Football season is underway in town, as the Sundre Capital Pressure Bison team played its first game on Saturday.
Although the team was defeated by Didsbury, coach Garret Dichrow said it was a good game.
“Even though we lost, our team played very well,” said Dichrow. “There was some really good plays shown by the kids. We need a little work on our offence to score a little more, but it was a really good, clean, hard-hitting football game.”
There are about 16 people registered for the team and he is hoping for about 10 more. There is a slight decrease in interest this year, which he believes is because there was a large graduating class last year.
“We have some new kids. Some younger kids came up. We've got some veterans back,” said Dichrow, excited to start the season.
The team is composed of high school students from Grade 9 through Grade 12, and although there have been no girls on the team this year or last year, it is a mixed-gender sport.
There is also a sponsorship program for people who are unable to afford registration fees.
“So it's not a matter of being able to afford it or not, it's just a matter of having the dedication to come out and practise and play,” said Dichrow.
Practices are two to three times a week and games are held every weekend until the end of the season on Nov. 1.
Dichrow has been coaching the team for five years and says he enjoys it.
“I got involved because my son played, and now that he is in university I've just carried on, and it's something to keep the kids busy and they seem to enjoy it,” he said. “If the kids learn something and they have fun, that's kind of our objective.”
He encourages people to play football because there are no restrictions when it comes to physical athletic ability.
“You don't have to be an athlete to play football. We're looking for big kids, little kids, fast kids, slow kids. It really doesn't matter, because there is a position in football for everybody,” he said. “In football you can be a lineman if you're 250 pounds and if you're a little guy we can use you as a receiver or quarterback.”
