Whether it's walking the dog, taking a swim or throwing the football in gym class, every minute of activity counts in the Play 60 Challenge. The NFL implemented Play 60 with the goal of getting kids active for one hour daily. With the Play 60 Challenge, the concept is taken to another level – and there are prizes to prove it.
The Baltimore Ravens banked some overtime play minutes on Tuesday while visiting three local middle schools to promote the Play 60 Challenge. Wide receiver **Mark Clayton**, tight end **Davon Drew**, running back **Ray Rice**, wide receiver **Kelley Washington** and cornerback **Lardarius Webb** joined Poe and Ravens cheerleaders to kickoff the challenge for over 700 sixth graders.
At Afya Charter School, the offensive duo of WR Mark Clayton and TE Davon Drew shared their favorite activities from when they were younger; backyard football for Clayton and basketball for Drew. Ray Rice told the students in Cockeysville that 60 minutes should be just the minimum for physical activity every day. Duck-duck-goose emerged as one of WR Kelley Washington's childhood pastimes at Mayfield Woods. While the game might not have been one of CB Lardarius Webb's favorites, he did stress the importance of academics coupled with physical activity to a captive audience of sixth graders.
A few lucky students displayed their physical prowess joining player-led relay teams. The Ravens, with the help of cheerleaders and Poe, demonstrated that jumping jacks and high knees can be a fun way to increase your heart rate and clock minutes of play.
The Ravens players provided a jumpstart for the program and their excitement transferred to the students who were eager to begin this exciting challenge. Each sixth grader was given a journal to record their physical activity. Using a weekly log to track the time they dedicate to physical fitness, students can easily monitor their efforts and turn them in for prizes like yoga mats, water bottles and footballs.
One lucky student from each school will receive the grand prize, tickets to see the Ravens take on the Steelers. As if that wasn't enough, the winning students will all be invited on the field, and they will sport special Play 60 jerseys – talk about an incentive! Select sixth graders from each school that successfully complete the program will be invited to lunch with the Ravens at the ESPN Zone as a celebration of their success. Most importantly, everyone wins when adolescents learn healthy habits and incorporate them into their daily life.
