Alright, let me tell you about this thing I got into the other day. It’s about that old Punt, Pass & Kick competition, and it brought back a bunch of memories.

So, I was scrolling through some old videos, and I stumbled upon this clip of Andy Reid – yeah, the big-shot coach of the Kansas City Chiefs – when he was just a kid. It was from way back in 1971, and he was all of 13 years old, competing in one of those Punt, Pass & Kick contests. I decided to do some searching about it.
I started digging around, trying to find out more about this whole Punt, Pass & Kick thing. Turns out, it’s been around since 1961. Can you believe it? It’s like the granddaddy of youth football programs. Anyway, they get kids from 6 to 15 years old, boys and girls, to show off their skills. It’s a nationwide thing, which is pretty cool.
Then I focused my research on Andy Reid himself. Born in Los Angeles in 1958, the guy’s a local legend. Went to John Marshall High School, worked at Dodger Stadium – the whole nine yards. And get this, he started growing that famous mustache of his while he was sailing on some ship called the TS Golden Bear. Wild, right?
After gathering all this info, I got inspired. I thought, “Why not give this a shot myself?” So, I rounded up some buddies, grabbed a football, and headed to the local park. I set up a makeshift area, using cones and whatever else I could find to mark the distances.
First up was punting. I tried to remember all those old techniques I’d seen in videos – the grip, the drop, the swing. Let me tell you, it’s harder than it looks! My first few attempts were pretty pathetic, the ball wobbling all over the place. But I kept at it, adjusting my stance, trying to get more power and accuracy. Finally, I managed to get a few decent punts in, and I marked those distances.

Next, I moved on to passing. I had to set up a target area, so I used some old t-shirts and hung them between two trees. I tried to channel my inner quarterback, focusing on my footwork, my throwing motion, and trying to hit the targets consistently. It was tough, but after a bunch of throws, I started to get a feel for it. I marked my best throws, hoping they were good enough.
Finally, it was time for the kicking part. I lined up the ball, took a deep breath, and tried to kick it as far as I could. My first few kicks were all over the place, but eventually, I found my rhythm. I focused on my approach, the angle of my foot, and the follow-through. I managed to get a few solid kicks, and I marked those distances, too.
After a couple of hours of practicing and goofing around, I tallied up my scores from each event. It was a fun way to spend an afternoon, and it definitely gave me a new appreciation for what those kids – and Andy Reid – did back in the day. It felt pretty good when I finally succeeded in each event!
I recorded the whole process, from the research to the actual practicing. It was a blast from the past, and it was cool to connect with something that’s been a part of football history for so long. Plus, I got a pretty good workout in!
So, that’s my little adventure with the Punt, Pass & Kick competition. It may not be as popular as it once was, but it’s still a fun challenge, and it’s a great way to test your football skills. Who knows, maybe I’ll even try to organize a little competition with my friends. It’s all about having fun and enjoying the game, right?
