By Darren
Steinke
Gordie Howe Sports Complex
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| The Steelers and Maddogs go at it in KFL action. |
Eng is in
his second season coaching the Titans team that plays in the Huskie Division
for Grade 8 and 9 players in Saskatoon’s storied Kinsmen Football League. For a
lot of players, playing in the Kinsmen Football League is their first
experience of playing tackle football in an organized team environment.
“They are very enthusiastic,” said Eng. “They are very eager
to learn.
“We improve a lot. Almost every single week we improve. You
have to keep it in perspective, because a lot of them they haven’t played
football before.
“We want to give them a real good experience, so that they
will play next year and also into high school.”
Eng said it is a fun challenge on the coaching front to
ensure the players have a fun experience and are able to learn the game so they
are able to enjoy it. With having coached high school for a lengthy stretch,
Eng didn’t realize how big the adjustment would be in having to get down to the
basics to coach players in the KFL.
He also gained a new appreciation for the fun in making that
coaching adjustment to teach the basics.
“You start at square one,” said Eng. “As a coach, you have
to go back to how you started coaching.
“When you first start coaching, you really don’t know much. As the years go along, you kind of add on. I always believe you almost got to think as that kid in Grade 8 and 9.
“Sometimes it is hard, because that has been a long time that has happened.”
Since first taking the field in 1968, the KFL has been a
fixture in Saskatoon’s sports scene. A large amount of players who would go on
to play in the Canadian Junior Football League for the Saskatoon Hilltops or U
Sports with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies locally got their start
playing in the KFL.
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| Dustin Gusikoski (#19) scores a TD for the Titans in KFL action. |
During its history, the KFL has played the bulk of its games
at Saskatoon Minor Football Field on the Gordie Howe Sports Complex grounds.
Before the start of the 2020 season, Saskatoon Minor
Football assumed control of the KFL. Brian Guebert, who is Executive Director
for Saskatoon Minor Football, was once a former KFL player himself, said he was
happy SMF could be the stewards of the KFL and its legacy.
“It has been great just to be apart of the history of the
KFL and bring our own kind of spin to it from minor football and what we’ve
learned over the years,” said Guebert, who played in the CFL with the Winnipeg
Blue Bombers in 2007 and 2008. “It has been really exciting.
“It has been awesome being here (at Saskatoon Minor Football
Field) 12 hours every weekend to have these games and just seeing the players
develop.”
Guebert still has fond memories of playing in the league and remembers finding his way in the sport in those formative years.
“I got my first taste of not really knowing what position I would play,” said Guebert, who played football for both the Hilltops and Huskies. “I knew my uncle played safety, and I thought that would be pretty cool.
“I obviously had a different body type being shaped like a
bowling ball, so I learned how to play O-line and D-line in Kinsmen. It was a
great experience, great coaches and lots of fun.”
Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that had gripped
the world, SMF was able to conduct a 2020 KFL season playing in a
six-versus-six format in order to navigate the public health orders that were
in place at that time.
Play in the KFL returned to its regular 12-versus-12 format
this season.
Under the current structure of the KFL, teams are divided
into two divisions. The Hilltop Division is for players in Grades 6 and 7 and
the Huskie Division is for players in Grades 8 and 9. Teams are organized
geographically.
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| Bill Eng, centre, enjoys helping KFL players learn the game. |
Guebert said the fun the kids have is honest and natural.
“You see kids congratulating each other from opposite teams after big plays,” said Guebert. “It is amazing just to see the fundamentals of football at their finest.”
Dustin Gusikoski, who is a Grade 9 quarterback for the
Titans team in the Huskie Division, is in his third season playing in the KFL,
and he said he has a blast every time he hits the field.
When he first started playing, Gusikoski said he played
slowly as he was thinking out what he was supposed to be doing. The 14-year-old
said he improved a lot since those humble beginnings.
“I really didn’t know too much coming in, but my coaches
helped me a lot,” said Gusikoski. “They helped me understand the game.”
A student at St. Joseph High School, Gusikoski plans to
continue to play football in the future and will have a soft spot in his heart
for the KFL.
“(I will remember) just making new friends and just all the
coaches that helped me along the way and my parents support,” said Gusikoski.
Guebert said the coaches in the KFL do a tremendous job to
make the league work.
“We’ve got a great group of coaches and guys that just put
their heart and soul into these programs,” said Guebert. “You just see the
benefits of it being every week actually the kids are getting better and
better.
“I think there are a lot of benefits to being involved in
the KFL, and it is just a great launching pad into our academy program and into
high school football.”
Eng said the most rewarding aspect of coaching in the KFL is
seeing the players improve. The sideline boss said his Titans team films all
their games.
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| Players come away with great memories playing in the KFL. |
Another joy for the veteran coach is seeing the players
continue to play at the high school level and or with the SMF’s academy
program.
“When I see these guys move on to play senior high school
football, it is pretty rewarding for us to see,” said Eng. “If it is an extra
and they go on to play Huskies and Hilltops, that is pretty tremendous.”
For more information on the Kinsmen Football League or programs offered by Saskatoon Minor Football, feel free to check out saskatoonminorfootball.com.
