Coyotes, Banner Health Providing Free Sports Physicals for Tempe Students

It's "Game On" for student athletes in Tempe.
The Arizona Coyotes and Banner Health, Banner Sports Medicine, and the Banner Health Foundation are providing free sports physicals to Tempe Union High School District student athletes as part of Banner's Game On: Youth Athlete Support Fund initiative.
The Coyotes are supporting the events with a $20,000 grant to the Banner Health Foundation's "Game On" initiative, which will allow students in the Tempe Union High School District to receive required sports physicals and baseline concussion testing.
The team is also providing interactive games outside the events along with its mascot, Howler.

The first event was on Thursday, April 6 at Marcos de Niza High School, and subsequent events will occur on April 12, April 20, April 27, May 10, and July 21. Students can learn more about the opportunity to participate in Banner's Game On Fund program through their school's athletic department.
For the Coyotes and the Arizona Coyotes Foundation, sponsoring the events directly aligns with one of its key philanthropic pillars of service: Health and Wellness.
"I hope these young people and their families know that we as an organization are here for them," said Coyotes President and CEO Xavier A. Gutierrez. "It starts with that."
The pre-participation exams include basic evaluations like height, weight, blood pressure, assessment of mobility, and a general medicine exam. The ultimate purpose is to assess injuries, illnesses, or other factors that increase an athlete's risk for injury or illness.

The physicals are required by school athletic departments before any students are allowed to participate.
Banner Health Foundation Director of Development for Corporate Relations Rebecca Hunter said a philanthropic priority is to raise funds to help "level the playing field so any student can participate in sports," and Banner Health is also a primary sports medicine provider for high schools all over Arizona.
The organization provides athletic training services and sideline support for all of the athletic programs at Marcos De Niza High School, where last Thursday's event was held.
This year marks the second year Banner Health and the Coyotes have teamed up, and Hunter said every dollar donated goes towards paying for the physicals.
"We're excited to be able to continue this because the partnership has been fantastic," Hunter said. "It's our mission to make healthcare easier so life can be better. When physicals are free and when it's located right in your community, that goes to our mission."
Tanya Betonti, whose son is an offensive lineman at Marcos De Niza, said the program is not on convenient, but is even more meaningful considering it's free of charge.
Paperwork alone can cost 60 dollars or more to file with a family physician, and it's one less thing for families and student athletes to worry about.
"It's a huge time saver -- otherwise you have to go wait, or pay an extra amount of money for each physical," Betonti said. "Having it free is amazing."
For the Coyotes, being part of the service offering was an easy call to make.

"We assume the role of being a leader very seriously, and I hope these young people and their families know that," Gutierrez said. "This allows student athletes to be able to sit down with a doctor and be open with them about things that may be going on with both their bodies and with their mental wellness.
"I think it's incredibly important what we're doing today."
Hunter agreed.
"The Coyotes have been such a great and early philanthropic partner for us," she said. "Only with their support can we really continue to provide free physicals to students throughout the state of Arizona, and specifically here in Tempe."