Kids at King-Chavez Primary Academy got a special treat today.
Chargers rookies Jason Verrett and Chris Watt used their day off from practice to make an appearance at the school, promoting the N-F-L's Play 60 program. The goal of the program is to get kids out and active for 60 minutes a day.
They were greeted by shrieks of joy from the crowd of elementary schoolers, dishing out as many high fives as they could.
The players were planning on getting outside for a Chargers junior training camp, but the heat was too much.
Still, Watt said the kids can focus on more than football.
“You really can play 60 in so many ways,” Watt said. “You don’t have to be playing a sport. You can be walking outside, playing with your friends outside.
He said it can be a challenge because of all the distractions kids face these days.
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“I think the biggest thing today is a lot of these kids have TV, so many different video game systems,” he said. “I never had a video game system growing up. So it’s just really important to let them know there are so many ways to be active.”
Varrett said he wanted to impart some wisdom beyond exercise and nutrition to the kids.
“Follow your heart, keep your dreams alive,” he said. “That was something I did when I was younger. I just kept my dream alive, all about football. Making sure I took care of my body. All the right things to keep me going.”
The players also came bearing gifts for the school in the form of a $2,500 check, which will go toward the school’s physical fitness and nutrition programs.
The Chargers are bac k in practice on Wednesday as they prepare for Sunday’s game in Buffalo against the undefeated Bills.
