Rifles football a family affair for Hoels

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This article was published 05/08/2016 (3700 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The 2016 Winnipeg Rifles football season is turning into quite the family affair for Transcona’s Hoel family.

The Canadian Junior Football League team will have three Hoels on the sidelines this year, with mother Laurie serving as general manager, father Steve as equipment manager, and son Brandon making his debut on the club’s offensive line.

Steve was a lineman with the Fort Garry Lions and started coaching with the Transcona Nationals when the family moved to the area many years ago. He stayed involved as Brandon and older brother James became old enough to play, and even coached alongside James.

Laurie’s involvement began when the boys started playing. Steve spent many hours with the Nationals and invited Laurie to join him.

“I became a football mom back then,” Laurie said.

Her love for the game parallels her husband’s. Laurie filled virtually every volunteer capacity on the Transcona Nationals board. She also serves on the Football Manitoba board and coordinates Blue Bomber 50-50 draws in addition to her Rifles duties.

Steve orders and maintains the equipment for as many as 90 Rifles players while also performing immediate repairs during games and practices.

Laurie’s responsibilities include game scheduling and booking flights, hotels and practices. There are countless phone calls and emails from players with questions about practices, equipment and other issues. Put together, that makes hers a year-round job.

“It’s been good and quite the experience,” Laurie admitted. “Every year I have a group of 80 or 90 kids that all call me mom.”

Brandon said growing up in a football family can be stressful and intense at times but he is accustomed to it, as everyone has their role.

“When you’re at the field it’s not so much mom and dad, it’s coach,” he said. “I get used to it. Everyone’s a big family.”

With a son on the team, will mom and dad catch themselves sneaking extra peeks during the games?

It depends on which parent you ask.

“I help trainers out, fill water bottles and make sure the players are doing what they need to do,” Laurie explained. “That’s the one thing about being a fan — you don’t get that game aspect from start to finish.”

“I’m a bit different,” Steve said. “I know which one’s him out there. Last practice Brandon made a pretty good block and I was standing by a group of players and said ‘This is the only time I’m going to do it this year, boys, but that was my boy.’

“I’ve always been coach, so he’s never just been my son on the field. I’ve never had that dad opportunity so this year I’m looking forward to be a dad on the sidelines.”

Laurie and Steve have also watched as both Brandon and James suffered serious knee injuries, a complicated experience given their involvement with the team.

“As a parent you want to run over and console him but as a coach you understand you have to stay where you are,” Steve said.

Can the family imagine a life without football?

“One day when we’re done with the Rifles we’ll find something else to do with our time,” Laurie said.

How would it feel to help Brandon and James coach their kids?

“That would be absolutely amazing,” Steve admitted.

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