Girl football player attends practice camp

Baillie-Jo Koszman, 14, of Weyburn is used to playing football with the guys, so getting a chance to play with some other girls and women was "really fun".

The daughter of Vic and Kim Koszman of Weyburn was invited to an open practice and tryout session held at Mosaic Stadium on Oct. 5 with the Regina Riot, who are an all-female, tackle football team which is part of the Western Women's Canadian Football League. The camp is held for girls age 13 and older and players who are 16-years-old or more and show potential are sometimes recruited for the team.

Koszman said the team ran through the basics and techniques, including passing, blocking, how to take a hit and running. At the end, everybody scrimmaged.

"I was happy," said Koszman. "I thought it was interesting that other people feel like me about football."
She was one of about 30 girls to show up for the day of football in Regina and she said she was "surprised" to see so many other young women so passionate about the sport, and wishes Weyburn had something similar.

"I think if they tried it, there would be enough girls for a football team here," she said. The Riot allows girls as young as 13 to come to the football camp and have no age limit for their team, but the players are adults.

Koszman received the invite to attend the tryout and practice session from the coach of another team in the minor football league she plays in now who also happens to be a coach for the Regina Riot. Koszman currently plays for the bantam Young Fellows Falcons.

"My dad made me try it and I loved it," said Koszman. She has been playing minor football in Weyburn for seven years and said playing on teams of almost all boys is normal for her, though there is another girl on her team this year. She has hopes of playing for the Weyburn Comprehensive Eagles next year when she is in Grade 11.

For more information about the Regina Riot visit www.reginariotfootball.com.