By Tiffany Williams –
WORCESTER — Hundreds of Worcester middle school students will soon have a new opportunity to step onto the field, put on a team uniform and experience organized athletics thanks to a new partnership between Worcester Public Schools and the Play Ball Foundation.
The Play Ball Foundation announced Worcester Public Schools as its newest district partner, bringing its free, school-based intramural sports programs to middle school students across the city beginning during the 2025-2026 school year.
The expansion marks a significant milestone for the Massachusetts nonprofit organization, which focuses on increasing access to youth athletics in Gateway Cities throughout the state.
“Worcester is a proud, tight-knit community where kids show up for one another,” said Katie Small, Executive Director of the Play Ball Foundation. “We’re thrilled to partner with the district to bring the joy and power of sports to even more middle schoolers. Every student deserves the chance to play — regardless of background, neighborhood, or circumstance — and this partnership helps make that a reality.”
Under the agreement, the Play Ball Foundation will fund after-school sports leagues for Worcester middle schools, covering costs associated with coaches, equipment, uniforms and transportation. The program is scheduled to launch this spring with baseball, softball and soccer, three sports that remain highly popular among Worcester youth.
School leaders say the partnership aligns with Worcester Public Schools’ efforts to expand opportunities for students beyond the classroom.
“Our new partnership with Play Ball helps bolster our commitment to athletics for all middle school students,” said Worcester Public Schools Superintendent Brian E. Allen. “Athletics serve as a vital extension of the classroom, providing an environment where our students can cultivate the resilience, teamwork, and leadership skills essential for their success both in high school and in life.”
The initiative will serve students attending Burncoat Middle School, Forest Grove Middle School, University Park Campus School, Claremont Academy, Sullivan Middle School and Worcester East Middle School.
In addition to funding competitive sports leagues, Play Ball officials said the organization plans to expand athletic opportunities through practice clinics, additional sports programming and increased access to equipment and athletic resources.
The Worcester expansion further strengthens the nonprofit’s growing footprint across Massachusetts. The organization now serves more than 8,000 middle school students in 12 Gateway Cities, including Boston, Lawrence, Holyoke, New Bedford, Lynn, Salem, Methuen, Quincy, Chelsea, Taunton, Chicopee and Worcester.
“This is what growth with purpose looks like,” said Small. “Our vision is simple: every middle schooler in Massachusetts should have the opportunity to play — to move, to belong, and to thrive.”
The effort to bring the program to Worcester was led by South High Community School staff members Jillian Moriarty and Jane Dowd, working alongside Worcester Public Schools Athletics Director David Shea and members of the district’s athletics department.
Founded in 2006, the Play Ball Foundation partners with public school districts across Massachusetts to provide free, school-based sports opportunities for middle school students. By covering the costs of coaches, equipment, uniforms and transportation, the organization seeks to remove barriers that often prevent students from participating in organized athletics and ensure more young people have access to the teamwork, confidence and sense of belonging that sports can provide.
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