Rocket football; tackling goals one game at a time

ASSINIBOIA  — Assiniboia’s minor football program is almost ready, with registration taking place Aug. 18 for the U12 division.

Nathan McCaslin, head of Assiniboia’s Rocket football program for minors, tells the Assiniboia Times, “Our U12 tackle division is for Grades 4, 5 and 6 while our bantam tackle division is for Grades 7, 8 and 9. Last year we had 20 kids making up those two divisions.”

McCaslin says he expects the same registration this year, although feels the bantam division will have more players as many are moving up from last year. Hopes are high that more kids will become interested and a part of the U12 program.

Assiniboia’s minor football U12 division plays the 9-man football game which the bantam division plays 6-man football as that is what the high school program consists of.

“This minor football program is huge for developing high school football and that is the purpose of it is to develop players for high school, “adds McCaslin.

The bonus for U12 division is they play in a league in Moose Jaw, being the only small town amongst cities and McCaslin says they are thankful Moose Jaw kept their U12 to a 9-man program to accommodate them.

“Unfortunately, there is no league for the bantam division and we scramble every year to line up exhibition games as that keeps kids engaged, enjoying their experience more and helps with hands on skill development,” says the Assiniboia minor football program lead. “It’s kind of sad that once players move up from the U12 division to bantam, it’s like a no man’s land for them and we are trying our best to change that.”

The minor sports organization does a raffle each year to help fundraise for the program and are going to be raffling a mini fridge for this season.

“We get good crowds as it is real football however  the season coincides with hockey so there is some competition for participants and spectators from that aspect.”

The bantam program benefits from young people who went through high school and were part of the football program and are still around Assiniboia and willing to help with coaching duties. Parent coaches fill in the rest of the spots.

Assiniboia’s minor football program has both genders on teams and McCaslin even ascertains that the high school team had a girl that graduated last year.

The ACHS senior Rockets football team is looked after by Brian Ruthven and Jeff Seeley. The Times will reach out to them for comment on their program set to begin in a few weeks.