Students learn how to throw a football and get inspired by professional athlete Brandon Alexander
You might know Brandon Alexander from watching the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, but students at Mapleton School got to meet the man in person when he ran a football camp at the school a few weeks ago.
“Flag football is going to be pretty big here in the next few years. They’re just introducing it into the Olympics here in 2028 and my job is to just grow the game of football here in Manitoba. I’ve been able to be blessed to go to a lot of schools and teach all these young athletes and people who are intrigued and interested in flag to see if they like it,” said Alexander.
He explained that with the students being newer to the sport, he was teaching them the basics.
“Properly holding the football, throwing the football, catching the football, and then once we get into our game, it’s really all about, can you keep a flag on or are you going to take a flag away, and that’s what I want them to see. If they can move really good, and if they can be hyper alert on the flag to be able to take it away, it’s pretty tough to do, but I’ve seen a lot of good athletes out here, and it’s going pretty well,” he said.
The camp ran on June 9, and it wasn’t just Mapleton students who enjoyed the fun, as some students from Walter Whyte were bused over so that they also had a chance to learn.
Alexander explained that he feels that the students really benefit from learning football, saying that, in his opinion, it’s the greatest team sport that you can ever play.
“On the football field, you have 11 or 12 guys on both sides of the ball, and also on special teams as well. So, you’re asking about 30 to 40 guys to individually do their own job for the team to be successful, that is a very tough thing to do. Sometimes there’s overcompensation. If one person doesn’t do their job well, and the other person did their job so well that they can cover up for you. That’s why I say this is the greatest team game that you can play. And, you get a lot of friends from playing this game, so those are life lessons right there,” he explained.
Over his time running football camps, Alexander has worked with Kindergarteners all the way up to Grade 12 students, but students at the elementary grade level, like those at Mapleton and Walter Whyte, are at a great age to learn.
“They’re just getting their athleticism. They’re going into the programs at that age, so getting those age groups (interested) is important for the growth of football,” explained Alexander.
He said that he’s seeing good things from the Lord Selkirk students that he taught.
“I’m seeing a lot of eager kids. I’ve seen a lot of people that’re willing to try, and that’s the important thing, just trying out the things. You will never know something if you don’t try. I’m looking at them, and they seem to have enjoyed themselves, and they’re having fun,” said Alexander.
Janet Sokalski, Principal of Mapleton School, explained that this is an amazing opportunity, not just for students to meet a professional athlete from our province, but to spark their interest in a new sport.
“It is such a valuable opportunity to have had his expertise come to our division and for our school community, within our division, to have him work on the flag football skills. We have amazing phys. ed. teachers that absolutely put everything they have into teaching skills for all different sports. I’m very pleasantly surprised with the skill level of elementary phys. ed. teachers that we have who build programs that develop a lifelong love of sport and of activity. Flag football is ever increasing in our province, and it would be amazing to get some kids from Lord Selkirk to play in the flag football league in the city,” she said.
She also wanted to thank Alexander, as well as all those who worked to get this opportunity to the students in our school division.
“Having the Blue Bombers send him out here and promoting this program is just a tremendous opportunity for students. We have so much appreciation for the opportunity for our students to get involved and to teach them the skills that could potentially lead them into a lifelong love of flag football,” said Sokalski.
