The Major Arena Soccer League (MASL) has launched a league-wide initiative called Play with Heart throughout February, partnering with the American Heart Association to encourage fans to learn compression-only CPR and join the association's Nation of Lifesavers movement. The campaign seeks to address a critical public health issue: according to American Heart Association data, 9 out of every 10 people who experience cardiac arrest outside of a hospital die, often because they do not receive immediate CPR more than half of the time.
Nancy Brown, chief executive officer of the American Heart Association, emphasized the importance of immediate response. "Each year, hundreds of thousands of cardiac arrests occur outside of hospitals, and immediate CPR can double or even triple a person's chance of survival," Brown said. "That's why we are committed to growing the Nation of Lifesavers, so more people feel prepared and ready to act when it matters most." The association publishes the official scientific guidelines for CPR and leads resuscitation science and training worldwide.
Throughout American Heart Month, MASL clubs will hold in-arena activations and share educational resources encouraging fans to learn Hands-Only CPR, which involves calling 911 if you see a teen or adult suddenly collapse and then pushing hard and fast in the center of the chest. The technique can be equally effective as traditional CPR in the first few minutes of emergency response. The association provides resources to learn this lifesaving skill at https://www.heart.org/HandsOnlyCPR.
As part of the initiative, each MASL team will designate one Play with Heart game during February. Players will wear commemorative red armbands to highlight the campaign, and eight team-signed armbands will be auctioned by the league with proceeds benefiting the American Heart Association. Additional player-worn armbands will be distributed locally. Scheduled games include Utica City FC at Empire Strykers on February 5, St. Louis Ambush at Baltimore Blast on February 14, San Diego Sockers at Kansas City Comets on February 14, and several other matchups throughout the month.
MASL Commissioner Keith Tozer connected the campaign to the sport's nature. "Indoor soccer is fast, physical and driven by community support - just like the response needed in a cardiac emergency," Tozer said. "Play with Heart is about helping fans understand that quick action, including Hands-Only CPR, can save a life and is simple to do." During the campaign, MASL clubs will spotlight heart health messaging during games, on broadcasts, and across digital channels.
The initiative supports the American Heart Association's Nation of Lifesavers movement, which intends to double cardiac arrest survival rates by 2030. The association encourages people to visit https://heart.org/nation to join the movement and learn how to save a life in just 90 seconds. The Play with Heart campaign represents a significant collaboration between professional sports and public health advocacy, using the league's national platform and regional team reach to educate communities about a technique that could dramatically improve survival outcomes for cardiac emergencies occurring outside medical facilities.
