Post by fwp on Feb 2, 2010 9:57:23 GMT -5
www.frontiersman.com/articles/2010/02/02/sports/doc4b67bfa677ed8528694639.txt
WASILLA — Hans Deemer had the first chance to see a few of the players who just might wear the purple and black of the Arctic Predators proffesional indoor football this spring.
Deemer, who has worked for more than a year to bring indoor football to the Mat-Su Valley, hosted the organization’s first open tryout Saturday afternoon at the Curtis D. Menard Memorial Sports Center.
“We thought we had some real quality people there,” Deemer said of the group, which included about two dozens potential players. “To be honest, there were a couple surprises.” Deemer said the bulk of the players in attendance hail from Southcentral Alaska. Former players of Southcentral prep programs such as Colony, Wasilla, Bartlett and Dimond attended the tryout.
The players, who are hopefully for an invite to the team’s training camp, muscled through typical combine style drills, which tested speed, strength and agility.
Deemer said he also put the players on the turf field and had them compete in 1-on-1 and 3-on-3 drills.
“It tells me what kind of fire they have,” Deemer said.
Deemer said the tryout was filmed, and he’ll be reviewing the tape to get another look at the talent he saw on Saturday.
The local prep and youth football coach and one-time leader of the Alaska Wild indoor football squad said he intends to invite a handful of players from the tryout to the Predators’ spring training camp.
“We’ll probably ask 8-10 to come to camp with us,” Deemer said.
The Wasilla-based Arctic Predators are slated to play in the American Indoor Football Association in March. The team can invite 40 players to camp. Thirty will make the regular-season roster, and 20 can suit up on game nights.
The organization will host a second open tryout in late February.
Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com .
WASILLA — Hans Deemer had the first chance to see a few of the players who just might wear the purple and black of the Arctic Predators proffesional indoor football this spring.
Deemer, who has worked for more than a year to bring indoor football to the Mat-Su Valley, hosted the organization’s first open tryout Saturday afternoon at the Curtis D. Menard Memorial Sports Center.
“We thought we had some real quality people there,” Deemer said of the group, which included about two dozens potential players. “To be honest, there were a couple surprises.” Deemer said the bulk of the players in attendance hail from Southcentral Alaska. Former players of Southcentral prep programs such as Colony, Wasilla, Bartlett and Dimond attended the tryout.
The players, who are hopefully for an invite to the team’s training camp, muscled through typical combine style drills, which tested speed, strength and agility.
Deemer said he also put the players on the turf field and had them compete in 1-on-1 and 3-on-3 drills.
“It tells me what kind of fire they have,” Deemer said.
Deemer said the tryout was filmed, and he’ll be reviewing the tape to get another look at the talent he saw on Saturday.
The local prep and youth football coach and one-time leader of the Alaska Wild indoor football squad said he intends to invite a handful of players from the tryout to the Predators’ spring training camp.
“We’ll probably ask 8-10 to come to camp with us,” Deemer said.
The Wasilla-based Arctic Predators are slated to play in the American Indoor Football Association in March. The team can invite 40 players to camp. Thirty will make the regular-season roster, and 20 can suit up on game nights.
The organization will host a second open tryout in late February.
Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com .