With mid-August upon us Innisfail and area footballers are getting ready for a gridiron fall.
The Innisfail Minor Football Association (IMFA) has been putting peewee and bantam players through the paces since Aug. 5 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Innisfail Jr./Sr. High school field.
“The point of summer training is to get players motivated, conditioned and pumped for the upcoming regular season that starts August 18,” said Jessi Lute, club manager. “We want to allow coaches to start scouting which players will be playing which positions.”
Coaches Jason Lute, Wally Genz and Scott Layden will be running fitness training along with the help of coach James Bell and some alumni players. There will be some executive members on hand to answer any parent questions or take new registrations.
“We try to have between 24 and 30 players per team registered,” said Lute. “The league standard is at least 18. So far we have had 16 to 20 players coming out to summer training which is ahead of last year.”
The IMFA will be hosting the second True Grit exhibition event on Aug. 23, which will include the Rocky Mountain House Rebels and Rocky View Rage. Oil company Worley Parsons has fully sponsored the event, with other local sponsors not yet confirmed.
“This is an all day event for both bantams and peewees that allow players to practise their skills and build confidence in a game-like setting without the pressure before regular season games start,” said Lute. “It's an event we advertise throughout the community and have many local businesses participate in as sponsors by donating prizes or services.”
“The 2013 season was successful for us,” said Lute. “Our bantam Cyclones, for the first time in IMFA history, played in a Central Football League playoff game. The Cyclones won silver medals, losing out to the Hunting Hills Jr. Lightning by two points (10-8) in overtime.”
The team manager added the Cyclones “play hard, play tough and play strong,” and that this year is already looking to be a strong one. Lute also pointed out that the IMFA was recognized by the province for its part in raising awareness of bullying in the Innisfail community with the Wear Orange for Aidan campaign.
For more information on Innisfail Minor Football, call Lute at 227-7848 or go to www.innisfailminorfootball.com.
