Spring training is around the corner for the Grid Iron Gang, and Drumheller Community football has a lot to look forward to.

On the Drumheller Community Football Association board, Holly Laffin is president, and vice president is Lynnette Upton.

On the coaching side, Ken Fournier will continue with coaching the Senior Titans, Thomas Laffin has moved up from the Peewee Terrapins to the Bantam Titans and longtime coach Paul Redmond will be taking over the Terrapins.

“He (Redmond) has been around the organization a long time, he has good experience and is a good fit,” said coach Laffin.

The Terrapins finished the season with the C Division Championship. Bantams were in a building year and still made it to the first round of the playoffs and the  Senior Titans made it to the first round of the Provincial Championships.

The teams are staying all aligned in their current leagues for the coming season.

Coach Laffin says a goal for Community Football is to get more involved in the community. In previous years, the Titans and Terrapins have been great volunteers in the community and they are looking to build on that.

Community Football is also continuing to work on upgrading and improving the facility at DVSS. Over the last few years, they have made a considerable effort to improve the turf conditions.

“It is part of the effort to make the game safer. We have changed the tackling systems over the last few years, the equipment has gotten better and now you are finding injuries come from field conditions,” explains Laffin. “Our organization and a lot of organizations in the province are doing a lot of work to make sure the fields are at a higher standard so it makes the game safer.”

They have a long term plan to replace the bleachers and possibly build a tower.

“We are slowly building the facility up to a higher level,” said Laffin, adding they are still working on fundraising for the project.

Drumheller Community Football has developed a new website that is up and running. Those wishing to play can register online, and so far Laffin says they are getting a good response on preregistration.

Laffin has also been promoting the game at area schools as well as at the Recreation Expo and says they are getting a good response. They hope to get on with spring training as soon as the field is ready.

“Spring is the perfect time to come out and try football. It is designed to learn the game and get used to playing,” said Laffin.

For more information go to www.drumhellerfootball.com, connect through their Facebook page, or contact Laffin at 403-820-5998.

Tom Zariski will be heading to Japan in a few weeks as head referee for the Toyota World Junior  Cup.

Zariski is on the Alberta Golf Board of Directors and a director on the Alberta Golf Association Foundation and has been an avid official for many years and sits on the Golf Canada Rules Committee. He was given the opportunity to referee internationally at the tournament in Japan  from June 16 to 21.

“It has been going on for some time, I think this is in its 24th year,” said Zarski of the tournament. He was asked to referee about a month ago.

The tournament invites 24 international teams to participate, this is from a field of over 70 who compete for a spot. There are 15 boys teams and nine girls teams.

The course is outside of Nagoya, near Toyota city. It is at Chukyo Golf Club, on the Ishino Course. Zariski will be the head referee.

“It is an interesting position. Golf Canada is called upon by other counties to help out with golf tournaments because it is very highly revered in terms of gold referees in the world,” he explains. ”This is one of the tournaments that have asked Canada to provide a referee.”

As head referee, he is responsible for setting up the rules of the competition, and beforehand he will go to set up the course, such as tee areas and distances. During the competition, he will be in charge of the referee crew.

“It is a very intentional crew. There will literally be referees from all over the world,” he said.

The tournament is held in high regard, and Zariski says many who have played at this competition have gone on to professional careers.

“It is literally a who’s who of golf,” he said.

Zariski will be departing on June 12 for the tournament.