Chris Zwick – Leader Staff
The Westlock Thunderbirds Football Club completed their annual spring camp last week and the future of the team looks good, says head coach Jon Kramer.
It was a challenging start to the season as registration numbers initially came in low, but the team executive canvassed surrounding communities for players and came out with 32 registered for the team with 12 bantam-age players waiting in the wings for their opportunity to hit the field when they reach high school.
“Our executive worked really hard and they went out to quite a few neighbouring communities. They went to Barrhead, they went to Gr. 7 orientation and up to Athabasca, so we’ve got a collection of players from all over the area,” said Kramer.
“Thirty-two is a really healthy number because everybody who has been playing is really tired at the end of the game, but we’ve got enough depth.”
The team is also boasting a healthy age spread with about 10 of each in Gr. 10, 11 and 12, which makes planning for the future easier. Last year the Thunderbirds graduated much of their team, which led to the early low registration numbers.
The number of interested bantam players, especially, bodes well for the future, said Kramer, adding the team is accepting junior high prospects at all times, in the hopes of getting them some experience before they join the high school team.
“They just had a blast this spring. There was really good energy, but we can’t organize a game for them yet, but we’ll find some joint practices and things to keep them entertained. It’s a good sign for the long-term to have kids that have played for six years.”
The spring camp consisted of both on-field, indoor and classroom exercises, including mental preparations. The camp also included learning plays in preparation for the annual high school football jamboree, which took place June 1 in Edmonton.
The jamboree includes mini-games, involving 10 plays for each team that sees offensive lines start at the defense’s 40-year-line. Above all, jamboree is a learning experience where players can pick up a few techniques they can practice over the summer, said Kramer, adding coaches are on the field to provide guidance from play to play.
“Everyone goes in to it as a learning environment, but again it’s live reps against people you don’t know, which is also needed,” said Kramer.
The Thunderbirds will open their season on home soil Aug. 30 against the Lloydminster Composite Barons.
