Exceeding expectations: SMFL kicks off the season this weekend with its annual combine
“We do our best to forecast, but we have exceeded our expectations," Premo said. "If spots open, (parents) will be able to register (their kids).”
Article content
Minor football is winning a popularity contest with the young crowd, but there is an unfortunate downside to its popularity.
The Sault Minor Football League kicks off its season this weekend at the Northern Community Centre with the annual combine.
“We have players on the waiting list, we are at capacity for all our divisions,” Sault Amateur Football Association vice-president Matt Premo told The Sault Star.
It should be noted that Premo doesn’t like turning away kids with an interest in football, but there is only so much equipment to go around, as he explains.
“We would love to open (the league) to everyone, but we only have enough equipment for so many,” the vice president said. “We do our best to forecast, but we have exceeded our expectations. If spots open, (parents) will be able to register (their kids).”
SAFA is the parent organization of the SMFL and the Sault Sabercats junior and senior varsity teams.
Keeping the game affordable is a core principle for SAFA. Apart from cleats and a mouth guard, the league provides everything a young player will need to compete.
“We try and keep the cost as low as possible,” Premo said.
For the upcoming season the SMFL has 322 registered players, stretched across three divisions. Last year the league had approximately 300 players registered.
“Minor football is in a great spot in Sault Ste. Marie,” Premo said. “We were a little bit worried post-Covid but over the last three years we have grown (the registration numbers) to a healthy position. We are happy with the registration numbers and the level of interest.”
There are about a dozen females registered for this season, Premo saying the female number is “great to see.”
The divisions are Atom, Peewee and Bantam. The ages range from eight years old to 14 years old. The most popular division is Atom with 112 registered players.
“We hope these young players enjoy the game, they grow, develop and stick with it,” Premo said
Besides providing the kids with hours of fun and fitness within the learning curve, Premo was asked what makes the atom league so popular.
“I think a lot of it is word of mouth, the younger players enjoying the football program,” Premo said. “We try to keep if fun while teaching them the skills of the game and important life skills like teamwork and stuff like that. The kids are enjoying their time and relaying it to friends and family … And we have a great group of volunteer coaches who keep it fun for the kids.”
As previously mentioned, the combine this weekend tees up another gridiron season.
“For some, the combine is a little introduction to football and for others an opportunity to reintroduce our returning players,” Premo said. “The combine gives the coaches and chance to meet (the players) and make sure we are distributing the skill level and talent evenly across all the teams in each division.”
Members of the Sault Sabercats team will assist in whatever capacity is needed.
“We are excited to get it started,” Premo said. “A lot of (the Sabercats are) volunteering and supporting the young athletes, so we are excited about that, allowing them the opportunity to give back to SMFL as a lot of them are products of that league.”
Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.