Local filmmaker creates national movement to just play catch

DALLAS (BVM) — Rhett Grametbauer, an intensely passionate sports fan, writer, filmmaker, entrepreneur and proud owner of a 1967 split-window VW Bus named the “Hail Mary” decided to leave his life in Austin, Texas, to live a dream of visiting the fans at every NFL stadium in one season.

Accompanied by fellow football fan and producer Grayson Berry and cameraman Eric Carpenter, the crew set out to document the imaginative world of face-painted NFL fanatics from coast to coast. Their travels took them to every stadium, 32 games in 16 weeks, to enjoy the experience that became the 2016 film 25,000 Miles to Glory. Their story is a testament to the human spirit through football, freedom, friendship and America.

During the four-month trek, the crew engaged a vastly diverse group of bizarre fans including a leprechaun, Ketchup Kenny, Pumpkin Head, and the denizens in the infamous Black Hole Tailgate. The trip, fraught with mechanical difficulties found exclusively in a 50-year-old VW bus, became a source of establishing lasting friendships through the simple act of strangers helping strangers and tossing a football back and forth.

While working on his doctorate degree at Louisiana State University, Grametbauer studied the powerful relationships between fans, each other and their favorite team that, in some cases, goes back for generations. As the trip progressed, Grametbauer became more and more impressed with the impact tossing a ball had on developing relationships.

“As we met with the tailgaters in Buffalo, Cleveland, Miami, Seattle and at every NFL stadium, we found that as soon as we pulled out the football and began tossing it around the conversations opened up and we learned about their lives and they grew to know us,” Grametbauer wrote in his 2016 book 25,000 Miles to Glory: Football, Freedom, Friendship, And America. “The game of catch is a universal language that transcends race, religion and sex. Just playing catch, even with strangers, instills a calming, relaxing effect of trust and friendship.”

Grametbauer and Berry were standing under the Gateway Arch tossing a ball and passing the time before a St. Louis Rams game. As he was approached by a random stranger who asked to throw the football with them, the idea of encouraging others to play catch was born. Grametbauer felt firsthand the joy and connection that playing catch provides to people who may have no other common interest other than enjoying the relaxation and conversation while playing catch. After that chance encounter, Grametbauer began playing catch with fans at other landmarks including the Golden Gate Bridge, the Grand Canyon, Freedom Hall and wherever they met along the way. The experience was always the same; strangers having fun and connecting through the game of catch.

It wasn’t so long ago that backyards were filled with children tossing a ball back and forth with family and friends. It was a way of life, but not so much today, as so many things such as social

media and video games keep us apart. It is no surprise that there is a generation of kids who don’t play catch at all. This may seem trivial until one considers the ramifications to a child who doesn’t have anyone to play catch with, or simply doesn’t get out or want to play catch. A number of studies have shown that routine family bonding activities have a profound effect on children’s educational development and psychological well-being.

After returning home, Grametbauer started the Play Catch Foundation to encourage everyone to just play catch and to provide those in need with the necessary equipment, including a partner, so everyone has the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of a game of catch. The Play Catch Foundation believes that the power of playing catch is an opportunity to bring together people of all ages, ethnicity and socioeconomic backgrounds.

“With just a ball, we can take a major step in breaking down barriers to communications, unite families and reduce bullying to foster a culture of understanding,” said Grametbauer.

Grametbauer also applied to designate one day a year as National Play Catch Day. The National Day Calendar turned down his request for a single day because, in their opinion, the idea deserved an entire week. National Play Catch Week is now celebrated the third full week in June so that it always includes Father’s Day.

In 2019, the activities of the Play Catch Foundation caught the attention of Texas-based Nokona

American Ballgloves. Nokona soon joined forces with Grametbauer and the Play Catch Foundation to create the Play Catch Movement.

“The beauty of the Play Catch Movement™ is its straightforward accessibility, its immediate and long-term benefits for people of all parts of society, and that the simple act of throwing a ball creates connection between us, confidence within us, and joy among us,” according to Nokona’s website.

From Grametbauer’s vision “to improve quality of a kid’s life through the simple game of catch” the Play Catch Movement is underway to host on-site events across the nation. To learn how you can get involved in your community, visit playcatchmovement.org.