Back to school means back to the football field for the Gull Lake Lions.

     Full practices have ran all week long, with the Lions' first pre-season game scheduled for Friday against Maple Creek.

     Lions' Head Coach Neil Boutin says they will look a little different this season, with their numbers down to about 25 players. He says the focus will be on team speed and fitness.

     The SWAC League has changed to the Southwest Football Conference.  Lumsden and Caronport have been added into the mix in a new provincial 9-man re-alignment.

     Boutin says, despite the changes, one constant remains - the rivalry with the neighbours to the south in Shaunavon.  The Shaunavon Shadows are the defending League Champs.