The boys have been practicing and the games are about to begin!  During the last three weeks football practice has begun in earnest at 6 Boston public middle schools.  Tired and sore – but getting fitter each day, our teams are back at it on the field and in school.  We had over 264 boys try out and 29 returning players (we had a 4 team league last year).  Our returning schools include: the Gavin (South Boston); Edwards (Charlestown); Irving (Roslindale), and the Rogers (Hyde Park).  Our two new teams (thanks to our funders!) include Orchard Gardens (Roxbury) and the McCormack (N. Dorchester).

To give you an idea of the resources at these schools here are the percentages of kids available for free school lunch (indication of poverty level):

Edwards 86%                    Gavin 78%                          Irving 77%

McCormack 78%              Orchard Gardens 89%        Rogers 67%

So beyond getting these kids outside having fun, making friends and learning all the lessons of sports, your donation is helping enrich the schools by providing the opportunity for athletics that is far beyond the reach of these students outside of school.

Please join us for a game!

Getting 120 new players on the field – so good, so good, so good!

BOSTON, March 25, 2010 – Today Boston’s Play Ball! Foundation announces the launch of the first middle school baseball league in the City of Boston. The new league, funded by PlayBall!, will include over 120 students from the following schools: Dearborn (Roxbury), Edwards (Charlestown), Frederick (Dorchester), Gavin (South Boston), Irving (Roslindale), and a combined team from Jackson-Mann (Allston) and Lyon (Brighton) schools. The season will run from April to June and the coaches are being trained by the Positive Coaching Alliance and Institute for Sport Coaching.

Baseball is the second middle school league funded by PlayBall! Last fall, over 180 boys played football in the first new middle school sport offering since 1993. Football was so successful that it is being expanded this fall and new sports for girls are planned for the 2010/11 school year. As with the PlayBall! Football league, the baseball program is the result of a collaboration with BPS principals, administration and the athletic department.

“We put 400 feet on the field this school year – an accomplishment we did not do alone,” said Mike Harney, founder and president of PlayBall! “I applaud the entire PlayBall! Nation including our Board of Directors, our supporters and everyone who attended an event and donated time and energy to make the PlayBall! leagues a reality.”

“We are extremely grateful for the opportunities partners like PlayBall! provide to our students,” said Boston Public Schools Superintendent Carol R. Johnson. “We know that when students are engaged in a meaningful way outside of the classroom they are more likely to be engaged while in class. We believe strongly that these types of activities help our students create goals and realize the power of teamwork, and those are lessons they can use for a lifetime.”

“We are thrilled and extremely appreciative to the PlayBall! Foundation for funding the baseball league,” said Lex Mathews, principal at the Gavin school. “As you can imagine, baseball is very popular with our students and getting the opportunity to play on a team is out of reach for many. Having it offered at school improves school spirit, provides a great incentive to perform at school and offers our students an after school program of pure fun. Team sports like baseball are also critical for teaching cooperation, hard work, and perseverance.”

About The Play Ball! Foundation

The Play Ball! Foundation was founded to provide Boston middle school students with a chance to play, build friendships and character through the lessons of sports – teamwork, communication and discipline. Our mission is to give Boston’s inner city children opportunities to engage in athletic activities that will enhance their physical, social and emotional development. With a single goal of Getting More Feet on the Field we work directly with Boston middle schools to understand the needs that our fundraising can address in an easy and timely manner. Play Ball! is growing with the help of our volunteers — young professionals interested in providing their time and resources and with the community of school administrators, coaches, parents and students. You can become involved in Play Ball! by visiting our website at: http://playballfoundation.org.

Follow link to read more: Boston Globe