Have you noticed a change in the weather recently?
Sports are in full swing with return of cooler weather
Autumn often brings warm sunny days, followed by cool evenings. This, in part, is why fall is my favourite time of the year.
For many parents, September’s arrival is welcomed. Children are back at school and a variety of activities start up. At the secondary school level, boys’ and girls’ teams are being selected for a variety of sports.
At this time of year, football, soccer, rugby, cross-country running, golf, volleyball and field hockey are the most popular high school sports. Elementary sports include soccer, flag football and cross-country running.
At Trent University and Fleming College, the Excalibur and Phoenix teams have already begun league play.
At Trent, the men’s and women’s varsity schedules have started in field lacrosse, soccer, rugby and rowing.
At Fleming, the women’s and men’s Phoenix varsity teams are competing in soccer, cross-country, volleyball and basketball. There is also a women’s rugby 7s varsity squad.
September also marks the beginning of the Kinsmen Minor Football League. Founded in 1980, and run by volunteers, the goal of the league is to provide players experience playing tackle football before heading to high school. Junior and Senior divisions are organized according to player birth dates.
Wander over to the Kinsmen or the Healthy Planet arenas, and you will find minor hockey teams practising. Peterborough Minor Hockey Council (AAA) teams have already been selected. Peterborough Hockey Association team tryouts began Sept. 9, while preparations for the Peterborough Girls Hockey Association and Peterborough Ice Kats are well underway.
Of course, OHL training camps, including the Peterborough Petes, have begun and exhibition games are now taking place. Having followed the Petes for many years, there are always a few player selections that surprise when the season-opening lineup is finalized. This year should be no different.
For football enthusiasts, this writer included, there is a plethora of gridiron action available to watch following Labour Day. The Canadian Football League is in full swing and, as teams jockey for playoff positions, the outcome of each game becomes more critical.
For fans of college football, Saturdays are particularly enjoyable. You can view a different college game on a myriad of available sports television channels. There is a great deal of pre-season hype leading up to the beginning of the NCAA season, and stadiums are packed with thousands of students, parents and alumni.
The same can be said for Canadian university football games. Students at university campuses flock to stadiums to support and cheer for their football favourites. Regardless of the outcome, a fall football game on campus is a great place to be on a Saturday afternoon.
For millions of football fans, Sunday is NFL game day. The early games begin at 1 p.m. Leading up to kick off, television analysts and reporters dissect each match before the show’s conclusion and make game predictions.
My favourite football show is ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown. Mike Greenberg has replaced Samantha Ponder as the host. Returning analysts include former NFL head coach Rex Ryan, Hall of Fame receiver Randy Moss, former NFL quarterback Alex Smith and former Super Bowl champion Ted Bruschi. The three-hour show is informative and entertaining.
A close second is the NFL Today show. Curt Menefee hosts the early edition. He is joined by four-time Super Bowl champion Terry Bradshaw, defensive All-Pros Michael Strahan and Howie Long and Super Bowl-winning coach Jimmy Johnson.
And don’t forget the Presidents Cup will soon be taking place at The Royal Montreal Golf Club.