Key Takeaways
Nearly 6,500 DCPS students will receive Under Armour athletic footwear through the year-long District Kicks initiative launching in 2026.
All high school athletes across approximately 22 DCPS schools will receive sport-specific shoes distributed by season starting March 2026.
More than 1,200 sixth graders will receive athletic sneakers during a March 3 celebration event at CareFirst Arena.
The program builds on District Dribble’s success, which distributed 30,000 basketballs to elementary students in 2024.
District of Play reached over 200,000 DC residents in its inaugural year as part of MSE’s community investment platform.
Building on District of Play’s First Year
Monumental Sports & Entertainment announced District Kicks on December 21, the second major initiative under its District of Play platform. The Washington Wizards are leading the effort in partnership with Under Armour and DC Public Schools.
District of Play launched in 2024 as part of the Capital One Arena reimagination. The platform focuses on expanding youth sports access and wellness across Washington, DC through infrastructure investment and programming.
In its first year, the initiative distributed nearly 30,000 basketballs to every DCPS student in pre-K through fifth grade through the District Dribble program. District of Play reached more than 200,000 residents and earned recognition from Fight for Children, along with a nomination for a 2025 ESPY Sports Humanitarian Award.
District Kicks shifts focus from basketball equipment to athletic footwear, targeting older students who participate in organized sports programs.
Multi-Phase Distribution Across DC Public Schools
The initiative will unfold throughout 2026 with separate tracks for high school athletes and sixth grade students.
Approximately 5,200 high school student-athletes across roughly 22 DCPS schools will receive sport-specific Under Armour footwear. Shoes will be delivered directly to school campuses and distributed according to athletic seasons. Spring sports athletes receive shoes in March 2026, followed by fall sports in August and winter sports in November.
Each seasonal distribution will include a pep rally at a featured high school to create visibility for student athletes.
More than 1,200 sixth graders enrolled in DCPS 6th Grade Academies across 11 campuses will receive Under Armour athletic sneakers in multiple styles and colorways. MSE will distribute the footwear during a March 3, 2026 event at CareFirst Arena. The celebration will include interactive sports experiences and career-based learning opportunities, with MSE covering transportation and logistics for all participating schools.
“When I got my first basketball as a kid in Brooklyn, that single piece of equipment unlocked everything that followed: confidence, belonging, and the belief that sports could shape my future,” said Ted Leonsis, founder, chairman, managing partner and CEO of Monumental Sports & Entertainment. “District Kicks is built on that same idea: when you give young people the right tools, you give them the ability to dream bigger.”
Connecting to Under Armour’s Project Rampart
District Kicks operates within Under Armour’s Project Rampart framework, which aims to improve student-athlete experiences and academic outcomes through sports access.
Project Rampart launched in Baltimore in 2017 and has since expanded to Oakland and Washington, DC. The initiative provides student-athletes with upgraded facilities, apparel, leadership development, and specialized coach training.
DCPS Chancellor Dr. Lewis D. Ferebee noted the alignment with the district’s 6th Grade Academy model. “In our 6th Grade Academies, students are given the tools to excel inside and outside of the classroom,” Ferebee said. “DCPS is grateful to partner with Monumental Sports and Under Armour to provide resources to young people so they can thrive in programming that deepens their connection to school.”
Strategic Implications for Youth Sports Access
District Kicks represents a scaling approach to equipment access programs in large urban school districts. By targeting specific student populations (high school athletes and transitioning middle schoolers) rather than universal distribution, the initiative directs resources toward students most likely to engage in organized sports programming.
The multi-year commitment from MSE and Under Armour creates predictability for DCPS athletic departments planning seasonal equipment needs. Sport-specific footwear addresses a recurring cost barrier for families supporting student-athletes across multiple sports seasons.
The sixth grade focus aligns with research showing middle school transition years as critical for sustained sports participation. Providing footwear during this window may support retention in school-based athletics programs.
MSE’s integration of the initiative with the Capital One Arena project and District of Play platform suggests continued expansion of corporate-funded youth sports infrastructure in Washington, DC through 2026 and beyond.
via: Wizards
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