The Olds High School Spartans football team hit the field Monday morning for the start of the team's training camp.
The camp will run until Thursday, when the players will travel to Stettler for a combined camp with the Stettler Wildcats, before beginning the season on Sept. 3 against the Drumheller Valley Secondary School Titans in Drumheller.
The Spartans will also have an exhibition game against the Wildcats on Saturday.
George Grant, the Spartans' coach, estimated last week that about 35 players would come out for the camp, but he said he was hoping more would show up. Grant said he hopes to carry at least 36 players to fill out the 24-man roster.
“I'm sure as it gets closer to the start of school, we might get one or two more students who want to give football a try and we are looking for as many bodies as we possibly can (get). We want to try and improve upon what we did last year,” he said, referring to the team's perfect 6-0 regular season record, the team's first Big Sky Football Conference Tier III banner and provincial game.
Grant said even with returning players, no roster spots are locked up. A total of nine players from last year's team graduated, leaving some big shoes to fill.
“We're hoping that with the (Bantam) Bulldogs that are moving up, that they will rise to that challenge and be able to challenge for some of those open spots. We also have some backup players from last year's team that have been working extremely hard in the off-season that will be challenging, so all spots on the team are open; nobody is guaranteed a single thing.”
“If the kids are showing up all the time, coming to practices, working hard, they are going to get playing time,” he said, noting the amount of playing time anyone gets will be determined by circumstances. “All players will see game time … because we want to see them develop as athletes and really tighten up the team concept that not one player makes a team, but a team will create a star,” he said.
Grant said he thinks there will be about nine to 10 seniors on the team this year, with another dozen rookies.
“That veteran leadership that the Grade 12s will have … will really help … shape the rookies and show them the ropes,” he said.
In addition to the opening game on Sept. 3, Drumheller will make a return visit to Olds, as well as a home-and-home set with the Canmore Collegiate High School Wolverines. Single games will be played against the Innisfail Junior-Senior High School Cyclones and the Strathmore High School Spartans.
