Football Manitoba High Performance Tackle Team – 2024/2025 Program Outline

  1. WHSFL Athlete Combine – December 1, 2024

Objective:
The WHSFL Athlete Combine marks the first step in identifying and evaluating potential athletes for the Football Manitoba High Performance Tackle Team. The combine is open to all age eligible athletes from the Manitoba and Northern Ontario and serves to assess key physical attributes and football-specific skills. (Not mandatory)

Key Components:

Testing & Evaluation:

        • Physical Fitness Tests: Athletes will undergo a series of drills to assess speed, strength, agility, and explosiveness:
          • 40-yard dash
          • Pro Agility Shuttle
          • L-Agility Test
          • Shuttle runs (60-yard)
          • Vertical jump
          • Standing Broad jump

            Mental & Tactical Evaluation:
            Observation of athletes’ work ethic, competitiveness, coachability, and teamwork.

            Post-Combine Selection:
            Feedback will be provided to athletes for improvement.

  1. Small Group Positional Training – January 2025

Objective:
This phase focuses on refining individual position-specific skills and fundamentals in smaller, more targeted groups. (Not mandatory)

Key Components:

      • Group Sessions by Position:
        Athletes will be grouped according to their primary position and receive tailored coaching:
        • Quarterbacks: Footwork, passing mechanics, reading defenses, and decision-making under pressure.
        • Running Backs & Receivers: Route running, catching, ball security, and blocking.
        • Offensive & Defensive Linemen: Blocking techniques, hand placement, footwork, and tackling.
        • Linebackers & Defensive Backs: Tackling, coverage skills, positioning, and defensive reads.
      • Drill Progressions:
        • Athletes will build muscle memory through repetitions of position-specific drills.
      • Weekly Feedback:
        • Coaches provide feedback and track improvements to help each athlete enhance their skills.
  1. Strength and Conditioning with Sport Manitoba
         – January to March 2025

Objective:
To build the physical strength, conditioning, and injury prevention necessary for high-performance football. (Not mandatory)

Key Components:

      • Strength Training Program:
        • Focus on total-body strength development, with special emphasis on explosive power for skill positions and linemen.
        • Core stability and lower body strength exercises (e.g., squats, deadlifts, bench press, cleans, lunges).
      • Agility & Speed Development:
        • Speed training through sprints, resistance training, and quick-twitch muscle activation.
        • Agility drills to improve footwork, lateral movement, and change of direction.
      • Endurance & Conditioning:
        • High-intensity interval training (HIIT), shuttle runs, and circuit training.
        • Specific conditioning drills to simulate in-game situations.
      • Injury Prevention & Recovery:
        • Focus on mobility, flexibility, and prehab exercises to reduce risk of injury.
        • Regular recovery strategies: foam rolling, stretching, and rest periods.
      • Monitoring & Adjustments:
        • Progress is tracked via regular testing (e.g., max lifts, sprint times), with adjustments made based on individual needs.
  1. Bison Prep Camp Skills Training at the Axworthy RecPlex
         – April 5, 12, & 19, 2025

Objective:
The Bison Prep Camp is designed to further refine skills and ensure athletes are fully prepared for the next level of competition. This camp will be held over three Saturdays and will focus on high-intensity skill development and team-oriented drills. (Not mandatory)

Key Components:

      • Position-Specific Drills:
        Intensive position-specific training to polish skills in realistic, game-like situations.
      • Game Situations & Scrimmages:
        • Athletes will engage in controlled scrimmages to simulate in-game situations and improve decision-making.
      • Coaching & Video Review:
        • Coaches will provide feedback, and athletes will review video footage of their performances.
      • Group Mental Training:
        • Focus on mental resilience, leadership, and focus under pressure.
  1. Free Agent Camp – Axworthy RecPlex – Saturday, April 26, 2025

Objective:
This camp is open to all athletes not selected for the Blue & Gold teams, offering a final opportunity for evaluation and selection. (Mandatory for those not selected for Blue & Gold Teams)

Key Components:

      • Evaluation:
        • All athletes will be evaluated by the selection committee, focusing on physical attributes, position skills, and mental toughness.
      • Skill Drills & Scrimmages:
        • Athletes will participate in skill-specific drills and live scrimmages to demonstrate their abilities in real-time situations.
      • Feedback & Selection:
        • The selection committee will provide feedback to athletes, and decisions will be made for inclusion in the Blue & Gold teams.
  1. Blue & Gold Training & Games – April 21-29, 2025

Objective:
These dates will focus on the development of the Blue & Gold teams through specialized training and intra-squad games, with continued evaluation from the selection committee.

Key Components:

      • Intensive Team Practices:
        • Training sessions focusing on team offensive and defensive schemes.
        • Integration of positional skills with team tactics, including playbook installation.
      • Intra-Squad Games:
        • Players will be evaluated based on their performance in simulated game situations.
        • Scrimmages between the Blue and Gold teams will focus on real-time execution and strategy.
      • Continual Evaluation:
        • Performance in practice and games will be continuously assessed to finalize team selections.
  1. Thunder Bay Free Agent Camp – May 10, 2025

Objective:
An additional evaluation opportunity for athletes who were not selected in earlier phases or who have shown potential later in the process. (Mandatory for those not selected for Blue & Gold Teams)

Key Components:

      • Evaluation and Scrimmages:
        • Skill assessments and position-specific drills, followed by full scrimmages to evaluate performance in real-game conditions.
      • Final Selection for Team Manitoba:
        • Athletes will be assessed by the selection committee, with the goal of rounding out the final roster for Team Manitoba.
  1. ID Camp – May 24 & 25, 2025 (Invite-Only)

Objective:
The ID Camp will be an exclusive event for athletes who have been invited based on their performance throughout the previous phases. This camp serves as the final evaluation before team selection.

Key Components:

      • Advanced Position-Specific Training:
        • Athletes will participate in high-level skill development sessions, focusing on advanced techniques and strategies.
      • Intra-Squad Games:
        • Live scrimmages to assess athletes’ ability to perform under pressure and in game-like situations.
      • Final Evaluation:
        • Athletes will be thoroughly evaluated by the selection committee, taking into account previous performances and improvement over the course of the training process.
  1. Team Selection – May 30, 2025

Objective:
The final roster for the Football Manitoba High Performance Tackle Team will be determined based on performance throughout the entire selection process.

Key Components:

      • Selection Committee Review:
        • The committee will review all evaluations from the combine, camps, training sessions, and games.
      • Announcement:
        • The final team roster will be announced, and athletes will be informed of their selection.
      • Team Orientation:
        • An initial meeting to outline the expectations for the team, including goals for the season, the competition schedule, and team-building activities.
  1. Team Training – June 2025 (TBD)

Objective:
Final team training camps will be held in preparation for the Football Canada Tackle events. These sessions will focus on team cohesion, advanced strategy, and fine-tuning individual skills.

Key Components:

      • Team Practices & Scrimmages:
        • Full team practices focusing on offensive and defensive systems, as well as special teams coordination.
      • Tactical Training:
        • In-depth strategy discussions and game preparation.
  1. Football Canada Tackle Events – Summer 2025

Objective:
The team will compete at the Football Canada Tackle events as representatives of Team Manitoba.

Key Components:

      • Competition:
        • Team Manitoba will participate in regional and national competitions, including the Football Canada Cup.
      • Development and Exposure:
        • These events provide valuable competitive experience and exposure to scouts and recruiters.

This structured and comprehensive development pathway ensures that athletes in the Football Manitoba High Performance Tackle Team are fully prepared for national-level competition, focusing on skill development, physical conditioning, and mental toughness.