Peterborough Otters Football Tackle Past COVID-19
/COVID-19 has made the football offseason much longer for students but one local club kept the tackling spirit alive all year.
The Peterborough Otters of Kawartha Football announced a spring football program for Grade 8-12 students which beings on Apr. 19.
The varsity program was created for competitive players to start or continue offseason training with scrimmage, positional training and practices twice a week.
Guest speakers such as college coaches and players have spoke for the Peterborough Otters football program. Photo Courtesy of Otters Football.
High schools could not have football seasons from the pandemic and Otters football was an outlet for players to continue their development.
“A lot of people, they do confuse football as just a seasonal sport but we want them to understand that there’s an annual commitment to it,” said Sidney Parkes, Otters Football President. “That’s what differentiates between good players and great players.”
Malaki van GIls, 17, has played organized football in Campbellford and for the Peterborough Wolverines of the Ontario Football Conference. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
Scrimmage games of 7-on-7 flag football will be played at Thomas A. Stewart Secondary School every Friday night with practices every Monday and Wednesday.
“Traditionally we would be a tackle football program but this year we are offering a non-contact alternative due to the COVID-19 protocols,” said Parkes.
Otters Football began in fall of 2020 which offers offseason training, grassroots startups for young children and spring training as part of their year-round program. Photo courtesy of Otters Football.
