“There is still snow on the ground and this football Mom is longing for the sweet sound of HUUUTTT!!!,” says Maureen Speidel. For those of you who don’t know, right here in our community there is a Minor football club that has been running for many years, working with the High School to grow the great game of football here in Chestermere.
The interest over the past three years in this ultimate team sport, has been growing and the Chestermere Chiefs organization has been able to field two Atom (age 7-10) teams from our fine city. This year, they have past players begging to keep playing in Chestermere so they are expanding to have a Pee Wee team (ages 11-12) for the 2015 season.
“When my family first became involved in Football I was pretty skeptical, thinking of big kids, and my child playing a contact sport was a very intimidating thought, but I have been so pleasantly surprised over our past 3 years and last year my youngest began to play at age 7….and loved it too!”, explains Speidel.
Research shows that children thrive when given the opportunity to participate in team sports. Speidel made the following points regarding why children benefit from joining the Chestermere Chiefs:
- They learn to use their body and depend on their team to do their job, working together to achieve a common goal.
- The equipment, right from helmet and shoulders pads to the pants and socks are provided by the team within the registration fee.
- The club keeps their costs as low as possible, $300 for the entire season
- The coaches love coaching, are NCCP trained and have a lot of fun with the players on the field. They have had at least 3 coaches for every team and are always recruiting to ensure every player has coaching to assist them in learning the FUNdamentals’ of football in as safe a way as possible.
- All games are played at Shouldice Park on the same field turf that is in McMahon Stadium. The last 3 years one of their games has even been played at McMahon Stadium under the lights and they had the opportunity to tour the locker rooms when the Stampeders were practicing the same night they played.
- The players grow so much athletically throughout the season, like Speidels youngest that wasn’t sure about the heavy equipment at the beginning; developing to catch a ball during the game, and making critical blocks to help get touchdowns by the middle of the season. Players beam coming off the field, there are so many little successes that get to be celebrated.
- That football is NOT just for boys, the Chiefs have female players and last year one of their own graduated female players helped to coach.
- The parents are amazing! They have so much fun cheering on the kids, their fundraiser has traditionally been a pub night where they definitely entertain each other and they laugh A LOT!!
- The club provides a safe and fun introduction to football, team photos, a welcome BBQ, a wind up banquet and the coveted video montage of our players during their games that each player receives a copy of.
So come try them out! You can check their website www.chestermerechiefs.com and follow them on Facebook at Chestermere Chiefs Community Football 2015. You can also try one or all of their FREE Training Camps scheduled for May 21st 6pm, June 11th 6pm or June 13th 10am – all at the Chestermere Regional Recreation Centre. For more information please email chiefsfootball@shaw.ca.
