I have been involved with NFL Punt, Pass and Kick for nearly twenty years. During that time there have been many faces and friends that are included in my favorite memories. More recently I have served as the Houston Texans State Chairperson, but early on I worked for Deer Park Parks and Recreation Department and was able to help organize the local events. In my first year as a parks and recreation professional, I got an opportunity to help out at a Houston Oilers Team Championship. We had some of the tallest hats that we were supposed to wear as part of our uniform. Back then we held the punt and kick competitions prior to the game and then completed the actual pass competition during halftime. We were given about two and a half minutes to complete this feat. This seems like a world of time compared to what we do these days with the exhibition, but we had to take the measurements for forty kids in that time stretch! One year I even remember a couple of the Green Bay Packers players, during a Sunday night game (on TNT back then) that started marking the spots on some of the long throws as they were returning out to the field following halftime.
Back then, there was also a lot more accessibility to the game field and the players than venues have today. I can remember Spencer Tillman of the Oilers coming over and taking the time each to speak with the kids. I think he signed every competitor’s hat or jersey one afternoon. Tillman also extended his hospitality by calling over other players. These guys would talk to and some hung out with the kids as we awaited our field time or prior gave high fives to them before the halftime competition. This type of interaction left lasting impressions on the kids as many of the NFL players and staff remembered when they competed in punt, pass and kick as kids.
Since being involved, I have enjoyed meeting the kids from all over our great state. I have worked in both the Dallas Cowboys market and in the Houston market. Many of these kids are determined to get back the next year and it has been interesting to listen to their ‘year’ between visits to the team championship. In some cases I have followed a few of them as some go on to regional and state notoriety in their towns and get to hear about it because their younger brothers and sisters come back through the program and make it to the top levels. Our volunteer staff members are some of my professional colleagues who run events all over the state but in many instances these people have become great friends. Working to make a child’s experience at the Team Championship is unique. Many folks have tried to replicate this when they go back to their local area. The kids at the team championship feed off the experience and help pump up the program locally and some have even been recognized by their City Councils for their achievement. The competitors have even tried to set the goal to return the following year to see each other again. Involvement in PPK is important because it fits the mold of what we do in local parks and recreation departments. We try to bring the opportunity for competition to the grassroots level and advance those who succeed to a sectional/regional level and on a state-wide arena, which shows the need to have programs and facilitators in every hometown.
One of my favorite memories from my first year was that I was able to have my wife take a picture of our 5 ½ month old daughter and myself in the Astrodome end zone. I, with my tall hat, and the kiddo just barely taller than the pylon, made for a classic family moment that a few of our volunteer still remember today. I like to think that moment created her desire to volunteer at the different levels of competition that both she, and her sister, have done ever since they were able to shag balls. Each has helped us at the Houston Texans Team Championship in recent years.
Punt, Pass and Kick creates an opportunity for kids of all skill levels to compete and advance. As the children have advanced I have seen some parents get an opportunity to bond as they get to experience things together for the first time at the sectional level but especially at the Team Championship level. It’s been a lot of fun and I hope to continue being involved with Punt, Pass and Kick for years to come.
