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For many elementary school-aged students, transportation can be a real barrier to getting involved in sports. 91ԭ�� High School Junior Naveen Nayak cited transportation as just one of the reasons for creating Play for All, a new initiative bringing sports to after-school programs in 91ԭ�� elementary schools. Together with fellow Junior Gael Nunez, Naveen has been working with school leadership since October to develop sports workshops and even interschool competitions, which began last week.

Currently, Play for All is holding basketball workshops and weekly games. Naveen, a WHS basketball player, coordinated with teammates to volunteer their time facilitating practices and referee games. He and Gael hope to create a similar format for soccer in the spring and possibly expand to flag football in the fall. 

Both Naveen and Gael emphasized how participating in athletics often goes hand in hand with a student’s education. Gael explained that sports are a great way to get involved in school for students who feel better in a gym than in a classroom. “Getting involved in school at a younger age reduces the chance these students will become victims of gang influence,” he added. Naveen, meanwhile, spoke about how sports involvement can impact education beyond high school. “We live in a country where academic and athletic achievement go hand in hand,” he said, referring to scholarship opportunities available to student athletes. Getting students involved in sports could help them develop skills that make a college education and scholarships more achievable. 

Play for All is currently looking for student volunteers to help coach and referee after school. Interest in sports is encouraged, though not required. Students interested can contact Naveen or Gael through their WSD email addresses or by sending a message to the Play for All Instagram account (@pfawenatchee).