Saskatchewan athletes headed to Europe to play football, American-style

Forty-six high school football players from Sask. are heading overseas to compete against European teams in American-style football. Carla Shynkaruk explains.

They’re getting set for the trip of a lifetime. Forty-six students from the Institute of Saskatchewan Football are set to travel to the United Kingdom and Sweden this week, where they will compete against European teams playing American-style football.

The trip is part of a unique high school program that combines athletics and academics.

“They love football. They’re here to train,” program founder Brian Guebert told CTV News.

The Saskatoon-born coach and teacher developed the curriculum for the program and played for the Hilltops, Huskies and Blue Bombers in the Canadian Football League.

“We’re doing something really unique. There’s nothing really like this in the rest of the country. So, we’re trendsetters,” he said.

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Now in its second year, the institute offers a full semester of high school credit through the Distance Learning Centre in partnership with Saskatoon Minor Football.

Students from six school divisions across the province take part in the program, training daily while earning credits in wellness, leadership and sport performance. Participants come from places like Hague and North Battleford as well as Saskatoon.

For Saskatoon Grade 11 student Carson Putz, the experience has already brought new challenges and opportunities, including adapting to a different version of the game.

“For the American game, it’s 11 players instead of 12, and four downs instead of three. It’s been challenging but also super fun, and it’s cool learning a different game,” Putz told CTV News.

The upcoming European tour will give players a chance to test those skills on an international stage, while also learning from teams overseas.

Organizers say the goal goes beyond wins and losses.

“The goal is to equip these kids with as many tools as possible to have success at any level they pursue,” Guebert said.

In addition to preparing athletes for university, junior and potentially professional football, the program also highlights career paths within the sport, from coaching and officiating to marketing and sports medicine.

The opportunity is about more than just football.

“I definitely want to ... go to the next level, play junior football, even U sports,” Putz said.

“I’m really hoping to come out of this and go somewhere and commit somewhere further, whether that’s in the States and Canada, wherever it is,” Klein said.

But for now, they are focused on the upcoming trip.

“It’s honestly been such a great opportunity, and being able to go to Europe and play teams from other countries is just so cool,” she said.

The team departs Thursday, representing Saskatchewan and Canada as they take their game overseas.