Football players from all around west-central Saskatchewan were on the same field in Rosetown this past Sunday. Over 50 players were in attendance for the last Football Saskatchewan Player Development camp of the season.

Athletic Director for Rosetown Composite High School, and head coach of the Rosetown Royals football team Mitch Wintonyk was glad to share more on the special opportunity. It's a regional camp that Rosetown has been more than happy to help out with over the past few years.

"They call it their PD (Player Development) camp. They host it in various locations in the province. We approached them three years ago about putting a camp on here, and it's been well-attended, so they are excited to come out every year and see what we got in west-central for football talent."

Wintonyk said that players from all around the region joined his Royals at the camp.

"There was about 65-70 participants. From Grade 8 to Grade 11, anything in between." said Wintonyk. "A lot of Rosetown, which we expect for hosting it. I recognized Kindersley helmets, Biggar helmets. Kerrobert, Plenty; there was a kid from North Battleford it looked like, and even one from Aden Bowman in Saskatoon came out."

The development camp is a great way for players to learn, but also open the eyes of the coaches in attendance.

"They get noticed. It's a chance to enhance your skills, get some different coaching." said Wintonyk, who shared more appreciation for the camp as the coach of the senior Royals. "Thing I like about it is, it shows some of our players that we are doing the same types of drills, teaching the same types of concepts they would learn at Football Sask. in the city player 12-aside. For me, I like it because it's reassuring for the kids that just because you play 6-aside, 9-aside, flag-football; you are still learning the exact same things you would playing 12-aside. The concepts transfer between all three of those games.

Another caveat for the camp is the chance to learn from players who maybe came from the Football Sask. system, and are now going pro. Wintonyk says that each year the camp has been held in Rosetown they have had quite the difference makers as coaches.

"It's pretty cool, Caleb Morin was out, got drafted by Hamilton," was one name mentioned by Wintonyk, another coach being recent Roughriders signing Noah Zerr. "They get to meet some of these high level athletes, and it's just kind of cool for the kids to be coached by a guy who is in the CFL. Might hear their name on the TV, radio, if you are watching or listening to a CFL game."

Players will get a chance to put their newly learned skills to the test with more camps and tryout opportunities coming up this spring. Team mini-camps are also on the way for many schools, ahead of the next high school football season starting up in the fall.