Football camp aims to recruit, promote game to women

Women and girls will have the opportunity to learn about and play football at Mosaic Stadium Saturday.

The 2017 Regina Riot Open Camp runs throughout the day, with a variety of drills and lessons. Athletes will get a feel for the equipment and take part in a practice.

“A lot of younger girls, we find, are a little bit shy when it comes to playing tackle football because it’s not a sport that’s maybe played as much as soccer or basketball for women, but it’s growing so fast,” said Riot head coach Olivier Eddie.

The annual camp is used to recruit potential players and to help spread the game among women and girls. Those as young as 14 years old are welcome to attend the camp.

“It’s an interesting challenge because we’re recruiting athletes who may have never played the sport before and that’s rare, usually, for an adult’s league,” Eddie said.

“Usually you’ve played up through the ranks in schools and through club programs growing up.”

In many cases, Eddie said athletes who have just finished their university sport career come out to the camp, still hungry to play and to compete.

Registration opens at 8 a.m. Saturday.