POWDER PUFF FOOTBALL ACTIVITY

Powder-Puff Football is a huge activity, an activity that the young ladies take quite seriously. You must abandon the “their just girls” attitude because these young ladies are athletic, competitive and set on winning. They are so competitive that you must set-up clear rules and expectations way in advance, or it can easily become an unsafe activity. Therefore, supervising every small detail of Powder-Puff is of paramount importance. When done correctly, Powder-Puff can be one of the biggest spirit activities of the year. Listed below are some suggested guidelines for conducting a fun and safe Powder-Puff activity:

1. Draft a junior female team and a senior female team.

2. Solicit the help of varsity football coaches to serve as coaches.

3. Find willing teachers who will supervise practices after school.

4. Borrow flags from your PE Dept.

5. Allow the girls to make team jerseys.

6. Hold a meeting prior to the first practice to cover rules and expectations. Make sure the student coaches are in attendance.

7. Get your head varsity football coach to serve as the referee.

8. It is a good idea to get parent permission slips for all participants to explain that there are some risks involved.

9. Be sure to have the school nurse available during the game.

10. Communicate to the students that you as the ASB Director reserves the right to stop games or pull players from competition if things are getting too rough.

Rules

You can adapt the rules or format listed below to fulfill your needs.

1. 
   Play a 7 vs. 7 format (QB,RB, C, 4 WRS). We have found that by eliminating most of the linemen, eliminates most of the injuries. If you allow linemen, you are asking for the girls to push into one another play in and play out, and you increase the likelihood of someone cutting their heads open.

2. On each play, place two cones 4 yards on each side of the ball. You may only run the ball outside the cones. If you run inside the cones, the team loses a down. By only running outside you decrease the likelihood of big collisions.

3. Every 10 yards is a first down.

4. Teams have 4 attempts to get a first down. If a team doesn’t get a 1st down, it is a turnover on downs and the team starts the drive on their 20 yard line. All change of possessions begin on the 20 yard line. This eliminates punting and special teams.

5. It is highly recommended that the QB holds the ball on the snap. Get rid of center-quarterback exchanges. If you allow exchanges, you will spend half of the time with “no plays” because the ball is being dropped each time on the snap.

6. All offensive players must wear flags, including the center because the center can be eligible to catch the ball.

7. Allow only one running play per set of downs.

8. Have a student or teacher mark the ball after each play with a beanbag. The beanbag will serve as the line of scrimmage.

9. You may not flag guard.

10. Defensive pass rusher must line up over the center, and be 5 yards off the ball. This allows time for a play to develop and it also eliminates a lot of the contact between the center and rusher.

11. There are no fumbles. If the offense fumbles the ball it is considered a dead ball, a beanbag is placed where the ball was fumbled, and that becomes your new line of scrimmage.

12. The defense may intercept the football, but it may not be returned or forwarded. The intercepting team simply takes possession of the ball on their 20 yard line.

13. Defensive players may not tackle. Any rough play will result in being kicked out of the game.

14. Defensive players do not need flags because they can not advance the ball.

15. All touchdowns are worth 7 points, and there are no extra point attempts.

16. There is no lead blocking allowed on offense. A lead blocker will only result in needless injury.

17. The offense may shield, but not block. Try to eliminate too much contact.

18. Do not allow blitzing.

19. Each team can have one coach in the huddle.

20. Keep a running clock with 20 minute halves.

If you have a good relationship with neighboring high schools, you can hold an intra-district Powder-Puff game. This requires a little more planning, but it makes for a fun event. To spice up the event you can have a barbeque fundraiser for all the spectators. Also, ask a teacher to serve as an announcer to add a game like atmosphere. Our district had a big district Powder Puff event and the turn out was unbelievable. It really brought the whole community together in a fun spirited manner.

Your students may choose to change some of the rules or format listed above, but remember we want to have “safe” fun. There is no way to eliminate all the risks, but there are precautions you can take to help make a safer activity. Powder Puff is a great tradition and deserves proper attention and planning.
 

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