THE NFL AND C.H.A.M.P.S. PROMOTE PHYSICAL FITNESS THROUGH "LETS PLAY 60"

New York, NY – Almost 1,000 New York City public school students took to the field in Central Park to get fitness tips from some of the top National Football League players and 2008 NFL draft choices.  Middle school students from across the city came to Central Park during spring break to learn new skills and have fun working with some of the country’s top athletes.

The NFL Draft brought members of the Super Bowl Champion New York Giants, as well as the New York Jets and Philadelphia Eagles to the city.  Giants’ players Osi Umenyiora, Kevin Boothe, David Diehl, Grey Ruegamer and Anthony Wright focused on physical fitness, as the visiting players participated in numerous drills with the coed student crowd.

The players discussed the importance of taking care of your body, as well as their enjoyment of physical activity. Players also shared what other activities they enjoy when they are not on the football field.  The list varied from traditional sports like basketball and baseball to non-traditional sports like golf and badminton.

The NYC Department of Education’s middle school C.H.A.M.P.S. program promotes health-related fitness and sports skills that can be maintained long after school days are over. Through C.H.A.M.P.S. students are empowered to become Cooperative, Healthy, Active, Motivated, Positive, Students—for life. Regardless of athletic ability, student participants in C.H.A.M.P.S. are provided with opportunities to engage in a wide variety of physical activities before or after school, including traditional sports, non-traditional sports, and fitness activities.

The almost 1,000 C.H.A.M.P.S. programs for students, including those with disabilities, involve: archery, badminton, baseball, basketball, cheerleading, crew, cricket, cycling, dance, double dutch, fencing, fitness clubs, flag football, flag rugby, floor hockey, golf, gymnastics, handball, lacrosse, martial arts, soccer, softball, swimming, table tennis, team handball, tennis, track & Field, volleyball, wrestling and yoga.

For C.H.A.M.P.S. information go to http://schools.nyc.gov/Academics/ FitnessandHealth/CHAMPS/default.htm.