Players have started practicing for the upcoming football season in Delisle already, as the first game of the season is only one week away.

Delisle will be competing in the 9-man league in 2017, and will be in the same conference as teams like Kindersley, Unity, Martensville, Meadow Lake and North Battleford. There is a real good chance that Delisle can find themselves to be one of the top teams in the standings by the end of the regular season, although the road is not easy.

This season, Delisle has a well-rounded group of Junior and Senior players that have been playing with the team for a couple years now, and have gained an understanding of how the playbook works.

Coach Ken Byers is feeling optimistic about the season because of the leadership his team has displayed in the first few practices so far in the early parts of the year.

"We have kids that kind of know the system and know the playbook already so we will be able to push the envelope and try some new things early on in the season."

Last season, the Rebels started their season with three straight losses in which looked to be a throwaway season. In the second half of the year, Delisle went on to win three consecutive games to finish with a .500 record, and finish in the middle of the standings.

Delisle qualified for Provincials where they lost a tight game to Tisdale 53-50 to end their season.

Coach Byers believes the teams they will be competing against have also improved over the off-season, and that the league will remain competitive just like it has the past few seasons. One of the biggest changes in the conference is that Warman is being moved up into the 12-man division to compete against teams from Saskatoon instead of playing in the 9-man league.

Delisle will open up their season on the road when they travel to Martensville for the season opener on September 8th.

Delisle will have their home opener one week later against the visiting team from Kindersley on the 15th of September.