PHILADELPHIA -- Jimmy Rollins was among a group of former and current Phillies players that helped lead dozens of kids through various baseball and softball drills on Saturday at the Phillies MLB Urban Youth Academy.

The event, part of Play Ball Weekend festivities, took place at FDR Park in South Philadelphia prior to the Phillies' afternoon game against the Rockies at Citizens Bank Park.

“Today was fun, man," Rollins said. "I was just trying to teach some fundamentals -- going over baserunning with the kids. Those are things that are relevant in every aspect of this sport but aren’t always being taught or demonstrated at the highest level.”

Along with the baserunning instruction from Rollins, kids also went through drills with current infielder Phil Gosselin as well as Gary “Sarge” Matthews, who won the 1983 National League Championship Series MVP Award.

Though Rollins finished with 470 career stolen bases -- 453 with the Phillies (second-most in franchise history) -- the club's all-time hits leader also recognizes that baserunning may not be the most fun aspect of the game for kids.

"I’m for all the bat flips, I’m for all the celebrations and having fun -- that’s all part of the game," Rollins said. "I just want to make sure these kids know that even the guys they see doing those things on TV are working on fundamentals like baserunning and footwork every day when the cameras might not be on."

Other activities Saturday included a Home Run Derby, presented by Energy Transfer, for kids from the Phillies' RBI program. The team also held a Baseball Tomorrow Fund Equipment Drive at Saturday's game, where fans donated new and gently-used baseball and softball equipment to benefit the Pitch In For Baseball organization.

The action will continue Sunday when the Phillies celebrate MLB Play Ball Day, supported by Chevrolet. Sunday's events include a Youth Softball Celebration clinic with the Phillies Ballgirls, as well as a pregame youth player parade and a Phillies arm sleeve giveaway for fans 14 and under.

Play Ball Weekend features a variety of youth engagement activities involving nearly 200 Major and Minor League clubs across the country. The weekend, a complementary program of the Play Ball initiative, was designed by MLB to celebrate youth baseball and softball participation in communities throughout the United States and Canada.

"It’s not always the message, sometimes it’s just the messenger," Rollins said. "I’m just saying the same stuff that a lot of these kids’ coaches have been telling them for years, but maybe it makes them think, ‘Oh wow, my coach does know what he’s talking about.’ So I’m just hoping to impart some knowledge and hopefully make some sort of difference with these kids."