Brothers connect on field

Life in the soccer-loving Hamer household got a whole lot easier this spring.
Jan and Lonnie Hamer have six children, five of whom have played or are currently playing soccer at some level. This season’s blessing is that, for the first time, three of them are on the same team, with Jason, Nick and Zach all suiting up for Mead High School.
“At some times, the boys have been on three different teams,” said their mother, Jan, “so this is really fun. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed watching them. We’re still traveling a lot, of course, so we have to rely on very nice people who help us out.”
The brothers have helped the Panthers to a terrific season, with 10 wins in their first 11 games and into first place in the Greater Spokane League with only two matches to play.
It’s a unique situation for everyone involved, to say the least, but no one more so than Mead coach Matt Stueckle, in his fourth season with the Panthers.
“I’ve never coached three kids from the same family,” he said. “In fact, I’ve never even had brothers playing on the same team. It’s really kind of exciting to have them all together in the same place.”
The brothers all play different positions: Jason is a senior forward, Nick a sophomore midfielder and Zach a freshman defender. The fact that they’re in a sort of back-to-front configuration on the field really pays off for the Panthers when all three are on the field, Stueckle said.
“With them having just played around on their own for so long,” he said, “their ability to read each other and play together has really helped the whole team to grow. The longer you play with someone, whether it’s in school or in the backyard, you develop an understanding of how they play, know where they are and where they’re going.
“When that’s going on, players can anticipate two or even three passes ahead, and if it isn’t, it takes a while to develop that understanding. Sometimes it takes time for teams to gel that way.”
Both Jason and Nick log heavy minutes, while Zach is working his way into more playing time after an early-season back injury. Athletically, Stueckle says, the brothers are similar in speed, quickness and physical attributes, although each plays a little differently.
All three enjoy playing on the same team, but for different reasons.
Jason, a four-year starter for the Panthers, says he enjoys having his little brothers around to tease and doesn’t mind pulling rank on the younger two.
But, he said more seriously, “I’ve always tried to give them good advice, but I’ve never really had to get on them. They’re good players and good kids. We’ve played so much in the backyard and at the park that we know each other’s style. We set up different little games to compete, and we always play hard against each other.”
Nick and Zach both talk about the comfort level that having big brother around provides them.
“It’s really helpful,” said Nick. “Jason helps me out, picks me up when I’m down, and I try to do the same thing for Zach. Like Jason said, we know each other’s ball-handling skills, where we’re going to be and when we’re going to be there.”
And, last but not least, Zach: “I’ve been looking forward to this for a long time. The best part is that even though I’m a freshman, I don’t feel like the odd man out. I mean, I’ve lived with them my entire life, so no matter what happens, I never feel awkward.”
But give mom the last word.
“We’ve been watching them grow up playing soccer since they were 5 years old,” Jan said. “I know they’re enjoying themselves a lot, and with one in each row, it’s easy to keep my eye on them.”
Which, for a mom, is never a bad thing.