In 2008, the Bay State Summer Games celebrated its 27th anniversary, while the Bay State Winter Games enjoyed its 23rd year. From a modest beginning of four sports and 300 athletes, the Games have grown to include almost 10,000 athletes in 28 different sports from more than 300 Massachusetts cities and towns. Each sport is organized according to national governing body rules. Age and skill divisions have been created to allow medal opportunities for a broad range of athletes.
In conjunction with MASF, Verizon annually presents $12,000 in scholarships to six Bay State Games student-athletes who best demonstrate outstanding achievement in academics, athletics and community service. The MASF teams up with New Balance Athletic Shoe, Inc. for a statewide sportsmanship initiative designed to promote sportsmanship and recognize those who are ambassadors of it throughout the state.
BAY STATE SUMMER GAMES
The Summer Games have been held since 1982 and feature over 7,000 athletes in 25 different sports. Athletes represent over 300 Massachusetts communities, and participants range in age from 6 to 86. The Summer Games span six to seven weeks in June and July. Tryouts for the Summer Games are held throughout the month of June, with finals taking place in the Metro-Boston and Central Mass. area in mid-July. For details visit http://www.baystategames.org/summer.
BAY STATE WINTER GAMES
The 24th annual Bay State Winter Games will be held February 6-8, 2009, in the Northern Berkshire Region of Massachusetts. Featured sports include Figure Skating, Alpine Skiing and Ice Hockey. Athletes represent over 200 Massachusetts communities, and participants range in age from 8 to 62. For more information please visit http://www.baystategames.org/winter.
KIDS FITNESS DAYS
The SBLI Kids Fitness Days are a free, one-day program designed to motivate children to participate in physical activity, to educate them on the benefits of a healthy lifestyle and to foster a sense of school spirit. In addition to accomplishing these goals, over $5,000 in cash grants have been distributed to selected schools that have participated to enhance the health and physical education programs at the schools. Three events have been held which have attracted over 30,000 students from across the commonwealth. The next events will be held in November of 2008. For details go to http://www.baystategames.org/html/bsgwww/Kids%20Challenge/kids_challenge.asp.
FUTURE LEADERS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
The Future Leaders Scholarship annually awards six $2,000 college scholarships to Bay State Summer and Winter Games participants. In partnership with Verizon, the MASF is proud to award these scholarships to student-athletes who demonstrate leadership through community service, academic excellence and athletic achievement. Since its inception, more than $200,000 has been awarded to students who have gone on to successful careers at prestigious institutions. For more information please visit http://www.baystategames.org/summer/scholarships.asp.
SPORTSMANSHIP INITIATIVE
New Balance and the MASF are proud to do their part in promoting and recognizing acts of good sportsmanship. This program educates all Bay State Games participants on the elements of good sportsmanship, evaluates the level of sportsmanship exhibited by participants in Bay State Games events, and recognizes over 200 athletes who are role models for good sportsmanship. For more information please visit http://www.baystategames.org/summer/sportsmanship.asp.
BAY STATE GAMES HALL OF FAME
The Bay State Games Hall of Fame recognizes athletes, volunteers, coaches, officials, organizers and commissioners who have had an extraordinary impact on the people and communities that are a part of the Games. Inductees include former Bay State Games athletes who competed in the Olympics (Rebecca Lobo - Basketball, Jim Pedro - Judo and Nancy Kerrigan - Figure Skating) or the NBA (Dana Barros and Reggie Lewis).
SPORTS MEDICINE SYMPOSIUM
In conjunction with Boston Children’s Hospital Division of Sports Medicine, the MASF sponsors an annual sports medicine conference to education athletic trainers and sports medicine professionals on current trends in the field. Participants earn continuing education units to maintain their certification.
