzy.cotaya@heart.org

For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)

heart.org and stroke.org

NFL

 A’Maiya Allen, NFL

 AMaiya.Allen@nfl.com