PLAY, which stands for Promoting a Lifetime of Activity for Youth, is a national public awareness campaign of the Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society (PBATS), in conjunction with the Taylor Hooton Foundation and MLB Charities. On the heels of the release of a national survey about the American’s perception of steroid use among today’s youth, done by PBATS, the Taylor Hooton Foundation, and the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, the PLAY Campaign educates America’s young people about the importance of living a healthy and active lifestyle, as well as important decision making regarding performance enhancing drugs (PEDs). The 2013 PLAY Campaign will host events in all 30 MLB stadiums.
WHO:DAVID PRICE, Rays Starting Pitcher
RON PORTERFIELD, Rays Head Athletic Trainer
PAUL HARKER, Rays Assistant Athletic Trainer
MARK VINSON, Rays Assistant Athletic Trainer
KEVIN BARR, Rays Strength and Conditioning Coordinator
DON HOOTON, Taylor Hooton Foundation
LOCAL TAMPA BAY AREA YOUTH, 75 Kids
WHEN: Saturday, May 25 | 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. WHERE: Tropicana Field, One Tropicana Drive, St. Petersburg, FL 33705 WHY:Created in 2004, the PLAY program was formed to raise awareness about children’s health issues and the obesity epidemic in the United States. Since 2004, the PLAY campaign has conducted over 150 events inside all 30 MLB stadiums, reaching tens-of-thousands of America’s young people with positive messages about making healthy decisions and living a more active and healthy lifestyle. In 2008, the Taylor Hooton Foundation joined the PLAY campaign to incorporate its anti-steroid education and generate awareness about one of the fastest growing drugs in America. Young people often lack the education and information about training and eating the healthy way, while staying away from drugs and putting their health and lives at risk.
PLAY events run approximately two hours in length. The kids participating are divided into groups and rotate through a series of stations. Stations touch on everything from healthy eating, injury prevention, a strength and conditioning station, and education about the dangers of steroid abuse.
CONTACT:Sam Radbil PLAY Campaign Coordinator sam@theromanogroup.com