The Major Arena Soccer League (MASL) has launched Play with Heart, a monthlong league-wide initiative encouraging fans to learn Hands-Only CPR and join the American Heart Association's Nation of Lifesavers movement. This initiative directly addresses a critical public health crisis: 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.
The importance of this partnership lies in its potential to save lives through widespread education. Immediate CPR can double or even triple a person's chance of survival during cardiac arrest, yet most bystanders lack the confidence or knowledge to act. The American Heart Association, the worldwide leader in resuscitation science and education, publishes the official scientific guidelines for CPR and states that Hands-Only CPR can be equally effective as traditional CPR in the first few minutes of emergency response. The simple technique involves calling 911 if you see a teen or adult suddenly collapse and then pushing hard and fast in the center of the chest.
Throughout February, MASL clubs will hold in-arena activations and share educational resources and public service messages to teach compression-only CPR. Each team will designate one Play with Heart game, with players wearing commemorative red armbands to highlight the campaign. Eight team-signed armbands will be auctioned by the league, with proceeds benefiting the American Heart Association. Scheduled games include Utica City FC at Empire Strykers on Feb. 5, St. Louis Ambush at Baltimore Blast on Feb. 14, and San Diego Sockers at Kansas City Comets on Feb. 14, among others.
"We are grateful for efforts that help more people feel confident recognizing a cardiac emergency and taking action," said Nancy Brown, chief executive officer of the American Heart Association. "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. 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 Nation of Lifesavers movement intends to double survival rates by 2030.
Keith Tozer, commissioner of the Major Arena Soccer League, connected the initiative to the sport's nature: "Indoor soccer is fast, physical and driven by community support - just like the response needed in a cardiac emergency. 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, reinforcing a shared commitment to player safety, fan well-being, and positive community impact.
The initiative provides accessible resources for the public. Individuals can learn how to save a life in just 90 seconds by visiting heart.org/nation to join the Nation of Lifesavers. Additional Hands-Only CPR resources are available at www.heart.org/HandsOnlyCPR. By leveraging the MASL's national platform and each team's regional reach, Play with Heart represents a significant step toward equipping more bystanders with life-saving skills, potentially transforming community response to cardiac emergencies nationwide.
