The term originates from the powder puff, the soft material used for the application of cosmetic face powder. The games usually occur before homecoming.

When did the powder puffs come out?

This is Powder Puff. A long standing homecoming tradition, the game is usually seniors vs. juniors and occasionally gets pretty ugly. The tradition began in 1945 at Eastern State Teachers College in Madison, South Dakota.

Do schools still do powder puff?

Despite many schools still hosting an annual powderpuff game, only three out of four high schools in San Ramon Valley Unified School District host the event. Dougherty Valley is now the only high school in the district that still has a powderpuff game.