The Rautenbachs, Bloemfontein\u2019s hockey-loving family, are living proof that fitness, family, and a shared passion can create a life full of purpose, joy, and connection. Known as the Pocket Rockets, this tight-knit family has turned their love for hockey into a thriving family business, a way of life, and a means to inspire others.<\/p>\n
Ryno and Chantelle Rautenbach are no strangers to the world of hockey. Both born and raised in Bloemfontein, their lives have been intertwined with the sport from a young age. Ryno, a former Grey College 1st team player and South African Schools National representative, and Chantelle, who grew up playing hockey at Oranje Meisieskool, have carried their love for the game into adulthood \u2013 and into their family.<\/p>\n
The couple\u2019s journey together is a story of fate and shared values. \u201cWe grew up together. We\u2019ve known each other for 31 years now,\u201d Chantelle recalls. Ryno\u2019s sister was Chantelle\u2019s best friend in their first grade, meaning that Chantelle spent almost every weekend with them. \u201cAlthough we lost contact over the years, fate brought us back together, and the rest is history,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n
For the Rautenbachs, hockey is more than just a sport \u2013 it\u2019s a way of life. \u201cHockey is such an amazing sport,\u201d Ryno explains. \u201cIt requires a lot of strategic thinking and planning, being very fit, and understanding your purpose in a team. It challenges you on so many levels, and that is what drives us.\u201d<\/p>\n
This passion led Ryno to establish Pocket Rocket Hockey in 2004, a coaching school that has already celebrated 20 years of inspiring young players. \u201cI started it to improve and help younger players with their skills, knowledge, and love for the game,\u201d he says. Chantelle later joined the mission, launching a pre-primary programme to introduce children to hockey in a fun, non-intimidating way.<\/p>\n
Running Pocket Rocket Hockey has been a family affair, bringing the Rautenbachs closer together. \u201cFor our family, it has really brought us closer together,\u201d Ryno shares. \u201cMy wife and I work very closely together to improve on every aspect, from training to admin to relationships with everyone part of the Pocket Rocket Hockey family.\u201d<\/p>\n
Even their children, Jayce and Rize, are involved as coaches-in-training, ensuring the next generation is ready to carry the torch. While the journey hasn\u2019t been without its challenges \u2013 injuries being the primary low \u2013 the highs far outweigh them. \u201cInvesting in young players and seeing their skills and self-confidence improve is really a big reward for us,\u201d Ryno says.<\/p>\n
Beyond hockey, the Rautenbachs are a family that values connection, faith, and staying active. Ryno enjoys paddle tennis, DIY projects, and even restored a 1978 Ford F100 in 2020. Chantelle, the self-proclaimed extrovert of the family, thrives on spending time with loved ones. \u201cI\u2019m very passionate about being a mother and spending time with my family,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
Their shared faith is also a cornerstone of their lives. \u201cWe are very passionate about God and love to attend our church, Lewende Woord,\u201d Chantelle explains. This spiritual foundation guides their approach to life, encapsulated in their motto: \u201cEyes on God, Finish Hard!\u201d<\/p>\n
For the Rautenbachs, family is everything. \u201cGod blessed us with two amazing children, and we cherish every moment we have together,\u201d Chantelle says. \u201cWe stick together and have each other\u2019s backs. We support, motivate, and encourage each other.\u201d Ryno added excitedly: \u201cGo Team Rautenbach!\u201d<\/p>\n
Their friends describe them as a couple whose love is \u201cdeeply rooted in their shared passion, kindness, and loyalty.\u201d It\u2019s this combination of warmth, dedication, and infectious enthusiasm that makes the Rautenbachs a true inspiration \u2013 not just in the world of hockey, but in life.<\/p>\n
As they look to the future, the Rautenbachs are focused on evolving as a family while continuing to impact the lives of others. \u201cWe are passionate about people,\u201d they say. And with their unwavering commitment to each other, their community, and the sport they love, there\u2019s no doubt the Pocket Rockets will keep soaring.<\/p>\n
As Ryno and Chantelle put it: \u201cIf God gives you the opportunity and opens the door, it is your responsibility to give it your all. You finish hard.\u201d<\/p>\n
And that\u2019s exactly what the Rautenbachs are doing \u2013 one hockey drill, one family moment, and one act of kindness at a time.<\/p>\n
Text: Warren Hawkins Photographs: Gypseenia Lion<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Meet the family that turned their love for hockey into a lifestyle that\u2019s inspiring a community! The Rautenbachs, Bloemfontein\u2019s hockey-loving family, are living proof that fitness, family, and a shared passion can create a life full of purpose, joy, and connection. Known as the Pocket Rockets, this tight-knit family has turned their love for hockey […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":103,"featured_media":18719,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[40,20],"tags":[7563,7567,7565,7566,7564],"class_list":{"0":"post-18718","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-people","8":"category-personalities","9":"tag-bloemfonteins-pocket-rockets-proving-family-fitness-and-hockey-go-hand-in-hand","10":"tag-chantelle-rautenbach","11":"tag-pocket-rockets","12":"tag-ryno-rautenbach","13":"tag-the-rautenbachs"},"yoast_head":"\n