In 2011 the Innisfail Cyclones peewee football team were provincial gold medal champions. The following year they plummeted to last place without a win in the regular season.
The bantam Cyclones also failed to pick up a win in the 2012 season.
However, both local teams in the Innisfail Minor Football Association are pumped for this year. They have just finished spring training and are looking at this coming season with excitement and optimism.
“We've got some really great returning players,” said Talitha Watkinson, association president. “One of the biggest struggles we had last year is that we had a lot of first-year players and everybody was kind of learning. This year we've got more of a solid foundation that we are going to keep building on.”
Watkinson noted that Robb Walker, the head coach of the peewee squad for the past three years, will be back while Wally Genz will lead the bantams.
“Brad White is also returning this year. Brad has been involved with playing football since the age of five, spent one year playing semi-pro ball with the Ottawa Schooners at the age of 15, and spent two years playing for Indiana University before starting as a volunteer coach,” said Watkinson of the wealth of coaching expertise the association had in hand. “We're also excited to welcome Byron Reynolds who has been involved with football on many different levels since 1992, including playing for the Edmonton Huskies football club, and interning with the University of Alberta Golden Bears football team as an assistant to the offensive coordinator.”
The two local teams, for players aged 10 to 12 for peewee and 13 to 15 for bantam, were busy honing their skills at spring training from May 21 to June 13.
“Our spring training camp was well attended this year with about 25 players coming out for practices three days a week,” said Watkinson, who is expecting each team to have the full roster of 35 players for the upcoming season. “The coaches were on hand to help run kids through various exercises, techniques and drills as well as to make sure everyone was properly fitted for equipment.”
She said the regular season for both teams starts Aug. 15 with the first game for the locals scheduled for Sept. 7.
“On the executive level we have done a lot of things to really make it a fun season for the kids, so aside from game play we've got all kinds of events lined up and activities for the kids to make sure they are having a great season regardless of the outcome of the games,” said Watkinson. “Last season was a rebuilding year. Some of them were returning players, some were experienced, but it was definitely a rebuilding year. Our numbers were pretty low. But we are hoping to make it back to provincials this year.”
She said the association is still accepting registrations at both the bantam and peewee levels. However, she is encouraging players to register as early as possible this year as spots are filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
Anyone who is interested in playing for the Cyclones or volunteering for the two teams can call Watkinson at either 403-357-3409 or 403-227-6113. Citizens wanting to know more about the Innisfail Minor Football Association can also get more information at www.innisfailminorfootball.com
“Innisfail Minor Football prides itself on not only helping players develop athletically, but also emphasizing hard work, dedication, commitment, and pride in our community,” said Watkinson.
