On the heels of a busy summer, the Ponoka Broncs football teams are gearing up for a new season - which kicks off with the upcoming fall camp.
"We have our fall camp starting on Aug. 19th - two weeks before our season officially begins," said Todd Lewis, head coach.
"It's a higher frequency of practices than usual - we have to teach the new players, and refresh those who are returning of the basics - how to tackle, how to block safely. All the systems of football and the basic rules. Then, after the camp, everyone has a good understanding so they can not only play well, but also safely and effectively."
Lewis said players who can't join in at the start of camp can sign up after the 19th as well.
Those interested can reach out to Lewis by email at todd.lewis@wolfcreek.ab.ca, or message him through the Facebook page 'Ponoka Aree Minor Football Association'.
"I do know there are quite a few kids who are interested in trying it out," he said, adding the camp is an ideal opportunity for kids to see if it's something they'd like to commit to. The Broncs will be supplying all the equipment, and the camp is geared to youth in Grades 7 to 12. It's also free to try.
"I'm expecting a pretty big roster for the bantams, because we already had a big roster in the spring. With the pee wee team, it was a smaller roster, so I'm really hoping we have a tonne of pee wee kids show up," said Lewis.
"They can come to the first couple of practices without paying fees before they fully commit - that is totally ok."
Meanwhile, Lewis said team members keep active through the year in a number of ways, including helping out with initiatives in the region.
"We are pretty busy. With the broncs, things have turned into kind of a year-long thing rather than just playing in the fall. The reason we do that is to keep the kids engaged," he explained.
He said it's also important to keep the players connecting with each other through the year.
"it's a way for them to hang out with their teammates, and really, that's the biggest draw. By doing all of these other events, it reminds them why it's fun," he said. "We also have the opportunity to go and make an impact on our community. It's showing the kids that volunteering is fun and productive. And when you are there with your teammates, it makes it 10 times more fun."
They volunteer in several ways, from walking dogs at Old MacDonald Kennels to helping out at local ball tournaments.
"We did a spring trash clean-up, as we have done the last couple of years. We also host a small football camp at Big Brothers, Big Sisters. It's player-led. I'm there to supervise, but it's the players who run drills, and coach the younger kids. It's really cool watching the players doing the lessons. We've been holding the camp for so long now, a lot of the players we have on the roster are kids who, at one point, were at those Big Brothers Big Sisters camps," he said.
"It's amazing to see what these young people can do when they are given the opportunity to do so."
Just around the corner is the teams' second annual food and bottle drive on Aug. 24th.
"The bottles all go to our operating budgets for the whole year. Last year was the first year that we ever did it, and it was amazing how many bottles and cans we collected from the community. It's absolutely massive for our operating costs.
"In addition to sponsorship we receive from the town, these fundraisers go a long way towards helping pay for all of those necessary things like insurance and travel. With the community helping out, it helps the program lower players' fees as well.
"And while we are going to be collecting bottles, we will also be collecting food items which will be donated to the food bank. Last year, we had 400 to 500 lbs of food. I'd like to see us get up to 1,000 lbs this year," he added.
"On the 24th, both teams will be practicing in the morning, we'll have a meal and get fuelled up, and some parent volunteers with trucks will come and we will organize the kids into groups. Each group will then have a section of Ponoka they are responsible for."
Lewis said that if residents aren't at home when the players drop by, food donations can be taken to Legacy Ford.
"For the bottles, for the week after, Ponoka Bottle Depot will be collecting bottles for us as well, so if people want to go and drop off their bottles, they can ssy they are for our teams," said Lewis.
"Funds from there will also go to our programs and to supporting kids who want to play football."
For Lewis, it's easy to be committed to football and especially coaching, as he explained how much he's personally gained from it.
"It's really been a guiding force in my life - I don't know where I would be without it. So I feel really lucky I get to coach and help kids to experience football, and to hopefully have the same experiences that I had. It's easy to find the energy because I'm just lucky I get to do it.
"Also,, when new families come and join our program, you see the kids warming up to it. And all of sudden, a switch is flipped and it's like, okay, this kid is fully committed. You see it in the families, too. That is an example of one of the things that I love most about football, is the community," he said.
"The relationships you forge with your teammates transcend friendships, because you and are out there facing adversity together. You 'lift' each other through it. Regardless of whether you win or lose - it doesn't matter.
"Facing that adversity together forges a really strong bond, and (creates) real community."
