It’s become one of the highlights of the year for young football players in Saskatoon.
The annual playground to pros camp gives the next generation of gridiron greats a chance to learn from some of the best players this province has produced.
Many of the guest coaches have roots in Saskatchewan, including ex-Saskatchewan Roughriders Ben Heenan and Graig Newman.
READ MORE: Former Saskatchewan Roughrider offensive lineman Ben Heenan retires
That’s not all they have in common.
Both players retired in the past year while still in the prime of their careers.
They have different reasons for retiring, but Heenan and Newman have no regrets about their respective decisions.
Despite no longer playing competitively, they still have a passion for football that keeps them involved at the grassroots level.
READ MORE: Graig Newman retiring from the CFL
Newman said helping out with kids who love football gives him a sense of community.
“Just seeing these young guys run around out here is pretty cool and makes you feel revitalized as well,” Newman, who was also a safety for the Saskatoon Hilltops, said.
For Heenan, taking part in youth camps allows him to give back to the community.
“During the farming year you don’t really have time to do too much so throughout the winter, little bit here in the spring, and try and do a few camps and help out,” Heenan, who also played for the Saskatchewan Huskies, said.
Heenan added that he has no regrets about calling it a career at the age of 26, saying he is a firm believer in knowing when it’s the right time to move onto something else in life.