Camp geared toward new Canadians

In his time as a teacher at Campbell Collegiate, Ryan Hall has noticed that the demographic of the student body is changing — due in part to new Canadians.

As the head football coach with the Campbell Tartans, he is looking to get these students involved in the sport.

“A lot of the kids in our school, they see the football team and they see that it’s a great thing to be involved in, but they have no background in it and it’s kind of intimidating to come into something with no knowledge,” he said.

Hall met with other coaches in the Regina Intercollegiate Football League over the winter to discuss how they could engage students who have no football background, whether it’s from never having played before or because they don’t come from a country where football is as popular as it is in Canada.

They came up with a blueprint for the free New Players Football Orientation Camp, which is to be held Saturday at F.W. Johnson Collegiate.

“We just wanted to provide kind of a beginner, transition opportunity for the kids so they can learn the basics of the game and then hopefully have enough confidence that they would choose to go to their school team spring camp later on in May and June,” Hall said.

Coaches from various high schools throughout the city have volunteered their time. Various sponsors, including TMG and the Saskatchewan Roughriders Alumni Association, have also pitched in to help.

Hall said several students from a number of different high schools in Regina have committed to attend the camp. He added that around 15 students from the school at Kahkewistahaw First Nation will be attending as well.

One of the estimated 60 new players attending the camp is Grade 10 Campbell student Dex Hong, who is originally from South Korea. He is an active basketball player and is looking to try other sports. His football-playing friends suggested he give the sport a try. He is hoping his skills from other sports translate well into football.

“I think I’m a pretty fast player, so hopefully that can help me with football,” said Hong, who is looking to become a receiver or defensive back.

Heading into camp, his goal is simple.

“I just want to have fun and get better at it,’’ he said.

At the camp, Hall said the students will first practise without equipment and teach them proper and safe blocking and body contact techniques. Then they will have two classroom sessions where they will learn about the different terminology and positions in football. Then it will be time to strap on the pads and the students will partake in drills that focus on blocking, tackling, throwing, catching, pass defending, block defending and ball handling.

Hall hopes that the students who attend the orientation camp will learn a lot and ultimately be motivated to pursue football at their respective high schools.

“As long as the kids are committed and they’re working hard and they’re learning, these kids they should probably have an easy time finding a role on their team even if they’re not star players right away,” he said.

The players will be coached by: Hall and Gary Bresch, both of Campbell; Jon Probe and John Tokar, Balfour Bears; Jason Janssen, Shawn McCall and Cory Renwick, Johnson Wildcats; Michael Knight and Nam Thach, O’Neill Titans; Derek Pilon and Jay Bonnor, Riffel Royals; and, Tyler Pokoyoway and Dan Tonge, Winston Knoll Wolverines.