About Us
Meet the Founder
Bring Back Play was formed where all the best ideas are born:
At recess.
We noticed that kids are at their most creative, energized, and autonomous during those precious slices of free time between classes. And we thought to ourselves, how might we bring that same spirit of unstructured play outside the schoolyard?
So, Bring Back Play began.
At just $9 per event, Bring Back Play is more than an extended recess—it’s an opportunity for Marin kids to experience the joy of freedom and for families to deepen their community in Marin.
Tyler Gaffaney grew up all over Marin—from Novato to Mill Valley—spending countless hours outside playing freely with friends. A lifelong athlete, he went on to play college basketball at Claremont McKenna College, where he earned All-American and Academic All-American honors, before completing his MBA at Claremont Graduate University and playing professional basketball in Spain.
Today, Tyler works at The San Domenico School in San Anselmo as the Boys Varsity Basketball Coach, Assistant Athletic Director, and Middle School PE Teacher. The idea for Bring Back Play was born out of what he saw every day at school: the joy, creativity, and connection that emerge when kids are given space to move and play freely.
Reflecting on his own childhood and his hopes for his two children, Tyler created Bring Back Play to help reintroduce freedom, friendship, and unstructured fun into kids’ lives. He lives in Novato with his family and is committed to building a community where play once again takes center stage.