Sunday, September 18, 1-3 pm
The NFL Punt, Pass & Kick competition is a free opportunity to build confidence and it returns to the Simon Family JCC this month.
Boys and girls, ages 6–15 compete in the first round, which is the initial step to advancing sectionally, regionally, and perhaps all the way to an NFL stadium for a national competition. In the past, the JCC has boasted several winners that advanced to regionals and had the opportunity to compete on Redskins field. This year, the JCC will offer other athletes similar opportunities to move forward in the competition.
Punt, Pass & Kick is a nationwide football skills competition sponsored annually by the National Football League. It is designed to provide America’s youth athletes an opportunity to compete against their peers in five age brackets.
Established in 1961, PPK is the oldest NFL youth football program. More than three million boys and girls take part in PPK competitions from May through January, making it one of the largest youth sports participation programs in the nation.
Boys and girls compete separately in one of five age divisions by punting, passing, and kicking. All participants launch one punt, one pass, and one kick, with scores based on distance and accuracy, in the hopes of winning a chance to advance to sectionals.
Distance scores are determined from where a contestant’s ball first makes contact with the ground, while accuracy is measured by the distance the ball deviates from the centerline down the field. Yardage off the centerline is then subtracted from the distance yardage to establish the final result.
Participants start out in free local competitions. To participate, athletes only need a birth certificate to verify their age for the proper age division. Players can only participate in one local competition a year. Sneakers are required; cleats are not allowed.
The top finisher in each age group at each local competition will qualify for the sectional competition. At sectionals, each participant starts over and tallies new scores.
The top four competitors in each age group at the sectional competition advance to the team championship in their NFL market. The winners are named that NFL market’s Punt, Pass & Kick champion. From there, the top four scores nationally in each age group come together for the national competition. The finals generally take place in January at an NFL stadium that is host to a playoff game.
To sign up for the FREE PPK event at the JCC, visit the NFL’s Punt Pass and Kick website, NFLPPK.com. For more information, email tedwards@simonfamilyjcc.org, or call 757-321-2308.
Madeline Budman