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PP&K Suggestions!
There have been many questions on our experience with PP&K.
Included below is one of the responses, which includes many tips
and lessons learned:
1. Make it fun! Having participated 6 years as a kid, it was
always nerve racking the day of the event. This is of course
good and bad, but if the experience has an "air" of fun, it just
makes it better. We have an ice cream vendor and small food
vendor on hand along with a couple sponsor tables selling items.
It seems to take the formality out of it a bit. Have an
enthusiastic "leader" who kicks things off and can speak to the
kids level. I also purchased trophies (at a discount because it
was PP&K) from a local merchant, for the first place winners,
and had additional medals for 2nd and third. Those were
displayed on a table by where the signed in. A formal
presentation was made at the end - very exciting! Otherwise PP&K
just sends you ribbons for the 1-3 finishers.
2. Be organized. PP&K is trying to get everything online, but
there's always the paperwork to fill out. The age groups are
broken down into boys and girls, so each age group for each
gender has a separate participant scoring sheet (4 age groups
per gender - 8 total age groups, average of 10 kids per group =
80 scoring sheets ...) I used separate clip boards for each age
group/gender. Once the age group was finished, I handed the
boards to the scorers to tabulate (time saver). Enlist the help
of as many volunteers as you can! This includes people to set
up, take down the reception area, set up/take down the
competition area, help with retrieving and throwing back the
balls etc. I think the biggest thing here is to be organized
when people start showing up so they can get signed in. Also,
the score sheets and personal information on each participant
will have to be sent back to the PP&K organization, and the
winners scores and info will be requested by the person holding
your sectional competition.
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3. Have a strong local backing. It sounds as if you have a great
start here with the Pop Warner twist. Maybe hit up the
elementary and Jr. High Schools in the neighborhood. I made the
mistake of "advertising" to a bigger group instead of hitting
just the schools within a 10 mile area. Talk with local
builders, sports stores etc. for either a couple bucks
($100-$200) or equipment (cones, tape measures, tables etc.).
You could always get this from the Pop Warner coaches too. I
found there were a few costs I hadn't anticipated, so it was
nice to have that extra money available. I then made up T-shirts
for the 1-3 finishers, the volunteers and the sponsors that had
their logos and name on the back. You probably don't have to go
to this extreme, but everyone seemed to like it. There should
also be a district PP&K representative that can help you out
with questions (not sure what state you're in).
4. Remember why you're doing it. OK, I have to step on my
soapbox now. I believe this is an excellent program for the kids
to get excited about football and competition. At the local
level, you'll have kids (both boys and girls) who have NEVER
tried to punt a football, and some that haven't ever passed one.
It's a learning experience also, so I try to be accommodating to
those kids that screw up a punt, kick or throw. For instance, if
they make an attempt and barely hit the ball I give them another
chance. If they don't know how to hold the football for a throw,
I have the scorer or volunteer show them how before they throw
(same goes for the punt/kick). However, I would also read
through the rules a couple times so that you know them back and
forth - for there's always that one parent who wants to argue
about the other participants not following the rules (you
probably know that well!). |
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