-- 9,000 Schools Pre-Registered in CD-Rom Based Program --

The NFL’s long-standing Gatorade Punt, Pass and Kick (PP&K) program just grew by two million boys and girls in 1998, thanks to 1990’s technology. Started in local parks in the 1960’s and now expanding through cyberspace to school gyms, PP&K will enter 9,000 middle and elementary schools.

Beginning this fall, these 9,000 schools will add the NFL/Gatorade, Punt, Pass & Kick program to their physical education curriculum with the aid of a CD-ROM Interactive Playbook.

Nearly 2.3 million girls and boys, ages 8-15, will be taught football fundamentals in physical education classes through a 4-week structured gym class specifically designed for physical education teachers. The youngsters will actually then compete in the Gatorade Punt, Pass and Kick program at their schools

Each school receives a CD-ROM that provides an overview of the Punt, Pass & Kick competition, scoring forms, a curriculum of classes, teacher’s checklist, logistics, and information on other NFL Play Football programs. The CD-ROM contains audio and visual aides (including messages from NFL quarterbacks Steve Young and Kordell Stewart), instructional footage, suggested itinerary for gym classes, and information on how to e-mail PP&K scores for tabulation. Students can monitor results of the nationwide program on nfl.com, the official web site of the National Football League, where winners names will be posted.

"The CD-ROM is another milestone in the Punt, Pass and Kick program," said Sara Levinson, president of NFL Properties. "In 1996, we added a girls-only division to PP&K, and we saw participation grow by 125,000 girls. Now, with our entrance in schools, overall participation in the program will grow by more than two million."

Punt, Pass & Kick is an element of the NFL’s "Play Football" program that provides exciting ways for even more children to play, watch, experience and enjoy the game of football. Many NFL stars including Dan Marino, Jim Kelly and Drew Bledsoe used PP&K as the foundation for successful football careers. Other "Play Football" programs include NFL Flag Scholastic; NFL Flag; NFL C.I.T.Y. (Challenge and Inspire Today’s Youth) Football; and Kmart NFL Family/Stadium Days.