The third annual Football Canada 6 Nations Challenge is set to begin in less than a week and some local players and a coach are looking forward to the opportunity.
The North Battleford Comprehensive High School senior Vikings defensive line coach Justin Pooyak will be a coach with Team Saskatchewan.
A month ago, Pooyak also suspected local players Denzel Gopher, a defensive back with the Vikings, and Dalton Landrie, a defensive lineman with the Vikings, were selected to the main camp which runs Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
The 6 Nations Challenge is aimed at player development as well as focusing on increasing participation of aboriginal players from across Canada.
The tournament is six-a-side football, which is a good fit for minor football programs, smaller communities and female participants. Six-a-side football is fast paced, allows one-on-one coaching while still teaching the fundamentals of football.
"Six-a-side football is vastly growing in popularity across Canada, " said Football Canada technical co-ordinator Josh Sacobie before the 2011 challenge in Prince Edward Island. "The 6 Nations Challenge is an event that promotes and celebrates six-a-side football programs being played in Canada."
The 2012 6 Nations Challenge will be in Ottawa Aug. 20 to 26.
