KIDS’ PUNT PASS KICK TOURNAMENT TO KICK OFF TOUCHDOWN ATLANTIC GAMEDAY
Seven regional camps scheduled across Atlantic Canada
Finals to take place in Moncton, N.B., prior to the Touchdown Atlantic game on August 25
MONCTON, N.B. (July 17, 2019) – Schooners Sports and Entertainment (SSE), the CFL Alumni Association (CFLAA), as well as the provincial football organizations of Newfoundland and Labrador, P.E.I., Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, have announced the 2019 Atlantic Schooners Punt Pass Kick Competition – a series of regional football camps for youth in Atlantic Canada to showcase their skills. The competitions will culminate in a tournament finale on the morning of the 2019 Touchdown Atlantic game on August 25 between the Montreal Alouettes and the Toronto Argonauts.
"The Punt Pass Kick Competition is like training camp for the next generation of Atlantic Schooners," said Anthony LeBlanc, founding partner of SSE. "Boys and girls from across the region will have the chance to come together, have a great time and show what they can do on the same field as their football heroes."
The competition follows the CFL’s recently announced, ongoing #TryFootball campaign to grow the game by encouraging participation and providing opportunities for youth to become involved.
"Touchdown Atlantic and the entire day are all about the game we love, kids and fun," added LeBlanc. "Punt Pass Kick will offer an incredible experience for our winners as they continue their football journeys. Seeing their names on the videoboard and hearing an entire stadium cheering for them – I know it will be a memory they’ll never forget."
"The Canadian Football League Alumni Association is proud to partner with Schooners Sports and Entertainment, as well as, the Atlantic Canada provincial football organizations to deliver the Punt Pass Kick competitions throughout the region," said Leo Ezerins, Executive Director, CFLAA. "With resident CFL alumnus Darin Burns spearheading the initiative, the CFLAA is committed to supporting grassroots football and sharing the #TryFootball vision as we continue to pave the path for the CFL’s return to Atlantic Canada."
Participants will be allowed one punt, pass, and kick in the competition and scoring will be based on distance and accuracy. Seven competitions across four provinces will each welcome 120 young Atlantic Canadians in four age groups: Ages 7 & 8, Ages 9 & 10, Ages 11 & 12 and Ages 13 & 14. The top two boys and top two girls from each grouping will be invited to stade Croix-Bleue Medavie Stadium on the grounds of Université de Moncton where one boy and one girl from each age group will be crowned Punt Pass Kick champions on the official game turf of Touchdown Atlantic.
Regional Punt Pass Kick Camp schedule:
| Date | Location | Venue | Time | Registration |
| July 20 | Fredericton, N.B. | Scotiabank North Field | 8-11 a.m. AT | |
| July 20 | Saint John, N.B. | UNB Saint John Campus | 12-3 p.m. AT | |
| July 21 | Sackville, N.B. | Mount Allison University | 2-5 p.m. AT | |
| July 28 | Wolfville, N.S. | Acadia University | 10-1 p.m. AT | |
| July 28 | Halifax, N.S. | Saint Mary’s University | 2-5 p.m. AT | |
| August 2 | Charlottetown, P.E.I. | University of P.E.I. | 11-2 p.m. AT | |
| August 10 | St. John’s, N.L. | Wishing Well Field | 9-12 p.m. AT |
Additional information on the 2019 Atlantic Schooners Punt Pass Kick Competition, including tournament rules, can be found here.
Tickets to the 2019 edition of Touchdown Atlantic are available now via ticketmaster.ca. Seating in the New Country 96.9 Family Zone, including a hot dog and a soft drink, are $29, while tickets in the licensed 19-and-over C103 Party Zone are $45. Bus transfer add-ons are available from Charlottetown, Fredericton, Halifax and Saint John.
Additional quotes:
"I commend the Canadian Football League, CFL Alumni Association, and the Atlantic Schooners for their continued support in helping to grow the game of football in our province. Furthermore, the free opportunity it is providing our youth to compete in a Punt Pass Kick competition in three areas of New Brunswick for ages 7 through 14 is a tremendous gift. The best part about this competition is that there is no experience necessary and those that do attend will receive a t-shirt and string bag for being a part of the festivities at no cost. I do hope that registrations keep increasing this week to show our appreciation of the event and support for football at the professional level in the maritime provinces."
– Jamie Price, Executive Director of Football New Brunswick
"I think this is a great way to engage kids and the Atlantic Schooners together. This could be a real boost in terms of recognition for the CFL, the Schooners and Football in PEI at the grassroots level. We are excited to team up with the other Atlantic Canada PSOs, the CFL, and the Schooners in the Punt Pass Kick event. We hope this becomes an annual event with the team moving forward."
– Shaun Matheson, President of Football P.E.I.
"Football NL is very excited about the Punt Pass Kick initiative. It is a fantastic event which allows youth the opportunity to compete in a few football activities in a fun manner. Football in our province is growing, and a partnership such as this will certainly fuel an interest for new and seasoned players, but also the community at large. We hope many people will come out and learn what football is all about in this province and we welcome future players, volunteers, and families to join us in further developing this wonderful sport. Thanks so much to everyone, and especially the Atlantic Schooners, for making this happen in Newfoundland and Labrador."
– Tom Flemming, Acting President, Football Newfoundland and Labrador