RMF teams practising but games remain up in the air

Minor football is back in Regina … sort of.

While Regina Minor Football teams are able to practise, executive director Len Antonini says they can’t play games unless the provincial government increases the limit on the number of players allowed in mini-leagues as a part of the government’s response to COVID-19.

“We’ve got the kids out, they’re doing their drills and everything. We’re cleaning the balls and trying to keep everything clean, getting the kids to clean their hands and only use their own water bottles. We’re practising with the hope that with the reopening, that (health officials) increase the number of people in their mini-leagues.” Antonini said.

As of now, the province only allows a limit of 50 athletes to participate in mini-leagues. Parents are also unable to watch their kids practise as the government wants to limit the number of people at sporting events.

Antonini said the current guidelines from Football Canada and Football Saskatchewan are asking leagues to have teams prepare to play 9-on-9 football this year and he said they are obliging.

Antonini belies Regina Minor Football would be able to keep everyone safe because of two factors: All players are under 16 years of age and the sport takes place outdoors.

“Those are two factors that are very low risk. Regina Minor Football has the resources to implement proper hygiene and things like that for the games. We believe that we have a good program to put forward,” Antonini said.

Antonini said RMF had an extended registration process that went until June 30. He said the league tried its best to let everyone know its intention was to have a season, including sending out emails and putting out social media posts.

He said in a normal year, the league would have about 1,100 kids signed up. This year by June 1, there was 450 kids registered. By the time the extended deadline arrived, it was up to about 750 kids.

The league has continued to accept registrations, bringing the number to about 875 players. If a player still wants to register, they will be put on a waiting list.

“There’s a few teams that have openings so if I can place (players who registered after June 30), I place them right away. We do have kids quitting right now with concerns about the COVID and concerns that we’re not going to play games,” he said.

“It’s not a perfect world right now. I don’t have a lot of answers for a lot of people.”

He also said there are concerns about the high school football season.

“High school didn’t have their training camps this year. Some kids don’t know if they’re playing high school or playing bantam,” Antonini said.

Antonini said if no games are played, the league will refund the division fees but will keep the $60 registration fee.

“The people have gotten some value out of it already. (Teams) hyave started practising and I think a lot of people understand that we have a lot of costs that we have just to get the practices started,” Antonini said.