The Ladysmith Steelers Pee Wee tackle football season kicks off its third season this Saturday, Sept. 3, with a league exhibition jamboree at Forrest Field.
“It’s an exciting time for us,” said head coach and CEO Demetreous Bourodemos. “This is an exciting, growing sport on the Island in the last decade, and we’re going at it on the grassroots level.”
The jamboree will run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The five participating teams, from Ladysmith, Nanaimo (x2), Parksville and Campbell River, will play a few rounds of 25-minute mini games.
“Every team gets to play each other at least once,” Bourodemos said.
The Pee Wee Steelers are part of the Cooperative Football League, and welcome anyone ages 8-11.
The Jr. Bantam league, made up of 12-13 year olds begins the season with their first game on September 17.
“Yesterday we had our first practice, we saw a lot of red rosey cheeks that were sweaty, and that’s a good thing after a summer vacation of not being active,” Bourodemos said.
Bourodemos said there are more than 20 kids registered but it is still not too late for more to sign up for the season. Practices are held Tuesdays and Thursdays and home games will be played Saturdays at Forrest Field until the end of the season in November. In February and March, the teams will host spring flag football.
“Our philosophy is fun, learning fundamentals of the game of football and being physical out there because the sport of football is contact and you do collide and we learn how to get back up after we get knocked down,” he said.
Saturday’s jamboree is the perfect time for families to come out and see what the game is all about if they have been thinking about getting involved.
Volunteers are always needed.
“Sport has a unique way of bringing out the best in children,” Bourodemos said.
“First of all would be team work, working with others of all ages and genders… and primarily being a good part of our local society here in Ladysmith and being a contributor.”
Bourodemos thanked the local organizations that have helped make funding for the Steelers possible.
“It’s a great thing that the town is doing and we appreciate it,” he said.
For more information on the league, contact Demetreous at 250-729-1519 or demetreous@hotmail.com.
