The annual powder puff is starting once again at Placer High School. For many alumni, powder puff was one of the best memories from high school, and this year it is sure to be the same way.

Powder puff was first introduced to Placer High School in 1966. The first year, there were 11 senior girls on each team, which is an unusually small number compared to now. They practiced for hours each day for a month straight, and the game didn’t even end up occurring for an unknown reason.

This year, Placer’s powder puff theme is cops vs. firefighters. A total of 180 seniors are participating, which is the largest number in “umpteen” years. Over half the senior class is participating in this year’s powder puff, counting girls and boys.

The process required for a successful powder puff is pretty complicated. Any senior who signs up is able to participate. The senior girls have a class meeting to brainstorm ideas and themes. The themes are then run by the administration to be approved. From there, the tasks mostly consist of designing shirts, picking nicknames and numbers for each player’s jersey, and other things of that matter.

In order for powder puff to be a success, every task must be carefully planned out well in advance. And Placer sure knows how to do it right.

“Placer is known for having one of the best powder puff, as well as homecoming, in the area,” stated John Adams, leadership teacher and powder puff mentor here at Placer. “In fact, Bear River calls us every year asking for help with their powder puff,” he added with a laugh.

Having powder puff during homecoming week not only gets people extra excited and pumped up, but it also makes it even more of a success.

“The reason for our undeniable success with powder puff could be partly because we have it during homecoming. We are the only school in the area besides Whitney to have it in the fall. Everyone else has it in the spring,” Adams explained of Placer’s success with powder puff.

With Whitney High School as the only other school in the area with powder puff at the same time as Placer, it’s an obvious opportunity to have “friendly competition” between powder puff teams with them.

“I’ve been talking with Jason Feuerbach [Whitney High’s leadership teacher] about possibly having our school’s powder puff teams compete, and we are both for it,” stated Adams.

For this to work, both sides must understand that it would only be for fundraising purposes, and all money raised would go to an agreed charity. Whether or not this happens is determined by the players and Associated Student Body.

Powder puff has been a high school tradition for many years and is a great experience for the seniors participating.