6/29/2020

The Kevin Durant Charitable Foundation and Degree have teamed up to donate $1 million to 10 youth development organizations across the country. The funds are to support the organization’s ability to continue providing activities to keep kids active, moving and involved in positive sport programs. We were a selected recipient of a portion of the funds, along with 2 other New York City based organizations. 

“The generosity of The Kevin Durant Charitable Foundation and Degree has been the bright spot for Kids in the Game over the past few months. As a New York City rooted organization, we have seen firsthand how this pandemic has directly impacted our kids and our families. Our focus over the past few months has been on our path forward, returning to the gym, field, and court so our kids can continue to develop through sport. This support not only makes that possible, but will allow us to come back stronger than ever.”

Tatum Boehnke, Director of Community and Impact, Kids in the Game

Low income families and neighborhoods have been hit the hardest by COVID-19 and the financial strain caused by the global pandemic is likely to continue well beyond the return to ‘normalcy’. The Kids in the Game Foundation has had a robust scholarship program for the past 4 years providing over $200,000 worth of financial aid to families needing program cost assistance. With the additional funding now available from the Durant/Degree donation, our foundation will be expanding their scholarship program offerings with two new initiatives.

The first will be the launch of “The Real MVP Fund” which will focus on providing assistance to single mothers and their families in New York City.  We don’t believe that a single parent should have to choose between providing basic necessities for their children and providing opportunities for sport and enrichment activities. This fund will eliminate that choice by providing funds to support their child’s participation in after-school, sport and summer programs. Additional resources such as nutrition and financial literacy will also be made available to “The Real MVP Fund” awardees. 

The second program that will be launched is “The Kids in the Game Foundation Continued Education Award” fund. For the past 3 years our foundation has offered academic and life skill support to our KING Hoops players. By providing these services, we recognize that support should not stop when high school ends. The post high school education scholarship fund will be established to support graduating student-athletes that have participated in any Kids in the Game program throughout their elementary or secondary educations. The award will support college, vocational, and/or trade school further education opportunities. 

We plan to launch these two programs through our foundation later this summer to provide immediate positive impact to our families deeply affected by both COVID-19 and systemic injustices that are long overdue from being addressed. 

If you want to join KD and support The Real MVPs, click the button below. Let’s #KeepMoving, together.

We want to ensure that our youth sports programming returns safely and under the guidance of state and local guidelines.  That’s why we’ve created these return to play considerations.  These guidelines are intended to help parents and players understand the adjustments in our programs this summer so we can make our sports comeback strong, safe and successful. All families who intend to have their children participate in our sports programming will have to sign an additional waiver specifically releasing Kids in the Game of any liability in the event that your child contracts COVID-19. Below are some of the resources we used to create our guidelines. Our policies will continue to evolve as policies and guidelines are amended. We will continue to communicate these out to you as we receive them.

• CDC Considerations for Youth Sports
• Sadler Sports
• Return to Play 

The 6 youth sports considerations for a safe return to play:

1. The type of play and dynamics of your sport
   1. Soccer & Basketball
2. The Phase of COVID-19 locally
3. Explicit approval from state & local government
4. The ability to secure a place to play
   1. NYC Parks
5. Our readiness to reasonably operate in a way that aligns with CDC ‘Return to Play’ Considerations
6. Clearly understanding risks and taking measures to ensure they are minimized

Programming Adjustments

Parent Expectations

• We ask families to designate one person to consistently drop off their child, when possible, to reduce the number of unique individuals at programming. 
• Parents are expected to stay out of the playing area and maintain appropriate social distancing from their child and other parents after drop off.
• Indoor vs. Outdoor Programming
  • If we are indoors, parents will drop off their child at the door and have to remain outside for the duration of the workout.
  • If we are outdoors, parents will drop off their child at the entrance to the park/court and remain a safe distance away from the children and other parents

Child Expectations

• Health Screening / Temperature Check 
  • Participants will be asked to complete a health screening questionnaire before each session to confirm the absence of COVID-19 symptoms as well their lack of interaction with someone who has tested positive for the virus within the previous 14 days. 
  • Before each session, we will be taking your child’s temperature with infrared, touch free thermometers, as part of their health screening, before they are allowed to participate in programming. 
  • Children with a temperature recorded at or above 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit will not be admitted to participate and encouraged to consult with their health professional. 
  • We’re happy to check your temperature too, but it is not required.
  • Note that all Kids in the Game staff will be following the same screening process as well. 

PPE Expectations

• All Kids in the Game staff at the program will be required to wear face coverings during the session. 
• Once in an open air space, face coverings will be encouraged where adequate 6ft physical distancing cannot be maintained.
• For activities that require higher levels of respiratory output participants will maintain >6ft distancing so that face coverings are not required and adequate breathing can be maintained

Coaches, staff and athletes must show no signs or symptoms of COVID-19 in the past 14 days.*

1. Ratio
   1. High School 1:10
   2. Middle School 1:8
   3. Elementary School 1:6
2. Social Distancing
   1. We will only be focusing on specific skill development that does not engage partners or group participation, maintaining >6ft apart.
   2. For activities that require higher levels of respiratory output participants will maintain >6ft distancing so that face coverings are not required and adequate breathing can be maintained.
3. Equipment
   1. Players will be required to bring their own basketball and will not be permitted to share or use any other coaches or players equipment.
   2. We will provide cones and other equipment that will be handled only by the coach.
   3. Players will have to bring their own water bottle and will not be permitted to share a players or coaches bottle.
4. Session Transitions 
   1. Separate sessions will be scheduled with at least 10 minutes between each to accommodate transitions and avoid overlapping time of groups. 
   2. We ask that you arrive promptly for the start time and not too early or late to support these transition windows.

1. Ratio
   1. Elementary School 1:6
2. Social Distancing
   1. We will only be focusing on specific skill development that does not engage partners or group participation.
   2. Each player will have their own designated space that will be at least 6ft away from the other player’s space.
   3. Prior to the start of the session, the coaches will divide up the space and clearly outline the practice areas for each player.  
3. Equipment
   1. Players will have to bring their own soccer ball and will not be permitted to share or use any other coaches or players equipment.
   2. Players will have to bring their own water bottle and will not be permitted to share a players or coaches bottle.
4. Session Transitions 
   1. Separate sessions will be scheduled with at least 10 minutes between each to accommodate transitions and avoid overlapping time of groups. 
   2. We ask that you arrive promptly for the start time and not too early or late to support these transition windows.

Let’s Play.

For more information, email paul@kidsinthegame.com.