This season there will be a new team to join Stettler's football ranks, the Atom Bobcats.
"The idea of starting an atom program has been in our minds for a couple years after having watched what the Red Deer minor football association was doing to introduce the game to a younger demographic," said coach Devon Mappin. "It came up in a conversation with some parents last season while watching our peewees practice."
Soon after, everything clicked about starting an atom program, especially after how successful it had been in Red Deer, said Mappin.
"The main goal for us as a group is to create a fun and safe environment to learn the game of football," said Mappiin. "One thing I have noticed with the peewee and bantam programs is on game day, we don't always get a chance to coach players, with the atom program it gives us that opportunity."
According to Mappin, the atom league games are played jamboree style which means that 10 offence and 10 defence plays are executed in alternation.
"All the while we as coaches are on the field, so it allows us to cheer on a good play with them in the huddle and correct some issues while helping the players learn at a faster rate," added Mappin. "At the end of the day, the score doesn't matter, its all just about fun and being part of a team."
Stettler Minor Football is hosting an I.D. camp on April 16 at the William E. Hay Stettler Secondary Campus for the bantam through to the atom programs, with registration from 9 a.m.
"We will be running it combined to start off and teach safe contact technique," said Mappin. "We will then work on basic skills for individual positions and to finish off our camp we will have a team-building exercise."
There might also be a guest speaker to conclude the camp, which will be confirmed at a later time.