It is a coaches’ clinic that looks more like a convention and is certainly a collaboration.
Football coaches from across Saskatchewan — and even outside this province’s borders — are to converge upon Mosaic Stadium on Friday and Saturday for a traditional event that has a new twist.
For the first time, the Football Saskatchewan Coaches Clinic — held in close co-operation with the Saskatchewan Roughriders — is to be held in the CFL team’s facilities.
“(Roughriders President-CEO) Craig Reynolds reached out to us and expressed, ‘What more could we do to help amateur football?’ ” said Mike Thomas, Football Saskatchewan’s director of football operations. “When he made that opportunity available to us, we wanted to work with it.”
The Green and White will be well represented. Sessions are to be conducted by Kelly Jeffrey (offensive co-ordinator), Clinton Spencer (strength and conditioning trainer) and Drew Tate (receivers coach).
As well, the agenda will also include presentations by former Roughriders players Ventson Donelson (who now coaches with the University of Regina Rams) and Corey Grant (Carleton University).
The final session, slated for Sunday, will include former Roughriders assistant coach and CFL head coach Paul LaPolice, who will discuss grouping pass concepts and offensive organizational thoughts.
Other presentations — either in person or virtually — will be made by coaches Kyle Stroeder (Rams), John Svec (St. Francis Xavier), Scott MacAulay (Regina Thunder), Paul Dawson (Thunder), Riley Hobbins (Tisdale Tornados), Darryl Dickson (Wakaw Warriors), John Svenson (Melville Cobras), Donnavan Carter (University of Guelph) and Ryan Hall (Regina Minor Football).
“We really try to ensure that we have a good balance and people the coaches can learn from at various levels,” Thomas noted. “It’s an opportunity for people to rub shoulders and talk with coaches across the province and across the country in different disciplines.
“We’re fortunate that, in the coaching fraternity, there are a lot of people who like to sit down and talk football, which is great.”
Thomas is also upbeat about the fact that the clinic — customarily an annual event — is being held for the first time since March of 2019.
“We had it planned for March of 2020, but it didn’t quite go off so well,” said Thomas, referencing the declaration of a global pandemic — COVID-19 — on March 11, 2020.
Subsequently, Football Saskatchewan undertook various initiatives that were designed to allow coaches to learn from their colleagues in virtual fashion.
“But I think people started to get Zoom fatigue from looking at a screen all the time,” Thomas said. “People were clamouring to get back to doing things in person and this is our first opportunity with this clinic.”
Previously, the long-standing event had been held at a university or large high school in Regina or Saskatoon.
The ability to stage everything at Mosaic Stadium, with its auditorium and meeting rooms in the expansive and technologically advanced football-operations area, enhances the opportunities available to the presenters and attendees.
“It’s great to be able to integrate the technology of Zoom and Teams and also have presenters in person as well,” Thomas said. “It’s a little bit of both worlds for the coaches.
“Overall, we’re just happy to have our coaches back in this platform so they’re able to learn from some of the best coaches in the CFL, U Sports, CJFL and high school.”
Thomas is quick to extend his thanks to the Roughriders for being so welcoming.
“That’s the beauty of having a personable President-CEO such as Craig,” said Thomas, who was also quick to acknowledge Roughriders employees Kent Paul (Chief Financial Officer), Cindy Fuchs (Executive Director, Saskatchewan Roughrider Foundation), Marnie Forsberg (Project Adminstration Co-ordinator, Roughrider Foundation) and Karina Peterson (Community Operations Co-ordinator).
For more information on the clinic, or to register, visit https://www.footballsaskatchewan.ca/coachesclinic
