The R.F. Staples Thunderbirds are months away from the start of the 2017 Wheatland Football League schedule, but the 52-man roster is chomping at the bit to hit the field for spring training which starts May 2.
The month-long camp will cumulate in a six-team jamboree May 27 at Westlock Elementary School, where the Thunderbirds will test their skills against teams from Cold Lake, St. Paul, Vegreville, Fort Saskatchewan and Whitecourt.
“The jamboree will start at 1 p.m. and we’ll play games until probably around 5 p.m.,” said head coach Jon Kramer. “It’s a CFL overtime format, no special teams or punting or any of that stuff. The coaches are on the field. It’s the full experience in one month.”
The camp will begin with a “philosophy night” where coaches will meet players and parents to establish common ground on the team’s goals and culture.
The club draws players from not only Westlock, but also a few from Barrhead and Morinville.
Kramer explained that the main focus of the camp is to make sure that new players get enough of a taste of the game to decide if they want to commit to a full season.
“We try to make sure that the fundamentals of our technique is proper before we start running 100 miles an hour at each other,” he said.
“We designed our spring camp with two goals; first that players get their heads wrapped around what’s happening. They can test out football and see if they like it. Then it ends off with the jamboree where the kids get to experience hitting people they don’t know and vise versa and determine if they like it.”
While the team is preparing for this season, Kramer noted that they are looking further down the road as well, working to prepare younger prospects for the game in the absence of a bantam football team.
“We’ve got a handful of players that will be in Grade 9 in the fall as well,” he said. “That bodes well for us too. They can’t play in the games, but they get the full experience otherwise and they’re ready to roll come next year.”
He stressed that they are more about building character and community than championships, pointing out that many players have been active all winter long helping out in Westlock in various capacities, from helping with parking during the BP Cup and making cupcakes for seniors at Smithfield Lodge.
“Our focus is to do football well, but to us culture is king in everything we do,” he said.
“Over the last few years we’ve really put a priority on volunteering and giving back to the community in different ways. It’s just about youth understanding the importance of community.”
He added that the team was happy to help out at any major event they are called to.
“Anyone who needs help is free to give us a shout.”
While the T-Birds have a surplus of meat, the team is in need of coaches going into the fall.
“Sports in our community really benefits from parents coaching,” he said. “We’ve been running eleven years as a program, so we could really use some more adult coaches. The most important thing is that you care about the students and are willing to be a good example. The football fundamentals come pretty quickly.”
“If people are interested, it doesn’t have to be the full three nights a week. One night a week, two, whatever. We can work with it.”
Kramer added that anyone interested in helping the team out this year should give him a call at 780-283-0107.
The club’s WFL season kicks off Sept. 8 in Vermilion.
