PLAY 60
In October 2007, the NFL launched NFL
PLAY 60, a national youth health and fitness
campaign focused on increasing the wellness
of young fans by encouraging them to be
active for at least 60 minutes a day.
Designed to tackle childhood obesity, NFL PLAY
60 brings together the NFL’s long-standing
commitment to health and fitness with an
impressive roster of partner organizations.
In addition to national outreach and online
programs, NFL PLAY 60 is implemented at
the grassroots level through NFL’s in-school,
after-school and team-based programs. The
NFL PLAY 60 initiative is prominent during
the NFL’s key calendar events, including
Super Bowl, Pro Bowl, Draft, Kickoff and
Thanksgiving and is supported by many NFL
players and coaches year around. To date, the
NFL has dedicated over $200 million to youth
health and wellness through NFL PLAY 60.
The Jaguars Foundation, THE PLAYERS CENTER
for Child Health at Wolfson Children’s Hospital
and the American Heart Association First
Coast are again partnering with area public
schools to offer the Play 60 Challenge program
in the fall semester of the 2016 school year
to help 6th grade students in school with
better physical fitness, good nutrition, and
health awareness. This program is offered
to 50 public schools throughout Duval, Clay,
Baker, Nassau, St. Johns, Glynn and Camden
counties.
Sixth grade is known to be a challenging
transition for many students as they
negotiate a new learning environment and
increased expectations for self-direction and
responsibility. National research has shown
that increased physical activity and healthy
eating habits contribute to students doing
better in school. The PLAY 60 Challenge
program targets these issues and encourages
the 6th grade students to set personal goals
and take responsibility for their actions.