The Estevan Power Dodge U10 Cudas football team made considerable strides during the past season, according to assistant coach Kevin Mortenson.
The Cudas started practising in August and then had to wait for the Saskatchewan Health Authority to give them the go-ahead on their season. On Sept. 2, they found out they could play.
They went to their first jamboree in Moose Jaw the second weekend of September, and then they hosted Moose Jaw for a jamboree of their own Sept. 20. The jamborees saw the football field split in half, and then teams played mini-games with six players aside.
The jamboree in Estevan marked the first time such an event has happened locally.
An intersquad game gave them one last chance to test their skills in a game setting.
While the kids did well this year, Mortenson said it’s important to continue to work on pass and run blocking. He suggested they will try to have something for the offseason and into 2021.
Twenty-two kids were part of the program this season.
Nick Nielsen was the team’s head coach, and Mortenson, Andrew Herperger, Jason Bresciani, Chayton Fornwald, Robbie Mitchell and Grayson Nelson were assistant coaches. The latter three are students who are members of the Estevan Comprehensive School Elecs football team.
A couple of parents came out during the season to help with cleaning equipment, tackle bags and other items.
“After contact, we had to … wipe those down, as we did with the footballs,” said Mortenson.
It was also great to have access to the Chow Field practice field for the first time in several years this year.
