Regina Youth Dodgeball ready to dodge competition at inaugural World Youth Open Championships

Regina Youth Dodgeball practicing before heading to Calgary next month for the inaugural World Youth Open Championships. (Angela Stewart / CTV News)

Four Regina dodgeball teams are heading to Calgary, Alta. next month for the very first World Youth Open Championships.

“A lot of these players here today have been playing in our rec leagues for three or four years. We’ve been training for the last three months, every other week in clinics just like we’re doing today,” Shawn McAllister, one of the coaches for Regina Youth Dodgeball, said on Saturday.

Regina Youth Dodgeball is one of Canada’s first youth dodgeball start-ups.

Sam Gibney has been with the team for the last four years. He said playing with the team and working to be the best has been the most fulfilling for him.

“I think it’s just the teamwork involved and getting to know the new people and really working on a skill with them. The achievements we get together and the progress we’ve made is just staggering,” he said.

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Player Mya Morse believes she and her team are ready for the world stage.

“I think I’m ready to go. I think our whole team is ready. I’ve been working really hard. The opportunity to get to play such a not very well-known sport. To meet people and get an opportunity to play against new opponents,” she said.

The teams will be facing competitors from all over the world including those from China, Malaysia, United Kingdom and Italy.

The worlds will be taking place in Calgary from Feb.18 to the 22.

Regina Youth Dodgeball offers both recreational and competitive programming that runs all year long, annually.