One of the most memorable episodes of "Friends" came in the third season when the gang played a game of touch football on Thanksgiving Day. It ended with a controversial call that led brother Ross and sister Monica to fight over the "Geller Cup," their childhood trophy that was essentially a troll doll nailed to a piece of wood.

While the premise seems a little ridiculous, informal touch football games on Thanksgiving are not. In fact, some people are making them a big family event with the works. Others are getting their friends together for a quick pickup game on the day after Turkey Day.

There are many different ways to customize the event to the needs of your family or friends.

PRE-GAME

According to party advice Web site Party411.com, the perfect Turkey Bowl starts with invitations. Some good choices are the ones that look like tickets to a football game (these are also handy for Super Bowl parties). If cost is a concern, you can also make football-shaped invitations with brown and white construction paper.

Invite your friends or relatives to wear the jerseys or colors of their favorite teams. Another option is to make shirts for each team. This can become especially fun when two different sides of the family play against each other.

If your guests would like something to snack on before the big game, consider making cookies shaped like footballs or helmets.

KICKOFF

St. Joseph resident Justin Fahrenkrug has played in a "Turkey Bowl" with his grade-school friends in Des Moines, Iowa, every year since he was 12. Now 24 years old, he has seen how the game has changed each year to suit everyone involved.

"We used to play on a 100-yard football field when we were kids, but we're way too out of shape to do that now," Mr. Fahrenkrug laughs.

Mr. Fahrenkrug and his group of friends have played on a much smaller kickball field at an elementary school in recent years. The backyard would probably suit most families. They also made the conversion from tackle to touch football (two hands below the waste) after a few injuries were suffered in their high school years.

"It got too rough. There were a lot of bruises and scrapes, and I know a few people sprained their ankles," he recalls. "I'm surprised no one broke their neck."

A great alternative to touch football is flag football. There are no iffy "judgment calls" when flags are involved.

Mr. Fahrenkrug says Turkey Bowlers should keep things lighthearted. For example, don't argue about little rules, throw the ball to any small children if they're playing and give everyone a breather when needed.

"Just have fun," Mr. Fahrenkrug says. "If you take it too seriously, you'll ruin it for everyone."

If you have the budget, buy a few cheap megaphones for the people who would rather watch the action from a lawn chair, so they can cheer on their favorite players.

POST-GAME

The Gellers played for a ratty old troll doll. Mr. Fahrenkrug and his friends play for a toy Kansas City Chiefs helmet that was spray-painted gold. Whatever the prize may be, it's always more fun when you play for something.

If you want to invest in a trophy, Jak's Trophy Room in St. Joseph has several affordable options (as low as $12).

"You can do a traveling trophy with a football player on top and bring it back and forth each year, or you can do little trophies for everyone," says owner Susie Harris. "It depends on how much they want to put into it."

Mrs. Harris says Jak's Trophy Room has made awards for other family sports events, like a yearly washers tournament, in which the names of the winner are engraved on little plates. She also understands that a plastic spray-painted helmet is all anyone needs.

"Sometimes families like something cheesy like that," she says.

A little wager is a great alternative to a trophy. For example, the losers carve the turkey or the winners get first dibs on the food. If your thirst for football has not been quenched after the game, watch some football on TV or play a football video or trivia game.

By the end of the day, you hopefully will have had your fill of turkey and pigskin.

Lifestyles reporter Shea Conner can be reached at sheaconner@npgco.com.