Geroy Simon is like Uncle Sam. He’s looking for a few good men — specifically young men to round out his Game Ready Elite 7-on-7 football program, which is in its second year of operation.

The former B.C. Lions star — who is now director of U Sports scouting and personnel assistant with the CFL club, and was recently announced as a 2017 B.C. Sports Hall of Fame inductee — says the program is designed to create opportunity to maximize exposure for athletes, while eliminating financial barriers.

article continues below

Simon will be in Victoria today to promote the 7-on-7 non-contact football program and, more specifically, tryouts for the travelling team of Grade 9-11s. Local tryouts are set for Jan. 7 from 2-4 p.m. at Oak Bay Recreation Centre.

“We train the kids, tutor the kids, mentor the kids and travel with the kids, giving them exposure and preparing them to play against top skill players in the United States,” said Simon. “Our program is different in that we do it with the kids with a very minimal fee, of like $300.”

The remainder of funds required to venture to tournaments comes through fundraising. Last year the group attended two tournaments, including the Pylon 7-on-7 tournament in Las Vegas with 120 teams competing in March.

“We were young, played well, but only won the one game. But it gives the kids an opportunity to see where they match up against the top skill positions and players from across the country,” said Simon. “There are scouts there and that gives them an opportunity to give them exposure for college scholarships.

“We were 14- and 15-year-old kids playing against 17- and 18-year-olds. With a group of young kids that never played 7-on-7, I’d say we were overmatched, but with the kids coming back and our brand growing I think it will be a lot more competitive now,” said Simon.

“It’s become huge across North America and we’re searching for talent right across the province. We’re looking for the best 20 to 40 players.”

Simon plans to hold tryouts on the Lower Mainland, Kelowna, Kamloops and Prince George, and has great interest in Island athletes.

“The Island, I think, has some of the best talent in the province,” he said. “Gideone Kremler from Mount Douglas was on the team and his brother, Zairech, may have that opportunity this year as well.

“This is our second year,” added Simon. “The reason why I wanted to start this program is I know [former Mount Douglas star] Marcus Davis very well and I thought if he would have been exposed to more universities, that he would be playing in the U.S. somewhere in major college football.

“At the time, I was [playing in the CFL] in Saskatchewan when he decided to go to UBC. Now UBC is a great program, don’t get me wrong, but I think he and a few other guys in the CIS (now U Sports), if they had the exposure, could have been playing college in the U.S.

“But, with that being said, this isn’t a program to shop kids to the U.S. This is a program to give kids an opportunity to play CIS, NCAA or wherever they want to play. It just gives them an option. I believe CIS programs are very good and Canadian university football is doing a great job.”

The 7-on-7 program features no tackling and no pads, outside of some protective headgear and mouthguards.

“It’s basically skill development, getting you prepared for the true football season,” said Simon.

Tryouts cost $99 and selected athletes then pay a small membership fee once they make the team.

More information is available through Game Ready Elite 7-on-7’s Facebook page.