Football season might not start until September, but would-be Innisfail Cyclones can participate in an upcoming spring camp.
According to Lesley Whalen, the president of the Innisfail Minor Football Association, registration is open for peewee and bantam players.
Spring camp will start Tuesday after the May long weekend and usually runs for about three weeks, Whalen said. The camp would run 3:30-5:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, which is the same as the practice schedule once football season starts.
The club also has a summer camp in August, which is “not an absolute mandatory thing,” but is considered helpful to help gear up for the season. The football season starts “as soon as school starts,” Whalen said.
Last year the peewee team were the provincial Tier 3 champions, but many of those players are heading to the bantam level this year.
“We've had a lot of turnover,” Whalen said. Last year there weren't enough players to have a bantam team, something the association is hoping won't be the case this year.
Whalen said the Cyclones program sees the players undergoing cross-training that can be valuable for other sports.
“We probably are the most physically fit team in the league,” Whalen said.
Wally Genz will be coaching the peewee team. James Thompson will be coaching the bantam team.
“The guys have fun with their coaches,” Whalen said of the coaches and assistant coaches.
The registration fees for the club are technically $350 per player, Whalen said, but a fundraiser is held so $100 of that is given back. Players just need to supply cleats and their drive.
“We supply everything else,” Whalen said.
Those who might be worried they're not big enough to play football should still come out.
“There's a place for everyone in football,” Whalen said.
Registration forms are available at the town office and can be dropped off there. For more information about Innisfail minor football, check the Cyclones website at www.innisfailminorfootball.com.
