The Innisfail Minor Football atom team has been making progress on the field this season.
The regular season runs from the end of August to the end of October.
“It's been going really well,” said Talitha Watkinson, head coach. “We have a small team this year especially compared to (bigger communities) like Sylvan Lake that has around 30 kids, while we are working with an average of about 14 kids.”
Despite the lack in numbers, the young atom team with players from the age of eight to 10 is making a good impression both on and off the field.
“We're staying competitive and we're pushing back just as hard,” she said, noting comments from other coaches on players' skill level and sportsmanship. “They're holding their own against teams that are twice as big.”
All games for atoms are exhibitions but do remain competitive, noted Watkinson.
“We play nine on nine and coaches are on the field but we don't have playoffs,” she said. “They do learn the fundamentals of the game. They're learning how to tackle, how to get tackled and how to handle the ball without the extra pressure of the playoffs,” explained Watkinson.
Now in the second year for the atom program, the local association has seen the program grow and players gain experience in that short time span, she noted, adding that players learn at a young age and can take that experience with them as they move through Innisfail Minor Football divisions.
“Now we have kids that are going into peewee next year and they've already had two years of experience with football,” said Watkinson. “They manage to fit in very quickly.”
Practices are held during the week with games every Saturday. The regular season is set to wrap up at the end of October.
“We're in the last three weeks of our season,” said Watkinson.
Talitha Watkinson, head coach
"They're learning how to tackle, how to get tackled and how to handle the ball without the extra pressure of the playoffs."
