The City of Victoria to Host Football League and Competition

PHOTO: Academy Sports + Outdoors donated equipment to the City of Victoria Parks & Recreation as part of a sponsorship for the department’s youth flag football league. 

The Parks and Rec Department will host a Punt, Pass and Kick USA football skills competition Aug. 15 and a youth flag football league on Saturdays starting Aug. 22. There will be strict safety measures in place to protect the participants.

The tournament and flag football league will both take place at Lowe and Rippamonti Fields in Riverside Park.  If you played in the Pony league in Victoria, back in the day, these fields will definitely bring back memories.

Here are personal memories from each field, just in case you were interested LOL

Rippamonit Field is where I hit my first Pony League home run.�� I crushed the ball to dead center field.

In Lowe Field, I caught a line drive at third base for the final out against the Victoria High Stingaree JV team. With that catch, my St. Joseph Flyer JV team won the V.I.S.D baseball tournament that year.

Share your memories from Lowe and Rippamonit Field in the comments on Facebook.

Currently, Recreational sports programs for youth and adults are exempt from current state limitations on outdoor gatherings. Nevertheless, Parks & Recreation is taking voluntary precautions in order to provide a safe and fun experience.

The Punt, Pass, and Kick competition is free and open to ages 6-15. Registration will remain open up to the day of the event, but participants are asked to register as soon as possible to help with the scheduling of the event. The competition tests participants in punting, passing, kicking, and the 40-yard dash. The top two performers in each skill and the top two overall will have the chance to advance to the regional competition.

The flag football league includes 12U, 10U and 8U divisions. Registration is $20 per player. Registration ends Aug. 12, and tryouts will be hosted Aug. 15 during the Punt, Pass, and Kick competition.

In addition, the following safety measures will be implemented at both events:

• Only players and their immediate household members will be allowed to attend games.
• Parents, coaches, and Parks & Recreation staff must wear facial coverings.
• Hand sanitizing stations will be placed at the entrances to the fields.
• Equipment will be sanitized frequently.
• Players must bring their own water and snacks.
• Handshakes, high-fives, and spitting will be prohibited.
• At check-in, players will be asked screener questions about their health and symptoms.
• Signage will be posted throughout the fields to remind attendees about the importance of staying home if they feel unwell.

The flag football league is sponsored by Academy Sports + Outdoors, which is providing equipment for the league. Players who register by 5 p.m. Aug. 7 will receive coupons that can be used at Academy.

Schedules for both events are subject to change based on the number of participants. Registrants will be notified by email of scheduling changes.

To register for the Punt, Pass, and Kick competition, go to www.ppkusa.com. To register for flag football, go to victoriatx.gov/registration.