Tackling the challenges: Organized football growing in N.L.

It was the one hand-off Brian Hughes certainly did not want to fumble.

Just one year into the start of Football Newfoundland and Labrador tackle football being taught and played in this province for the very first time Adam LeDrew had a dilemma.

He could continue to pursue his dream of getting football off the ground in his home province, or he could move and chase his goal of becoming a pilot.

Like many a Newfoundlander and Labradorian before him, LeDrew chose work over play. But before he left, the initial quarterback of Football NL called one more play, and handed the ball over to Hughes.

"The greatest amount of credit has to go to a young man named Adam LeDrew," Hughes modestly stated during a recent interview.

"He took it upon himself to create an organization."

And since the hand-off, Hughes,a retired school principal with a football background from his days in Ontario and Quebec,has helped grow it by leaps and bounds.

In the three years since its inception, Football NL has grown from 56 players to175.

Not bad for a province where you couldn't buy a football helmet four years ago.

'Double-edged sword'

What started as a small group of enthusiasts playing football on a converted soccer pitch in Portugal Cove-St. Phillip's has grown to an organization with a foothold in three communities and the potential for many more.

Hughes said in addition to the St. John's group, a high school group out of Ascension Collegiate in Bay Roberts has started, as well as a surprise group organizedby a 14-year-oldin Labrador City by the name of Kieran Gill.

But despite the growth and success of the new sports organization, there are still those who have no idea it even exists.

"It's a double-edged sword," said Hughes.

"We're really pleased where it's going. We have some great numbers in certain ages. We're trying to put our attention at the eight-, nine-and 10-year-olds and give them an experience that they're going to make into a 10 year experience. We'll continue to grow that way."

"On the other hand, regardless of the number of ways we try to bring this idea and this presence out to the public, we still have people saying, on a daily basis, to one of our youngsters or adults, 'Gee I didn't know we had football here.' We just don't know what to do."

Coaches wanted

So Hughes and his players trudge along, teaching the game of football to whoever will listen.

Unlike most sports in this province but not unlike rugby in its early daysthere is no history of football to fall back on in Newfoundland and Labrador. Nobody played the game, so adults are less likely to offer themselves up to help coach. And if football needs anything, it's coaches.

But Hughes said no experience is required. If there's interest from the adults, and enough kids to get started, the association will do the rest. By following the guidelines set out by Football Canada, he can coach the coaches, who in turn can get on the field with the young players.

"I really believe there are a lot of fathers and mothers out there who would be very interested. I don't want to belabour this point too much, but onthe one hand you've got the interest in football, but the knowledge that you don't have any background. But we're very clear in saying to adults who may be interested, we will train you," he said.

Field of dreams

Another challenge facing Football NL is facilities.

Like most sports, there aren't enough places to play. Unlike others, there are zeroactual football fields in the province. (LabradorCity is fortunate to have one across the border in Fermont, Quebec, to use.)

In Portugal Cove-St. Phillips, the soccer field used is 110 yards long by 65 yards wide. But that's where the fences are. The field needs to be 50 yards longer, and 65 yards from touch line to touch line.

Fortunatelygroups starting out have smaller numbers, so Football NL plays a modified game, using six, eight or the full 12 players a side. Fewer players on teams means you can shrink the fields, so Football NL can survive right now.

With those issues dealt with every community has a soccer pitch which will work, short-term the goal now is to cross the island building teams, or associations.

"We're trying to develop the relationship with Lab City so that later this yearin September, to have them travel to Corner Brook area, and we would then travel to Corner Brook as well, and have a weekend series of games where we can introduce it to Deer Lake, Corner Brook, Stephenville, Stephenville Crossing, maybe all the way down to Port aux Basques," Hughes said, his excitement level rising with the mention of each town.

"The big task for us to say is, do we just want to go to Clarenville? No, let's go to Gander as well. Let's go to Grand Falls. Let's go way out to the west coast. Let's get as many communities across the Trans Canada Highway that can engage with each other and perhaps go on the side roads after that to the other communities."

Concussion concerns

Of course no discussion of football would be complete without the requisite concussion concern.

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Hughes acknowledges it exists, but doesn't shy away. Each coach is trained in Safe Contact, a program offered by Football Canada. And every player gets concussion tested before playingto establish a baseline, so that if a brain injury does occur, no player can return to play until their injury is healed enough to get that player back to their baseline number.

"We don't hide it. In any sport that you play there is a possibility of an injury to the head," said Hughes.

"What we tell the parents very clearly is that they have to understand and not be too worried about it. A concussion is an injury. A broken arm is an injury; a broken leg. As long as they understand we're doing our utmost to analyze and treat, we won't let the player on the field until they're fully healed."

For more information on Football Newfoundland and Labrador, visit their website, or emailinfo@footballnl.ca