NPR’s Only a Game (Saturday, May 18, 2013)
“Budgets and Box Scores: Funding Sports in Boston Public Schools” The NPR story is the grand finale of a week-long series by Doug Tribou and Karen Given of 90.9 WBUR, Boston’s NPR News Station. Here’s the week’s stories:
 

Boston School Sports ‘Turning The Tide,’ Superintendent Says (May 17, 2013)
Being part of the solution, Play Ball! athletes arrive in high school ready to play.

Grades-To-Play Motivation Propels Some Boston Student-Athletes  (May 16, 2013)
(May 16, 2013)  Making the grade in the classroom and on the field builds fan base with parents. 

Charities Try To Keep Boston Student-Athletes In The Academic ‘Zone’ Too (May 15, 2013)
Success on the field and in the classroom. Play Ball! football team at the Rogers Middle School studies and plays together.

The 2 Private Organizations That Have Changed Boston Public Schools (May 14, 2013)  Today’s story highlights Play Ball!s successful funding and partnership model for expanding Boston Public middle school sports programs.

How Boston Public School Sports Have Improved in 4 Years (May 13, 2013)
 Features our teamwork with the Boston Public Schools to expand youth sport opportunities for middle school students.
                                                                            

Our Story

In Fall of 2009, Boston Public Schools (BPS) offered basketball and track to middle school students.  That September, Play Ball! stepped in and provided funding for the first middle school football league in the City of Boston. Today Play Ball! has 40 teams offering 4 different sports to middle school students.  The Play Ball! student athletes are having having fun, building friendships and character through the lessons of sports – teamwork, communication and discipline. 

Inspired by our student athletes and their interests, Play Ball! now funds baseball, double dutch, girls volleyball and football.

The Play Ball! leagues provide access to competitive sports for over 1000 middle school students.  Many have never played an organized sport before and more than 80% live below the poverty line.  

Help us get more feet on the field and more sneakers in the gym.  Become part of Boston’s newest sports tradition.  Join the Play Ball! team and give today.  It’s your ticket for the best teams in town!

The gym is silent as judges count jumps per minute in the first event — the Speed trial. A team from the Mildred Ave school lights it up with 240 jumps in a two minute period. Next up is the Compulsory competition featuring basic moves such as jumping in a complete circle on one foot, then the other, then crossing feet and getting knees high.  Tricks must be executed with, first, one girl in the ropes and then two.  Both areas of competition require, not only the total concentration of both rope turners and jumpers, but also sheer athleticism.  Parents, spectators and teams erupt in applause as each group finishes!

The tournament ends with the Freestyle competition where push-ups, cartwheels and other advanced tricks are performed by two girls in the ropes performing at the same time.  It’s an awesome showcase for our advanced jumpers and similar to what you’d catch on ESPN during national and international competitions – in fact, some of the girls from our league are headed South for the National Tournament later this year!

BASEBALL AND VOLLEYBALL SEASON COMING SOON

Will the Fredericks’ team continue to dominate girl’s volleyball?  Will the Edwards face off with the Curley again? Only time will tell.  These two programs bring students who have never played an organized sport onto the field and into the gym.  The competition is intense and fun to watch.  All across the city, teams are getting ready for what is sure to be our most exciting season yet!

At precisely 1:00 pm on December 8th 700 runners, wearing only red swim suits, will burst out of the Lir Tavern and Whiskey’s onto Boylston Street for the 12th annual holiday SSRun. Inspired by Santa’s generous nature and love of cold weather, these happy, hardy men and women will be running to raise money for the Play Ball! Foundation.

This mad dash down Bolyston St. and up Newbury never fails to surprise and delight holiday shoppers. The event’s great traditions include creative individual and team costumes and a fierce fundraising competition.

Also joining in on the fun is Ted, Boston’s own hard-partying teddy bear and star of the #1 original R-rated comedy of all time Ted, available on December 11, 2012 on Blu-ray™ Combo Pack, DVD and On Demand from Universal Studios Home Entertainment. This year the top-ten fundraisers will receive an Apple iPad, courtesy of Universal Studios Home Entertainment, the run’s Platinum-level sponsor.

“This year is shaping up to be another blockbuster,” said Michael Harney, president and founder of Play Ball! “Lots of fun, great sponsors and our biggest field of runners ever.”

We gratefully thank all of our generous sponsors including Universal Studios Home Entertainment, RadioBDC, Bronze: Southern Comfort, City Sports, GM, Social Boston Sports, Tribal Sun and the Fanueil Hall Marketplace.

More about our celebrity guest star!
“Family Guy” creator Seth MacFarlane delivers his boundary-pushing humor to the outrageous comedy blockbuster that critics are calling “hysterically funny!” (Peter Travers, Rolling Stone). John Bennett (Mark Wahlberg) is a grown man whose cherished teddy bear was brought to life as the result of a childhood wish…and hasn’t left his side since. Can John’s relationship with longtime girlfriend, Lori (Mila Kunis), move forward with his lovably profane buddy on his couch? Find out more at www.tedisreal.com.

Our Gold Sponsor, RadioBDC will be at Lir & Whiskey’s as the Official Radio Sponsor of the 2012 SSRun. RadioBDC is Boston’s only live hosted, streaming alternative station featuring music, news, contests, and the best breaking bands in the alternative form.

Runners will be wearing RadioBDC Blue Santa hat on race day for a chance to win RadioBDC Swag and eats at the festivities.  We’ll have hats for supporters for their chance to win as well! Listen to RadioBDC by visiting www.boston.com/radio.

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