ESTEVAN - The Estevan Canuckcade U10 Cudas football team had a fun season on the gridiron, participating in several jamborees, including one at home.
The Cudas hosted their annual event on Sept. 22 at the Dana Quewezance Memorial Field at Woodlawn Athletic Park. Six teams participated, with three from Moose Jaw, two from Weyburn and one from Estevan.
The field was divided into sections, and the teams had fun scrimmages with six players on the field for each squad. Cudas head coach Amy Belitski noted they didn't officially keep score, but that didn't prevent the kids from tracking the results in their heads.
"The kids always have so much fun," said Belitski. "They love playing against another team and they like the challenge."
Seventeen players were on the U10 Cudas this year, and four assistant coaches joined Belitski in guiding the team. They had jamborees in Moose Jaw and Weyburn prior to the one in Estevan, and then they wrapped up their season with another gathering in Moose Jaw on Sept. 29.
Belitski said it's been a great season for the Cudas. They brought their "A-game" to both games and practices, and the beautiful weather in the southeast in September added to the fun this fall.
"They have made amazing progress. There was probably a handful of kids that have never played football before, but they have learned how play … quite well," said Belitski.
The experience at the U10 level will help the players be ready for football next year in U12 games with the Estevan Power Dodge Chargers – a team that has enjoyed success in recent years. The Cuda players have been learning fundamentals, such as how to properly play the game and how to tackle, but also how to protect themselves while playing in a full-contact sport. There is tackling at the U10 level.
"When they get up to that U12 level, it is a much harder game with more tackling and bigger kids," said Belitski.
Belitski said she would like to see more kids playing U10 football next year. For eight and nine-year-olds who are interested in football, there is lots of room for players, she said, and they could also use coaches and managers.
