There wasn't a shortage of players to fill the shoulder pads for Penta Completions Estevan Minor Football on their registration nights last Thursday and Friday.
Numbers were looking very good for the organization as they try to grow in the Energy City.
“I think we had 60-70 per cent of people show up (Thursday), so (Friday) was kind of a chance to see some of the new people coming out with some fresh new faces, which is fantastic,” said minor football president Paul Duncan. “I think we're going to be able to reach our goal of increasing by ten per cent, which is great.”
They will likely have about 100 kids signed up in all of their age groups, Duncan said, which indicates growth.
“We could always use more, but we're really happy with what's going on,” he said.
The teams in atom, pee wee and bantam look to be fully stocked with players eager to get going later this month.
“We've had some years where it's been pretty scarce for players,” Duncan said. “But now, I think the bantam team which has always been the program that's had the least amount of kids, I think we have 26-27. We had been sitting around that 20-21 mark.”
There are five new kids to football in the age group, plus the returning players and players that contemplated high school football this year (as they are eligible by age) but will stay in bantam for one more year.
It's leading to the beginnings of a good start to the new season.
And with the idea of the more the merrier, Duncan said the organization provides all of the equipment for players with the exception of cleats.
“For the players, and with the possibility of parents as well depending on seats, is the bussing to away games,” he said. “With the exception of Weyburn. But anytime we're going to Assiniboia, or Swift Current or Moose Jaw, by bus, parents can ride that if there's room.”
There are six games plus playoffs for the age groups and the teams is guaranteed seven games for the year. The big thing that's helped with the development of the Estevan program is changing from the Regina minor football league to the Moose Jaw league.
“Going into the Regina league before, you'd walk in there and be going up against a team of 50 kids,” he said. “There's a lot more parity in the Moose Jaw league, which allows us to develop the program and develop the kids a little bit faster.”
The pee wee team went to win the championship last year and raised local eyebrows.
The season gets underway with practice this week and there's two weeks before Sept. 1 with a slew of games at Chow Field at Woodlawn against Weyburn's teams.
