Third and Long
The Philadelphia Youth Football Academy’s Third and Long will be program is the second diversion pathway that brings running and mentorship to youth facing delinquency charges who were formerly ineligible for restorative interventions.
Third and Long will prevents long-term system involvement by holding youth accountable while helping them build skills on the way to positive achievement across all aspects of their lives.
Following the sports-based and our program model and with the support of youth advocate staff, volunteer mentors, and peer mentors (who have had involvement with the juvenile justice system), Third and Long youth train to complete milestone flag games, earn gear along the way, receive ongoing case management and family support, and complete an end-of-season reflection based in restorative justice practices. Third and Long is designed to run in 2 cohorts per year (Spring and Fall), with the goal to compete in our Philadelphia “Peace Bowl”. Youth who complete all milestone enrichment training and life skills sessions and reflection receive paid restitution, have their charges dropped, and record expunged (TDB).
The goals of Third and Long are to: