The Yorkton Minor Football Association held a spring tackle football camp which helped introduce the Association to a different form of tackling.
The Big Play Tackling Camp ran for several hours Saturday afternoon outside the Yorkton Regional High School.
It was taught by Ryan Hall of Football Saskatchewan.
Roby Sharpe, president of minor football and a football coach, said the techniques taught were unlike anything he's ever seen.
"It was all new," he said.
It was the first camp of its kind in the province.
"I thought it was great," says Hall, who went over different techniques for helping to bring down the ball carrier. He was also assisted by his son. Hall said it was his first time teaching this camp.
"This was my first go at it. The coaches did a great job."
Hall added that the technique of the tackle is the most important thing.
"How they teach," he said, adding that "I guess what's more important is the technique."
He spent the better part of five hours going over skills that were likely new to everybody. Most of them involved close-quarter tackling, something very important to winning games.
"To win football games, you have to make tackles."
Hall added that he was impressed with the kids.
"They picked up so well."
Sharpe said he was a little skeptical at first but added that bringing Hall in turned out to be a pretty good idea.
"The whole philosophy on tackling is changing," he noted. "We're changing everything we do. We (were) skeptical, but I like it," he said of Hall's theories.
What it comes down to is the safety of the players.
"Kids safety is utmost importance."
