When Duncan Critch started playing football six years ago, he never imagined he’d make a national team two years in a row.
“Honestly, I didn’t think I would be good at it at all,” the 15-year-old told the Nouvelle.
Critch has made the U16 West All-Star Team, which is composed of players from across the country.
The local running back said he was excited when he heard the news that he would once again be sporting the all-star jersey.
“We had different (training) this year, so I had to adapt and be different. That’s just what football is, different teams and ways to play.”
The team is made-up of players who participated in the U16 Western Challenge in Kamloops, BC. The roster is created from provincial teams from Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and British Columbia.
“There’s 160 kids they pick from, and out of those 160, they picked 40. I was one of those for the past two years,” Critch said.
It wasn’t until three years ago that Critch began taking football seriously.
“I realized I was pretty good at it and I thought I could build off of that. I liked the way the sport was run and the way you play it, so I decided to pursue it,” he noted.
Since then, Critch has donned different jerseys for his province and country on numerous occasions. He enjoys trying out, and said “it allows me to show off what I’ve got and to be a little more aggressive.”
Starting in the peewee level and making his way through the age groups with the Bonnyville Amateur Football Association (BAFA) is what Critch believes helped get him to where he is today.
“Without the people that I met along the way, I wouldn’t be able to do the things that I’m able to do. I wouldn’t be as strong, or as fast, or as knowledgeable. It’s the parents, coaches, teammates, and everything,” he exclaimed.
Critch said his favourite season so far was his last, when he donned the Voyageurs’ crest for the first time.
“My older brother, Brodie, had been playing with those kids since he started. That whole team was (from) my first year peewee team all grown up, and that was the last year we got to play together. It was so much fun, and I enjoyed it.”
Representing his community on the national field has made Critch realize how much he’s accomplished so far.
“I don’t feel the pressure because I’m from a small town. I think it just shows that rural community ties can have just as much talent as inner cities.”
Although it wasn’t his lifelong dream to play professional football, it quickly became Critch’s aspiration for the sport.
“I want to make a living off of football. It would be great to have it as my job and get paid to do what I love,” he expressed.
Critch encouraged anyone considering to try a new sport or hobby to just go for it.
“Take a chance, and see what you’ve got. If it doesn’t work out, there’s always something else out there. Where we are in the world, there’s so much you can do. You can go to trades school, go for an academic scholarship, and you could even go to university for a water polo scholarship now. There’s so many other things that you can do, take a chance… and (do) what you want to do.”
