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Using safe contact tackling techniques that are pushed by Football Canada, the Junior Ravens have broadened the depth of their program with new age groups and by separating experienced and beginner players.

“It was hard to create a program for the returning athlete and the new athlete, we had to create two streams – an advanced stream and an introductory stream,” said Sacobie. “In Ottawa, there are a lot more opportunities to go into football development, a lot more than there were 10 years ago.”

Photo by Ashley Fraser / Postmedia

The Junior Ravens spring session registration program has been launched (for more info, check out https://athletics.carleton.ca/cu-camps/junior-ravens-football) – going for six Sundays (90 minutes each time), from May 12-June 16. For the contact program, the equipment is provided by Carleton.

“I’m impressed every camp at a kid’s ability to pick up the game – from throwing and catching a football to putting the pads on,” said Sacobie. “We try to instill the confidence to play a contact sport – a lot of people skip over that in the way they introduce football. We follow a strict progression with Football’s Canada’s safe contact model. We cover that off in all of our practices. We believe in safety first and kids having fun. We’re trying to be a champion in the community promoting football.

“We’re always learning, always growing – trying to learn how football is changing which is why we’re introducing non-contact programs for boys and girls. When you deal with this many athletes each year, you get to see all the positive things football does for young people – I guess that’s why we keep doing it.”

BUILDING BLOCKS: Carleton Ravens coach Steve Sumarah knew his team would take its lumps when it made its return to college football in 2013. An 0-8 season included a 71-4 loss to the Western Mustangs in Game 1.

The Ravens again finished out of the playoffs in 2014 – with a 4-4 record – but there were definitely signs of a team that was capable of bigger things.

The Ravens were 5-3 in the 2015 season, advancing to the playoffs and beating Queen’s 39-8 before getting knocked out by Guelph.

A 6-2 record in 2016 was followed up by a 45-9 trouncing of the Ottawa Gee-Gees in the first round of the playoffs before falling to Western.

The Ravens missed the playoffs in 2017 with a 3-5 record, but bounced back with a 5-3 record in 2018, beating McMaster 30-25 in the first round before falling to Western.

Carleton’s football legacy began in 1945 and continued until the program was disbanded in 1998.