It feels like a 100-yard drive and the South Delta Rams can finally smell the goalline.
The community club will see its first game action of the season on Sunday as the Vancouver Mainland Football League launches nine weeks of cohort play based on ViaSport and the BC Provincial Football Association’s Return to Play Guidelines.
It was in July when the tackle version of the sport began the extensive process of getting back on the field by putting plenty of COVID-19 safety measures in place. Regular practice sessions began in August, leading up to VMFL games being approved.
“It has been a huge challenge. The whole Return to Sport. The safety measures we have had to put in place, the compliance and everything but we have done it,” said Rams president Anthony Hanna. “A huge thank you to the whole Rams executive for really stepping up. Without the tons of work and hours it wouldn’t have happened. We are so happy for the kids. The kids get to play and it’s going to happen this Sunday.”
Hanna also praised the BCPFA and the City of Delta for their leadership and cooperation along with the way.
“I am grateful for both parties for working so well with us. At the same time it is a very detailed process for practices and games,” he continued. “There is a check-in and staging area. Everybody that comes to field has to be medically questioned. There is hand sanitizing, temperature checks and social distancing throughout. Knock on wood nobody gets sick and we can have the entire season problem free.”
The Rams also had to invest in full face shields. They will have five teams in action with just the Junior Bantams playing tackle. There will be two at the U8 Flag level and two more in Atom which is also non-contact. A Pee Wee team is practicing throughout the fall but won’t be playing games.
South Delta is in a cohort group with North Delta, North Surrey and White Rock. The Rams home field at Dennison Park in Tsawwassen will host VMFL games on five of the weekends. There is hope the club can even put together its annual Green and Gold Day but stage it over Saturday and Sunday.
“We thought there were too many hoops to jump through and the VMFL had initially decided it wanted to do hubs for the games. There just wasn’t enough cities that would be able to host that many. We decided to come back and step up,” added Hanna.
More on the Rams programs can be found on the club website at: www.sdramsfootball.com.
