Red Deer’s new U18 female football team, the Central Alberta Fire will begin their inaugural season this weekend.
On Sunday they’ll host the U18 jamboree at Setters Place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to kick off the season.
They’ll host teams from Airdrie, Calgary, and Okotoks to play a series of exhibition games. The three teams from southern Alberta play each other in an all-female league throughout the summer and this season have added the Fire to the group.
Vice president of Red Deer Minor Football Lori McGowan said the event is meant to be a learning experience for the players brand new to the game.
“It’s more about getting used to what goes on and how the game runs,” she said.
“The coaches are on the field with them at the same time helping them learn where they’re supposed to be and what they’re supposed to be doing.”
On Sunday the four teams will all play each other once in jamboree-style games. Two games will be played at the same time where each team will begin on the 45-year line facing their own endzone. Each squad will get seven offensive plays to reach the endzone before switching to offence.
McGowan explained they’re excited to begin their first-ever season.
“We were really pleased to get 15 girls signed up from central Alberta this year. Hopefully, next year we’ll word will spread a little bit more and we’ll get even bigger for next year,” she said.
This year’s team features players from Stettler, Sylvan Lake, Red Deer, Springbrook, Innisfail, and Lacombe. Throughout the lineup experience levels playing football varies from player to player. Some are new to the game while others wanted to play during the summer before they begin the high school football season.
“Once they finish minor football at the peewee age the only place for them to play is in the high schools. They play bantam and then they go into high school,” she said.
“This is a spring option for them to play just female football whereas in the fall they’ll have to go through the high school stream where they have to play with males. Once you hit that high school age the size, speed, and all of that becomes a bit of a challenge for them.”
The roster includes Oenna Bradford, Jayden Galati, Kate Haldorson, Kiley Kerr, Kara Litzenberger, Rowan Macleod, Kierra Russell, Peyton Wiggins, Caydence Rawlins, Etta Dryden-Brown, Grace Watkinson, Lillian Watkinson, Olive Buchanan, Sawyer Shimek, and Chloe Brown.
The coaching staff is led by head coach Martin Rheaume followed by assistant coaches Dallas Haldorson, Leanne Coleman, Kimi Shackelton, Vic Sloboda, and Devon Mappin.
