FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

National Association for Sport and Physical Education to Honor NFL Network for Helping to Keep Physical Education in Schools

RESTON, VA, March 15, 2010 – The National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) will honor NFL Network with the Ross Merrick National Recognition Award for its commitment to helping to keep physical education programs in America's schools at the national convention of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD) this week. This honor will be presented at the NASPE Hall of Fame Banquet on Friday, March 19, at the Marriott Downtown Hotel in Indianapolis, Indiana. Other honorees that evening include the National Physical Education Teachers of the Year for Elementary, Middle and High School, the National Physical Education Administrator of the Year as well as the National Athletic Director of the Year. The banquet is sponsored by Playworld Systems®, the leader in outdoor commercial playground equipment and the creator of ENERGI™ Total Body Fitness System.

    According to NASPE President Steve Jefferies of Central Washington University, "The Ross Merrick National Recognition Award is given to an organization that has done exceptional work in supporting physical activity, physical education, or sport as it relates to NASPE's mission and has supported NASPE as an organization."

    Past inductees of the National Recognition Award include the American Heart Association, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC's) Division of Adolescent and School Health (DASH), Cooper Institute, Hershey Foods Corporation, Michigan State University's Youth Sports Institute, National Federation of State High School Associations, Polar USA, President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, Project Adventure, Reebok International, and the United States Olympic Committee.

    As part of the NFL PLAY 60 youth health and fitness campaign, Keep Gym in School is NFL Network's comprehensive national program to boost physical education and fitness in America's middle schools. Now in its third year, NFL Network has provided nearly half a million dollars in physical education grants nationwide. Keep Gym in School has awarded grants to 19 schools and distributed lesson plans to 300 physical education teachers reaching 60,000 students. In addition to providing grants, Keep Gym in School has engaged more than 250 middle schools across the country in its custom In-School Fitness Program developed in conjunction with NASPE. The program assesses students' fitness levels, teaches kids that physical activity is important and fun, and rewards motivated students with a trip to the NFL Draft at the end of the school year.

    "The numbers are startling – childhood obesity rates have tripled since 1980.  NFL Network is honored to work with NASPE to reinforce the critical role quality physical education plays in making sure this next generation can look forward to long, healthy lives," said Scott Hanson, host of NFL Network and NFL RedZone.

NFL NETWORK

NFL Network airs seven days a week, 24 hours a day on a year-round basis and is the only television network fully dedicated to the NFL and the sport of football. For more information, log on to www.nfl.com/nflnetwork. NFL.com is the exclusive Internet home of NFL Network.

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Contact:
Paula Kun
pkun@aahperd.org
703-476-3461

The preeminent national authority on physical education and a recognized leader in sport and physical activity, the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) is a non-profit professional membership association that sets the standard for practice in physical education and sport. NASPE?s 15,000 members include: K-12 physical education teachers, coaches, administrators, researchers, and college/university faculty who prepare professionals in these areas. NASPE seeks to enhance knowledge, improve professional practice, and increase support for high-quality physical education, sport and physical activity programs. It is the largest of the five national associations that make up the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation & Dance (AAHPERD). For more information, visit www.naspeinfo.org.

AAHPERD, an alliance of five national associations, six district associations, and a Research Consortium, provides its members with a comprehensive and coordinated array of resources, support, and programs to help practitioners improve their skills to further the health and well-being of the American public. It is the largest organization of professionals involved in physical education, recreation, fitness, dance, health promotion and all specialties related to achieving an active, healthy lifestyle. AAHPERD serves 20,000 members and has its headquarters in Reston, Virginia, 25 miles west of Washington DC. To learn more, visit www.aahperd.org.