Meet Coach Al

  1. Updates

When students at Lew Wallace, IPS 107 get ready to rock recess every day, they turn to Playworks Indiana Coach Al to get them moving. Driven by his desire to work with kids and create an environment in which they can feel successful, Al made the move from Chicago to join the Playworks team in the fall of 2016.

At Lew Wallace, Coach Al uses safe and healthy play to make sure that every student has an opportunity to try out new skills, take on challenges, and feel comfortable reaching their potential. Coach Al knows that these lessons translate into the classroom. Success and camaraderie achieved at recess can be the boost kids need to collaborate and engage throughout the school day.

Al knows his recess is rocking when he can hear, see, and feel a healthy community playing. “You hear the laughter of the kids playing games, see the students and teachers playing together, and feel the positive energy of kids and teachers alike,” he says.

When he is not out at recess or leading Junior Coaches, Al refuels his play tank by getting outside for a bit of camping. Taking his coffee and books, and keeping an eye on his Chicago Cubs, he hits the dirt for a bit of on-the-trail play time.

Favorite attention getter:

During the rainy months of spring, Al get’s them started by saying, “Point to the sky and yell DON’T RAIN! Point to the ground and yell STAY DRY!”

Favorite recess game:

Kickball

Favorite Playworks cheer:

Who Rocks!

More Updates


March 7, 2023

4 Fun and Easy Ways to to Support Playworks Indiana  ›

4 Fun and Easy Ways to to Support Playworks Indiana  1. Join our MVP Committee to help plan our Annual Corporate Kickball Tournament Join our Kickball MVP Committee! Bring your energy, excitement, and ideas to the Kickball MVP Team for our monthly meetings leading up to the event in the fall. Leverage your personal and…

February 7, 2023

Building Skill Through Play: Encouraging Students to Initiate and Sustain Games ›

The second semester of school is under way and it’s off to a great start! School staff have been working the entire first semester of school to create a welcoming environment at recess, teach conflict resolution skills, and play so many fun games. In January, school staff were focusing on encouraging students to initiate and…

February 3, 2023

All IN Sports: Expanding our Impact ›

All IN Sports could be coming to a school near you! Playworks Indiana, in partnership with Indiana Sports Corp, is thrilled to be expanding our All IN Sports Leagues as its own service program.    Playworks has been working with Indiana Sports Corp for the past two years to grow our non-competitive leagues program. Our…