ESTEVAN - The Estevan Comprehensive School Elecs football team is looking forward to the 2022 season. ECS will hold its equipment distribution on Aug. 17 and their first practice is scheduled for Aug. 18 at 4 p.m. at the school’s practice field.
“We have to hit the ground running … as soon as we start practices,” said head coach Mark Schott. “We’re going to go over our tackling protocol and make sure everyone can tackle safely, and then we’re right into position and system work on Day 1 so that we can have players slotted into positions and get them learning our offensive and defensive systems.”
The Elecs will have preseason games against the Weyburn Comprehensive School Eagles and Regina O’Neill on Aug. 26 at the Dana Quewezance Memorial Field at Woodlawn Athletic Park, starting at 4 p.m. Estevan will face Weyburn, then Weyburn will play Regina, and Estevan will face Regina in mini-games.
Each team will run a series of 10 offensive plays and then switch to defence. The teams will have several possessions in each mini-game.
Most of the Elecs’ players were in Grade 9 or 10 last year and were playing high school football for the first time. Schott said nearly 30 players could be back from the 2021 team.
“It’s a nice number. We have a good group coming up from the bantam team with the EMF [Penta Completions Estevan Minor Football], and then some new recruits that have been added,” said Schott.
But they could still use more players at the offensive skill positions of running back and receiver, and they could always use more big bodies on the offensive and defensive lines.
Last year’s team had 40-45 players, and Schott said that gave them depth at all positions.
“Last year was a unique year,” said Schott. “With some of the close contact situations [from the pandemic], we were frequently missing players, so that depth came in handy. This year that’s not going to be as much of an issue, but having that depth is still important.”
The Elecs have a contingent of rural players who have committed to play for the team, including some from Oxbow.
“We’re really glad that they’re wanting to commit and travel to Estevan to play for us,” said Schott.
Their first regular season game is Sept. 3 on the road against Moose Jaw Peacock. Their home opener is Sept. 16 against Yorkton Regional High School at 7 p.m.
The Elecs are looking to add coaches and a trainer for the upcoming season. Anyone interested can reach Schott at mark.schott@secpsd.ca.
