Local football teams have hit the field for practices ahead of the regular season.
While the Bandits and Voyageurs have around 25 players each, the Renegades will see 36 athletes joining their roster.
Instilling the fundamentals
Renegades head coach Jason Morgan said the local peewee program has been popular over the years.
“We’ve had as many as 56 when we first started out. It’s hard to get that many kids in the game, but 34 to 36 is just perfect,” he exclaimed.
With 15 players brand new to the sport, a focus for the team this season is working to help them better understand the game Morgan described as “complicated” for those unfamiliar with it.
“We’re working on perfecting simple skills. If guys do the simple parts well, and if we execute them well and properly, we should be able to beat most teams, because I think most teams focus on one or two kids that are outstanding. We try to really let the kids know that we’re only as good as our weakest players, so we try to bring everybody up to the same level or just to be competitive and give 100 per cent. It makes everybody better.”
The Renegades ended last season second in the Lloydminster Minor Football Association league.
Morgan has high hopes for the team this time around because “we have a lot of second and third year players that know lots.”
Their first regular season game will be on Monday, Sept. 2 against the Lloydminster Colts. The teams will kick-off at Walsh Field at 3 p.m.
Bandits aiming for another successful season
The Bandits are heading into their season looking to defend their title as Wheatland Bantam Football League champions.
“I think we’re going to be really solid,” expressed head coach Robbie Cole. “I think we can rise to the challenge, no problem. (Another) undefeated season, I don’t think is ideal all the time. Sometimes it can get to the kids’ heads, and they start thinking they’re better than they are, or they don’t try as hard because they think it’s going to be easy.”
Although they don’t have as many players as they’ve had in the past, Cole is confident more will come out as the season gets underway.
“We’re hoping to get into the schools and get down to the fall registration night at the C2. We’re definitely pretty short on linemen, but we can move people around to make it work,” he said.
He added, “Ideally, I’d like the roster around the 35 mark. We’re looking for all sorts and sizes; big and strong to small and fast kids. We need the powerful and the quick ones. If there’s anybody out there looking for a new sport to try, or maybe come back to football, or they were playing somewhere else and haven’t been introduced to it here yet, this is the year to get in here.”
Similar to the younger team, Cole places an emphasis on teaching the bantam-level kids how to understand the sport.
“We’re working on the knowledge of the game being a big point of our season this year, and we’re going to try and play everybody as much as we can throughout the regular season.”
The Bandits’ home opener will be against the Wainwright Warhawks at Walsh Field on Saturday, Sept. 7 at 1 p.m.
Voyageurs aiming high
The Voyageurs aren’t letting their numbers, which are down from 33 to 25 this year, slow them down as they jump head first into their upcoming season.
The high school team won 23-7 against the Grande Prairie Warriors in their first exhibition game on Saturday, Aug. 24, which head coach Larry Godziuk said made them move a little quicker than previous years.
“Usually, we have nine practices before our first game and we only had five. We moved a little faster, but we have an experienced group and we just got right into game planning and preparing.”
They’re hoping their athletes will be versatile after learning how to play various positions, due to the short roster.
“We’re working on the basics and keeping things simple so they don’t have too much to remember, and they know just what they’re suppose to do (during games),” explained Godziuk.
Along with having a successful season, ensuring everyone is injury-free is a priority for the Voyageurs.
“We have a pretty competitive league, and only the top four teams make it into the position to play in the league championship. We have to pace ourselves well, and as long as we’re healthy by the end of the season, it gives us a chance to win,” he said.
One of the aspects Godziuk enjoys seeing each year is the Grade 12 players stepping up to contribute to the team dynamic because “they’re always eager to take it over and it’s exciting to see what they choose to do with it.”
“Some of the guys really embrace it, and some don’t really want it. But, this year, our Grade 12s are a good leadership group and, hopefully, they lead us on the field as well.”
The Voyageurs will see action during their first regular season home game at Walsh Field against the Wainwright Commandos on Friday, Aug. 30. Kick-off is 6 p.m.
Godziuk encouraged everyone to come out and witness the action.
“It’s good football, we have a good league, and it’s entertaining to watch.”
