The Sask. Selects are brining their Rural Camp Series to Lloydminster and Meadow Lake. (Sask Selects/Facebook)

By Austin Mattes

Rural Camp Series

Saskatchewan Selects shine spotlight on smaller communities

Apr 3, 2025 | 5:00 PM

When it comes to football in Saskatchewan, there is no question that the love for it is strong, and the talent is available. From the huge support of the Saskatchewan Roughriders to the success of Saskatoon Hilltops, the passion for football runs deep across the province and is constantly growing.

However, in smaller communities, young football players don’t always get the same access to development that others may get in the larger populated cities. For that reason, the Saskatchewan Selects, an elite youth American football program based out of southern Saskatchewan, is introducing their Rural Camp Series for the very first time and bringing it to Meadow Lake and Lloydminster.

Former CFL offensive linemen and Selects coach Matt Sheridan said he hopes this will give young athletes the opportunity to showcase and develop their skills at a higher level.

“Traditionally, football hasn’t given lots of exposure to small town Saskatchewan, we’re trying to change that. There are barriers, both financially and geographically, to these communities and we recognize that there’s a tremendous amount of talent. We want to show that and bring the expert caliber coaching and skill development to those communities,” said Sheridan.

The Selects started in 2012 with the purpose of trying to elevate the competition of football in Saskatchewan and create opportunities for players to get to the next level. Since their inception, they have seen over 200 players go to the Canadian Junior Football League (CJFL), more than 150 play at the USports level, seven athletes play at the NCAA level, and 10 plus go to the CFL.

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One of the reasons the program has seen success is due to the exposure of international competition they have brought to the local Sask. players, Sheridan said.

“Every winter we do four months of practices indoors and then usually there are a couple of options for competitions. We have a big tournament in Moose Jaw and then typically there is a trip down to the U.S., either to Florida or Texas, to offer some competitive elements, and last year we even went to Germany for a competition,” he said.

The Rural Camp Series will be going to nine different small communities throughout May and June, including Lloydminster on May 24 and Meadow Lake on May 25. The other communities the program will be stopping at are Weyburn, Estevan, Moosomin, Medicine Hat, Melville, Outlook and Swift Current.

The camp will be a full day of Selects drills and practice as well as off-the-field learning. Apart from player development, there will also be a coaching forum and presentation with experienced CJFL and USports coaches sharing their knowledge of the game to help guide local coaches.

Sheridan added that these camps also aim to provide more than just football development.

“We recognize and believe in the value that exists in these communities with regards to talent and potential. We’re going to use that and maximize the opportunities that football can present to the youth in terms of developing life skills, but also potentially providing opportunities to get scholarships or advance them in their own lives,” he said.

To learn more or to register for the Rural Camp Series visit the Sask. Selects website.

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Austin.mattes@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @AustinMattes