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Suncoast Pasco News

PPAL Football Entering 35th Year

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By Eric Horchy | The Suncoast News

Published: August 2, 2008

HUDSON - The Pasco Police Athletic League youth football and cheerleading program will kick off its 35th season with its annual jamboree next Saturday at Arthur F. Engle Memorial Park.

The 10-team PPAL jamboree is set to be an all day affair that begins at 8:30 a.m. Aug. 9, the PPAL president, Mark Gardiner, said.

All teams from the 10 separate organizations that comprise PPAL will play in what is essentially a preseason game before the regular season's start Aug. 16. To allow every team to play, the games will be only one half.

A cheerleading performance will get under way at the beginning of the day's events.

Youngsters ages 5 - 16 participate in one of five different football divisions based on age and weight.

According to the PPAL Web site, the league came into existence in 1973. With the exception of Lutz, in Hillsborough County, and West Hernando, all the teams are based in Pasco County.

At 12:15, play will cease for a mid day ceremony to welcome in a new year as well as commemorating the league for 35 years of service.

Gardiner, who has been involved in PPAL for about five years, said the league continues to improve each season.

"We're starting to work a lot better toward our goals. It's going real well right now."

One of those goals is giving PPAL squads and cheerleaders the opportunity to play teams outside of their own league.

For more information on the Pasco Police Athletic League or directions to the upcoming jamboree in Hudson, visit www.pascopal.org>.

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