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Navy Cross recipient Aubrey McDade and NFL alumnus Eric Swann join PHIT’s ‘Movement’

WASHINGTON /PRNewswire/ — PHIT America president Jim Baugh today announced the addition of two new members to its board of directors. PHIT America has already helped more than 850,000 youth become active through its AMPED, PLAY GOLF, PLAY TENNIS and PLAY PICKLEBALL Programs, and is working aggressively toward its goal of helping 50 million youth.

The latest business leaders added to PHIT’s board include retired Marine Gunnery Sergeant Aubrey McDade and retired NFL player Eric Swann. McDade is a Navy Cross recipient, and Swann is a 10-year NFL veteran, two-time Pro Bowl player and only first round draft pick to never play college football.

“The moment I met Aubrey and Eric I knew they would become important additions to our Board,” said Baugh. “These gentlemen have the knowledge and networks we need to impact millions of kids. Their passion for kids’ fitness and health, and the fact that they are leaders in key areas impacted by the ‘Inactivity Pandemic’ — military and sports – make them both ideal board members.”

According to Baugh, a 2022 study from the Pentagon shows that 77% of young Americans would not qualify for military service without a waiver because of being overweight, using drugs, or having physical and mental health problems. In fact, military leaders are becoming increasingly concerned that this is a national security issue of potentially epic proportion.

“The physical fitness level of the majority of our nation’s youth is alarming,” says McDade. “Instead of stepping up our efforts to get kids fit, we’re lowering our fitness standards. This must stop!”

McDade adds, “As a retired Marine and Navy Cross recipient, I have seen battle and what is required – both physically and mentally – to withstand it. By the time kids get to high school, it is challenging to change their mindsets. We must encourage and support efforts that get youth addicted to the “miracle drug” of fitness while still in elementary school.”

Baugh further adds, “Last year Tom Cotton referred to Army fitness standards as pathetic and I agree. At one Army base, we are spending $200 million on fitness camps to get recruits fit. What if we used that money in schools to get all kids active and fit? It would help every kid…including those who want to join the military.”

In addition to the impact the “Inactivity Pandemic” is having on national defense, Baugh notes that 90% of U.S. children are not active to CDC standards, and that they are “ticking time bombs” that will overwhelm our nation’s healthcare system when they become adults. This sentiment is shared by new PHIT America board member Swann.

“I share Jim’s concern about the impact that inactivity is having on the physical and mental health of American youth,” says Swann. “As a child, I had Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Participating in physical education activities during the school day allowed me to burn off the energy I needed to concentrate. I cannot imagine what I would have done without it. Today, far too many schools have little or no physical education.”

Swann adds, “The links between physical fitness, academic performance and mental health are undeniable. I strongly support PHIT’s mission to get physical education back in all our nation’s schools, and the organization’s corresponding efforts to get kids interested in lifetime sports, such as running/walking, golf, tennis and pickleball.”

PHIT America goes to the ‘roots’ of physical activity, school PE programs, to make sure more kids are active, fit and healthy, according to Baugh. “In a study by UNICEF, US kids are ranked last in physical health. PHIT America’s programs are impactful. I look forward to working with our two newest board members to get 50 million kids active, and therefore healthier, smarter and happier,” says Baugh.

Established in 2013, PHIT America is a non-profit organization that leads a national movement to improve the physical and mental health of 50 million children. All data and research sources can be found at IP.PHITAmerica.org. PHIT America is led by Sports Industry and Tennis Industry Hall of Fame Inductee, and former President of Wilson Sporting Goods, Jim Baugh. For more information, visit PHITAmerica.org. 

SOURCE PHIT America

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KAYSVILLE, Utah /PRNewswire/ — The Picklr, a premiere indoor pickleball facility with over eighty locations across the United States, is partnering with US Sports Camps to run Nike Pickleball Camps at various Picklr facilities nationwide. The partnership will enable campers to learn from some of the pickleball industry’s best professional players and coaches. This collaboration elevates the sport by fostering an environment where athletes can come together, learn, and improve regardless of skill level. The first camp will be for adults age 18+ and is scheduled to launch in the first quarter of 2024. 

”It’s always been about bringing pickleball to as many players as possible, and this partnership between two industry leaders will ensure that even more people can participate in this wonderful sport,” said James Hurlock, Chief Brand Officer at the Picklr. 

“At US Sports Camps, we’re focused on delivering best-in-class experiences for campers, and this exciting partnership with the Picklr helps us achieve that,” said Jack Davis, USSC Director of Tennis and Pickleball Camp Management and Partnerships. “We look forward to helping pickleball players of all abilities elevate their skills by working with great coaches at the amazing facilities the Picklr is famous for.” 

Nike Pickleball Camps offer three-day experiences highlighting critical pickleball skills and strategies such as the third shot drop, playing in the transition zone, and much more. Camps are designed to address specific needs, increase game knowledge, and help players improve in a fun and friendly environment. 

ABOUT THE PICKLR:
At The Picklr, pickleball is more than just a sport; it’s a lifestyle that fosters community, competition, and fun. With over eighty state-of-the-art facilities, professional coaching, and a vibrant atmosphere, The Picklr offers an unparalleled pickleball experience for players of all skill levels. All locations provide state-of-the-art professional-grade outdoor surfacing, onsite snacks and drinks, and access to free leagues, tournaments, and clinics. Follow The Picklr on Instagram, X, LinkedIn, Facebook, and TikTok for news on locations and contests, or visit www.thepicklr.com to learn more about owning a franchise. 

ABOUT US SPORTS CAMPS:
US Sports Camps (USSC), headquartered in San Rafael, Calif., is America’s most prominent sports camp network and the licensed provider of Nike Sports Camps. The company has offered summer camps since 1975 with the same mission that defines it today: to shape a lifelong enjoyment of athletics through high-quality sports education and skills enhancement. USSC is part of the Youth Enrichment Brands (YEB) network, which aims to help every kid discover and develop lifelong passions. YEB does this by connecting and serving a network of companies that deliver best-in-class youth camps, classes, music education, and sports leagues. Other brands in the YEB network include School of Rock, the leader in performance-based music education; i9, the nation’s largest multi-sport provider of youth sports leagues; and Streamline Brands, the world’s largest operator and franchisor of swim schools. 

SOURCE The Picklr

OLATHE, Kan. /PRNewswire/ — Garmin (NYSE: GRMN) today announced vívoactive^® 5, its latest health and fitness smartwatch with a bright AMOLED touchscreen display that is designed to be an essential part of everyday life at an affordable price. Featuring a broad range of health monitoring features, vívoactive 5 can help users learn about their body, coach them on how to live an active lifestyle and support their fitness goals. With up to 11 days of battery life in smartwatch mode, users don’t have to worry about charging their watch every night and can therefore receive valuable around-the-clock health metrics like stress, Body Battery^™ and sleep with personalized sleep coaching and nap detection.

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Check out how vívoactive 5 can help track of your health and fitness goals here.

“Made for your active lifestyle, vívoactive 5 packs premium features into a stylish, affordable smartwatch. From a busy day on the go to a relaxing evening at home, on-wrist fitness coaching, personalized health insights, detailed sleep stats and more on vívoactive 5 make it an essential tool to help you gain a better understanding of how to meet your overall health and wellness goals.” – Dan Bartel, Garmin Vice President of Global Consumer Sales

What’s new to vívoactive 5

• A vibrant AMOLED display makes it easier to read health and fitness data, smart notifications and more.
• Greater battery life – up to 11 days in smartwatch mode – means users can spend more time doing what they love and less time charging.
• Like a sleep coach on the wrist, receive a sleep score and personalized coaching for how much sleep is recommended and keep track of different sleep stages, naps and other key metrics such as Pulse Ox¹ and heart rate variability (HRV) status.
• Start the day off right with a morning report that provides an overview of last night’s sleep plus recovery, HRV status and weather data (when paired with a compatible smartphone)².
• Automatically track or log naps to see how they may benefit the body and the target time and duration they should be.
• Monitor Body Battery energy levels throughout the day to find the best times for activity and rest. And get even more details and personal insights on how sleep, naps, daily activities and high stress specifically impact energy levels³.
• Wheelchair mode lets users track daily pushes and receive weight shift alerts plus wheelchair-specific sports apps and workouts. In creating these new features, the algorithms of some existing features were modified to enhance the meaningfulness of key insights for wheelchair users.
• Better understand how each workout benefits the body and how much time is needed to recover to take on any fitness challenge.
• Follow guided meditation practices to help reduce stress, anxiety and more.
• Choose between two font sizes to view smart notifications⁴, workout data and more with greater ease.

Find your passion

With more than 30 preloaded GPS and indoor sports apps, users can stay active no matter their passion—from walking and running to rowing, pickleball, activities for wheelchair users and more. vívoactive 5 even lets users create their own step-by-step workouts from more than 1,600 exercises in the Garmin Connect^™ app and send them directly to the watch. For those looking to train for a 5K or something a bit longer, free Garmin Coach adaptive training plans can help users prepare. In addition to keeping tabs on daily steps and calories burned, vívoactive 5 can track moderate and vigorous intensity minutes, VO2 max and more.

Keep going strong

Full of health and wellness features, vívoactive 5 can help keep users going strong all day, every day. And with up to 11 days of battery life, users don’t have to worry about charging their watch every night, meaning they can have access to important health metrics 24/7. Day or night, vívoactive 5 tracks heart rate³, respiration, Pulse Ox, stress and more. While sleeping, it can monitor heart rate variability to help provide users with a deeper understanding of their overall health. What’s more, women can track their menstrual cycle and pregnancy and receive exercise and nutrition guidance.

Stay connected

Whether coming or going, stay connected with vívoactive 5 by receiving text messages, emails and alerts right from the wrist when paired with a compatible smartphone. Those with a compatible Android^™ smartphone can also respond to texts using the on-watch keyboard and view photos directly from the watch screen. Safety and tracking features help provide peace of mind by sending a message with the user’s live location (when available) to chosen emergency contacts if they feel unsafe or if an incident is detected⁵. While out and about, breeze through certain checkout lines or transit systems with Garmin Pay^™ contactless payments⁶ and download songs and playlists from Spotify^®, Amazon Music and Deezer (subscription required) for phone-free listening. What’s more, users can see their health and fitness information in the Garmin Connect app and download apps, watch faces and more from the Connect IQ™ Store right on the watch, or find more options in the smartphone app.

Featuring a lightweight, aluminum bezel and silicone band, vívoactive 5 is available in multiple colorways, including black/slate, ivory/cream gold, navy/metallic navy and orchid/metallic orchid. Available now, vívoactive 5 has a suggested retail price of $299.99.

Engineered on the inside for life on the outside, Garmin products have revolutionized the wellness industry. Committed to developing wearables and health measurement tools that help people of all activity levels lead healthier lives, Garmin believes every day is an opportunity to innovate and a chance to beat yesterday. Visit the Garmin Newsroom, email our media team, connect with @garminfitness on social, or follow our blog.

1	This is not a medical device and is not intended for use in the diagnosis or monitoring of any medical condition; see Garmin.com/ataccuracy. Pulse Ox is not available in all countries.
2	See Garmin.com/ble.
3	Activity tracking accuracy.
4	When paired with a compatible smartphone
5	When paired with a compatible smartphone; see Garmin.com/ble. For safety and tracking features requirements and limitations, see Garmin.com/safety
6	View current supported country, payment network and issuing bank information

About Garmin International, Inc. Garmin International, Inc. is a subsidiary of Garmin Ltd. (NYSE: GRMN). Garmin Ltd. is incorporated in Switzerland, and its principal subsidiaries are located in the United States, Taiwan and the United Kingdom. Garmin and vívoactive are registered trademarks and Body Battery, Garmin Connect, Garmin Pay and Connect IQ are trademarks of Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries. All other brands, product names, company names, trademarks and service marks are the properties of their respective owners. All rights reserved. Amazon Music and all related logos are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. SPOTIFY and the Spotify logo are among the registered trademarks of Spotify AB.

Notice on Forward-Looking Statements:
This release includes forward-looking statements regarding Garmin Ltd. and its business. Such statements are based on management’s current expectations. The forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this release may not occur and actual results could differ materially as a result of known and unknown risk factors and uncertainties affecting Garmin, including, but not limited to, the risk factors listed in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, filed by Garmin with the Securities and Exchange Commission (Commission file number 0001-411180). A copy of such Form 10-K is available at http://www.garmin.com/aboutGarmin/invRelations/finReports.html. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and Garmin undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

SOURCE Garmin International, Inc.