Close to 30 young aspiring football players in Olds were treated to the “Spring Fever” clinic behind Holy Trinity Catholic School on May 10, led by three CFL players.The clinic, hosted by the Olds Minor Football Association, featured drills run by Mike Klassen, a defensive lineman for the Montreal Alouettes; Kirby Fabien, offensive lineman for the B.C. Lions; and Tom Spoletini, a linebacker for the B.C. Lions.Participants ranged from 10 to 15 years old and practised tackling pads, throwing, stances and the three-cone drill, intended to improve agility.The three pro-football players were teammates on the University of Calgary Dinos and were also invited to share their stories on how they reached the CFL and acquired an education in the process.“When I was younger, developing in sports, I always had my mentors as well,” Klassen said. “I met some CFL guys, some professional athletes, Olympians or whatever and I really looked up to them so it's awesome I get to give back in the same way that they gave to me when I was their age.”The Olds Minor Football Association houses two teams: the Huskies, for players aged 10 to 12, and the Bulldogs, 13 to 15.Beyond that, those who stick with the sport graduate to play at the high school level, with the association acting as a feeder system for the program.That is something that Olds High School football coach George Grant, who was also present at the clinic, hopes to see.“There are definitely some players here I can't wait to get here in a couple years because they've got some size here, they've got some speed, they've got some neat characteristics and personalities that I can't wait for them to get to the high school program,” Grant said. “We're just trying to show them that football really is a fun sport that we want to keep everybody involved in and let it grow and let them grow as individuals.”Klassen, whose father graduated from Olds High School, said the sport is unique for the camaraderie it breeds between teammates. He hopes to return to Olds to run another clinic in the future.“Hopefully we could do this for years to come and the turnout gets better and better and I can bring more of my friends out and make this a bit of a tradition.”[email protected]
