Saskatoon Minor Football will have 550 kids playing six-a-side tackle football this spring on 28 teams in Saskatoon. There were 400 register in the first six hours and registration was closed after 3 weeks. The league started in 2009 after the completion of a Masters project at the University of Saskatchewan by Brian Guebert. Brian had played six-a-side football in high school at LCBI in Outlook and went on to play for the Saskatoon Hilltops, UofS Huskies, and Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Guebert had this to say about the success of the new league:
“It will be interesting to see where these players end up in high school and beyond because of the high quality of coaching they have received from current and former Huskie and Hilltop alumni at more than one position. I know being able to play multiple positions helped me earn a roster spot on a professional team and hopefully the skill diversity approach helps these up and comers.”
In 2009 the league ran with 160 players, 401 followed in 2010, and even more growth in 2011. The league is intended for grades 5 through 8 football players. The game is played on a smaller field with fewer players which increases each players opportunity to touch the ball and be involved in the play. Five of the Six offensive players are eligible receivers to catch the ball. The game is a ‘shoot out’ format similar to NCAA, CIS, or CFL overtime where each team will gain possession of the ball on their own 35 yard line with an opportunity to score.
The focus of the league is skill development. Coaches will take the time to teach each player a variety of positions in a fun inclusive environment. As an introduction to tackle football, the six-a-side game is superior; it allows for a far large skill set to be developed by each player. Fewer players on each team (20) ensures that there is more one on one coaching made available to each player.
The league has also noticed that it is reaching out to new players, typically hockey players who don’t get the opportunities to play football in the fall because of conflicts with hockey. The success of the league has exceeded expectations.
[URL]http://www.saskatoonminorfootball.com/
[URL]http://www.footballsaskatchewan.ca/
Advocating for football prospects one story at a time.
CFC Youth Game Spotlight: Quebec OL ready to lock it down
