Footballs soared through the air with ease Saturday as girls and boys showed off their skills with pigskins at the NFL Punt, Pass and Kick program at Carl Barton Jr. Park.
The event marks the first local competition for five age groups with two ages each for ranges 6-15 for girls and boys, said Javier Pena, event coordinator with the City of Conroe Parks and Recreation Department.
“Lots of kids of all ages participate. Some are involved in sports and some aren’t,” he said about the diverse group the event draws. “They all come out and try it. It’s a lot of fun.”
Distance and accuracy are judged in the three skills of punting, passing and kicking and the points are tallied and five boys and five girls are selected as winners, one from each age category, to move onto the sectional Saturday at Conroe High School’s practice field. The sectional invites winners from areas north of downtown Houston and south of Huntsville, Pena said.
The winners then advance to the Houston Texans Team Championship held at a Texans game, along with other area winners, and will eventually advance to competing with other winners across the nation at a professional football game, like the Super Bowl, Pena said.
“It’s just another opportunity for kids to get involved in sports and it’s a good way for the NFL to reach out to the community,” he said, adding that winners are awarded ribbons and eventually free tickets to games they compete at.
Shaun Johnson, a coach for the Tigers flag football team, has three kids, ages 6, 9 and 12. The two younger ones play flag football and the older one plays tackle football, she said. Her kids have participated in the NFL program before and enjoy the competitive aspect.
“It’s a great program because they get to hone their skills in a competitive way,” she said. “As parents, we’re always trying to put our kids in competitive situations. It’s just great exposure for the kids competitively.”
The winners of Saturday’s event will be notified Wednesday, Pena said, after the scores are tallied. For more information, visit www.nflppk.com.
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