Coach Dale Mortensen:

Dale Mortensen has been coaching the Powderpuff game for many years. Unfortunately, this is his last year. Here are his parting words of wisdom.

What advice do you give to the players?

Have fun! You only get 2 of these.

Play like a team, play like SISTERS! Unity is our greatest strength.

How did you and your players learn the plays, and what was the toughest part of adjusting to the game?

One of the toughest parts of teaching the game is that a majority of players have no experience at playing the game. They are unfamiliar with basic terminology, positions, formations or plays; everything is strange to them. Stranger still comes after the snap of the ball, where 22 people all start to move in different directions and it’s a contact sport; initially, for many, it seems like chaos. 

The coach’s job is to make sense of the chaos through a teaching progression that goes from simple to complex and easy to difficult. 

What surprised you the most about coaching football compared to just watching it?

What is always inspiring to me about coaching girls is that they are so coachable. They really try to do everything that you’re teaching; you can see it in their eyes, you can see it in their faces, you can see it in their actions. Just the fact that the players start off with no practical experience with the game and in 5 practices they are running an offense, defense and special teams. They always inspire and amaze me.  

What has been your favorite moment or part of coaching this year?

This year, and every year, the best moments come when you see someone be able to do something they couldn’t before. On game night, I love to see how animated they get and how their faces light up when they are celebrating after a good block, flag pull, play, score, or win. Pure Joy!

Senior Player Mahalina Vaka:

Mahalina, or Mahablast as her teammates call her, is a senior on the powderpuff team. This is her final year playing for them. 

How did you and your players learn the plays, and what was the toughest part of adjusting to the game?

The hardest part of adjusting, well, for me was, like, some plays were confusing. Like, one of our plays was like, Oh, you have to watch for the ball if it’s this play, but watch out for the reverse if it’s this play. And we’re like, okay, which play are we doing? Yeah. And then also sometimes we have to watch out to, like, be not as aggressive on our teammates, because we forget. Well, personally, I think that’s just me, actually.

What kind of practice drills or training did you do to prepare for the game?

Drills, I mean, I play D lines, so it’s a lot of just, like, how to run up to the person make sure that they’re not, like, swerving you away from the ball, or how to, like, get on the outside of them

Did you have any experienced players or coaches helping you? 

Yeah, they do. So like, the actual like, older coaches, they like, teach us what plays you’re supposed to do, how to do them correctly. And like, let’s say like, one of the boys teaches us how to do a play or how we’re supposed to, like, be in a stance. The coach will, like, walk in and correct the stance for us and show us how it’s supposed to be properly done when the boys can’t do it

What advice did they give?

Play like that the whole game, and we’ll win

What is your favorite moment so far?

During practice, they got three people to, like, guard me or walk on me, because I was doing that good. So yeah, I guess I was, that was my favorite moment. And everyone, like, cheered me on. they were like, saying, that’s awesome!

Junior Commissioner Charlee Whitnack:

Charlee Whitnack is the Junior Commissioner of Powderpuff this year. It is her first year doing this. 

What is your favorite moment of practice so far? 

My favorite part of practice is being able to watch the girls bond and connect. I feel as if we all become one, strong family. It creates a beautiful atmosphere. 

What has been your part of commissioning this year?

Growing as a leader, my eyes are open to a whole new world of opportunity. I am able to lead these girls with joy and enthusiasm! To see them work hard and get out there makes me so happy. It’s what keeps pushing me! 

Anything else? 

I am beyond excited, grateful and blessed to work in this commission and community. At the end of practice, when I hear the last “Go Juniors” of the night, I look around and can’t help but think of the game night and the multitudes of joy the girls will feel as they take the field.