By Darren
Steinke
Gordie Howe Sports Complex
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| A running back takes off in a high school academy game in fall of 2020. |
When a big
award came from Football Canada, it was a pleasant surprise.
This past
April, Saskatoon Minor Football was named the winner of Football Canada’s
Organization of the Year Award for 2020. The award was given largely due to the
fact Saskatoon Minor Football was able to bring back game action with the world
stuck in the grips of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Most minor
football organizations in Canada weren’t able to take the field in 2020.
The
administrators and officials with Saskatoon Minor Football put in countless
hours of work formulating return to play plans and ultimately were able to get
back on the field.
Brian
Guebert, who is the executive director for Saskatoon Minor Football, said the
biggest reward was seeing players excited over being able to play the game once
again.
“We knew it was worth it from the get go,” said Guebert.
“Providing opportunities for our kids to do what they love is our number one
priority.
“To give a safe environment in which to do that whether that
is COVID safety or player safety, that is priority number one for us and the
reason why we are a successful organization and have such a loyal following in
the city.”
While a
huge national accolade wasn’t expected, Guebert said it was still special for
Saskatoon Minor Football to earn recognition as Football Canada’s Organization
of the Year Award.
“That is super exciting,” said Guebert. “There are so many
great organizations across the country.
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| The Kinsmen Football League was in action in the fall of 2020. |
Guebert said it was extremely challenging to get back on the
field in 2020 dealing with all the Public Health Orders and protocols that were
brought in to battle the COVID-19 pandemic. Even with those huge obstacles, he
added it was amazing to see everyone involved with Saskatoon Minor Football
rally to make a season a reality.
“It was a hero’s effort to try and make everything happen,”
said Guebert. “Our coordinators, our board and our coaches, everybody just came
together.
“Our managers, our people in charge of COVID protocols.
Everybody just stepped up and played a huge role to make sure that could make
football happen this past year.”
With high school football getting cancelled in 2020, Saskatoon
Minor Football ensured high school aged athletes were able to get on the field
creating a six-team academy league in the fall of 2020. The caliber of play in
the league was top notch.
“It was awesome like really exciting to see those kids
playing,” said Guebert. “All the games were so competitive.
“The talent is really remarkable in Saskatoon and what our
coaches can do when you put together kind of even like drafted all-star teams
like that. It is a lot of fun. Not enough can be said about the quality of
amateur football in our city.”
The Kinsmen Football League also resumed play in the fall of
2020 thanks to the work of Saskatoon Minor Football. Players who were in Grades
6 to 9 took part in six-man tackle contests.
“It was great to see the Kinsmen kids playing too,” said
Guebert. “There is just so much credit to our coaches for making it possible to
happen.
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| The Rush spring high school football female flag league is popular. |
Saskatoon Minor Football road the momentum it established in
2020 to run a number of successful programs this past May and June. The programs
included Tykes on Spikes, which introduces players aged three to six to the
game, flag football and six-a-side tackle football for various age groups and
the Rush spring high school football female flag league.
On top of those programs, Saskatoon Minor Football ran
another series of academy games for high school aged players. Players who took
part in the academy games were evaluated for the Saskatoon Minor Football
all-star teams that will take part in the Prairie Bowl Series against Regina
Minor Football.
In the Prairie Bowl Series, the under-16 and varsity high
school all-star teams from Saskatoon Minor Football and Regina Minor Football
will take part in respective two-game total-points series. The Prairie Bowl
Series starts tonight in Regina.
It wraps up in Saskatoon at Saskatoon Minor Football Field
on Saturday, July 17. The under-16 game is set for 6 p.m. and the varsity
contest follows at 8:30 p.m.
“It is another opportunity just to showcase the talent we
have in our city and to involve ourselves in great competition with another
amazing organization down with RMF,” said Guebert. “The job (RMF executive
director) Len Antonini and his crew did down in Regina is just outstanding as
well.
“Any time we have a chance to partner with RMF and do a
Prairie Bowl Series like this we jump at the opportunity, and we are really
looking forward to these games.”
At all levels of football, Saskatoon and Regina have a sound
rivalry. For the players that are involved with the Prairie Bowl Series,
Guebert said the rival just adds an extra bonus, and he hopes the players can
turn the heads of a few post-secondary coaches.
“Any opportunity these kids have to play more football, they
jump at it,” said Guebert. “I think it is great.”
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| A runner tries to escape in a six-a-side spring tackle game. |
Before looking ahead, Guebert added he was really satisfied
with how well things went in the spring for Saskatoon Minor Football.
“It has been an awesome spring,” said Guebert. “Even though
it was a little condensed and a little in question there at the start, we were
so happy we able to get out on the field and make things happen.”
For more information on Saskatoon Minor Football, feel free to check out their website saskatoonminorfootball.com.
