Dozens of children at the North Valley YMCA in Northridge enjoyed energetic rounds of ball hockey, supervised by Los Angeles Kings staff and coaches from the YMCA-LA PLAY program, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary at LA County schools.
Victor Dominguez, president and CEO of YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles (YMCA-LA), joined local students, parents and the founders of PLAY (Physical Learning Activities for Youth) for an April 4 gathering at the North Valley YMCA celebrating the youth exercise program.
“Twenty years ago, we started this program and today 45,000 students are impacted because we said ‘yes’ to PLAY and they are now on a pathway to healthier habits,” said Dominguez, who described PLAY as one of YMCA-LA’s signature programs promoting community well-being.
The PLAY program was launched at Germain Street Elementary School in Chatsworth to help prevent childhood obesity, and promote teamwork and fellowship. Today, the program operates at 95 elementary school campuses across LA, including 45 schools in the San Fernando Valley.
The PLAY program offers a diverse curriculum of sports and activities taught by YMCA coaches during school hours for grades K-5. In addition to supporting physical activity, the program also encourages fun and friendship, said Michael Jaime, a PLAY parent and volunteer PLAY coach.
“As a coach, I make sure that every child participates [and] learns the fundamentals of play of each game – whether it’s basketball, baseball, soccer – and the kids get to socialize with each other more [than] they do in the classroom, where they’re more [focused] on their classwork,” Jaime told the San Fernando Valley Sun/el Sol. “When we have them outside and we’re doing exercises and activities, [they’re] not only getting the health benefits of play, they’re also getting the benefit of socializing with other children that they might not usually socialize with.”
Jaime said his son, who participates in the program at Castlebay Lane Charter Elementary School in Porter Ranch, often goes home with enthusiastic stories about PLAY activities with friends.
“I think the PLAY program brings out each child’s sense of fun and joy,” said Jaime.
“I’m proud to celebrate 20 years,” said Suzanne Murray, a former teacher at Germain Street Elementary. She suggested the idea for the physical education program during a conversation with Jane Stanton, then-executive director of the North Valley YMCA. “This is a perfect example of the Y working side by side with community partners to meet community needs.”
“This was Suzanne’s dream – to work with principals and develop this program,” said Stanton. “I can’t wait to see this program go another 20 years.”