Italy Synopsis from Coach Lynch

Now that we are home from Italy and have had some time to reflect on the trip, I thought I would offer my impressions.
I thought the trip was very worthwhile on several fronts. First, I thought the group of boys came together and is now much tighter. The senior boys definitely got the opportunity to improve their relationships with the underclassmen. We had some great opportunities to spend a lot of time together at meals, in the hotel, on the road to various sightseeing adventures etc. Secondly, we had the opportunity to see much of the Italian Riviera which is spectacular. We also went to Pisa and Lucca as you saw in the photos. I know everyone enjoyed Santa Margarita and Portifino, especially the cliff jumping. Third, we had some productive water polo training. Our individual workouts in the mornings were very productive. Although not all of our games against the Italian clubs were on a high level, I thought the training was most beneficial to our younger players. The juniors improved and gained confidence, which in turn, will help push the starting group. It is always beneficial to experience water polo in another country. Finally, we began our mental training for the upcoming season. Each player was given a book, Mind Gym and a journal to begin the mental training process. This should pay big dividends for this group as we progress towards the fall season. I also had the opportunity to meet with each player individually to go over their strengths, areas for improvement and their role on the team. It was a great time where the focus was on our team. I know all the boys grew from this experience and I know it will pay big dividends in the future.

I also wanted to thank all the parents on the trip and those that stayed behind for all the support in making this happen. Lynne Hayes was a great team mom and it was nice having the Yeagers, Taubers, Hayes and McLarens on the trip as well. It truly was a beautiful place to visit.

Jason Lynch

July 12th

Yesterday was an exhausting but productive day! The big tour bus left their hotel in Recco at 9 and headed up to Nice, France where we arrived around noon. The bus parked at least a mile from the beach so everyone hoofed it down and spent two hours swimming, fauna watching and para-gliding. The daring young men in the flying parachute who went in pairs were: Dane Sequeira and Jack Yeager in flight #1 and immediately following in flight #2 were Zach Lucas and Matt Russell. The 10 minute sail was well worth it according to the participants. We returned to the bus and then headed back towards Recco and stopped in the seaside town of Imperia where we played the local Imperia club team in a beautiful pool, similar to the architecture of the Camogli pool with a semi-open roof. Newport dominated the Imperia Impalas after a slow start with both the starters and the back-ups showing the locals what it is to counterattack and be in top-notch swimming shape. Both Nick and Ikaika looked sharp in goal. Our 6 on 5 defense held the opponents to two goals in seven attempts whereas we were successful in scoring 70% of the time. Jason is very pleased with the team's progress. Every player improved and that was the goal for the trip. I think the coaches feel that this team has a whole lot of potential and has what it takes to be very successful this season. Most importantly the boys genuinely like each other and they are learning how to play with their teammates.

The bus arrived at the hotel at 9:30, dinner of pasta, chicken, french fries and a lime/chocolate dessert at 10:30 and then a well-deserved good night's sleep. They were planning on spending today (Sunday) just "chillin" and maybe coming over to Camogli to hang at the hotel where the parents have been staying with a great pool and wonderful private beach. They may even have one last game/scrimmage tonight before packing up and getting ready for their trip back to Newport.

That's it for this trip. Maggie and I are heading off to the Lake Como region which is near Milan Malpensa for our early flight Monday morning. The team along with Lynne and the Yeagers, Mclarens and Taubers are all on the same flight to Atlanta with a connection to John Wayne. Lynne's mom, Bunny, will be flying to England for a few days of r & r before she returns home.

Lynne did an unbelievable job as team mom and deserves everyone's thanks and show of appreciation. What was especially impressive was her cool and calm demeanor throughout. One thing in her favor was the great group of boys who were respectful and well-behaved throughout. All you parents are to be commended for the great job you've done in rearing your son (Mclarens - sons!). I can't imagine a better bunch traveling together anywhere.

I'm in the process of uploading yesterday's fotos from Nice and Imperia. I don't know how far I'll get before our train pulls out of the Camogli station. What I don't get uploaded I'll take care of as soon as Maggie and I get to the house.

Arrivederci and ciao!

Laird


Fun tip from Dan - I have been able to see the Camogli, Sori, and Recco pools via Google Satellite. Fun tip as you can trace the coast line and see where the kids have gone. Satellite gets to about 500 ft over the towns/pools…



Check it out at Google maps.



Dan

July 11th Evening

We're at the scrimmage at the Camogli pool. It started after 9 pm and it's almost 10. So very Italian! The locals have assembled a competitive team and both our first and second groups are getting equal playing time and are doing very well. Both teams are practicing their 6 on 5's. Our offense and defense when up/down a man is looking better and better. We're playing with a lot of passion and are counter attacking with reckless abandon! It's amazing to watch Jason and Corey coach. They never stop. They are always teaching and the players on the bench pay close attention so when they get in they don't make the same mistake. Maggie is unofficially keeping score and the Sailors are on top at the moment. Ciao!

** Todays Pictures of Portofino, should be posted by the time you wake up tomorrow!

July 11th

Last night's scrimmage at Sori was interesting to say the least. The match was set up at the last minute and when Newport saw their opposition was comprised mostly of some very young players there wasn't the usual enthusiasm as one would expect. But things turned out well as some of the Newport players joined the Italian team and ended up playing mainly against one another with the exception of a couple of Italian players the same age as our boys who evened things out. The setting couldn't have been more beautiful with the pool right on the Ligurian Sea similar to the Recco pool minus the permanent grandstands. In their place was a bar in the end zone where the Newport parents, along with some Italian locals, watched the game from behind protective netting to keep wayward shots from whacking people in the head and/or knocking beverages off of the tables. Some folks suggested a similar set-up at Newport could generate a lot of revenue but the Board of Education is unlikely to approve such a concept! All the boys played a lot and it was an excellent opportunity for them to work on the things that the coaches have been teaching them. It was good to see Renee and Matt Mclaren and Evelyn and John Yeager who arrived from Tuscany just in time for the opening sprint.

Annette and Tim Tauber and Maggie and Laird decided to walk from Camogli to Sori which is the next town after Recco. It didn't look that far on the map but two hours later we found ourselves arriving at the pool. It was quite the hike but provided some beautiful vistas of the coastline including some little coves packed with swimmers and sunbathers. After the scrimmage the boys headed back to the hotel for a 10 p.m. dinner and bed for they were going to be up and at 'em at 6:30 the following morning to take the bus to Camogli for their last morning workout of the trip.

Later this morning eveyone's going to board the train to Santa Margherita where we'll walk to Portofino and spend a couple of hours to see where the rich and famous hang out. We'll then board the boat for the trip back to Camogli and Recco in time for the boys to get some rest and a bite to eat before tonight's game against one of the top age group teams in Italy. Tonight should be the real deal and I'm sure Coach Lynch and Coach Delahunt are anxious to see how we'll do.

Tomorrow's (Saturday) plan look pretty exciting. A big tour bus will take everyone including the four sets of parents over to the Italian/French border where a game is scheduled. I will find out the name of the town where we're going so you can look it up on a map and get an idea where we'll be in relation to the Camogli/Recco area.

July 10th

****The Photo Gallery is back online.. Laird will post more photos of todays events tomorrow morning. Thanks, Terisa

Another excellent workout this morning in the Camogli pool from 7-9:30. Lynne reported that they went back, ate breakfast and then looked at film of yesterday's scrimmage. Afterwards Coach Lynch was having individual meetings with the boys. They are going to have the rest of the afternoon off to poke around Recco or just rest in their rooms before tonight's 7 o'clock game in the Recco seaside pool.

Tomorrow will be the last morning workout in the Camogli pool. Afterwards the troops are going to hop on a short train ride to Portofino and poke around that "rich and famous" part of the Italian Riviera. They're scheduled to take the boat back to Recco to rest up for a 9 p.m. game in Camogli. A game in France is scheduled for Saturday and Lynne has made arrangements to get a big-enough bus to take the four sets of parents who will all be in town by then - the Mclarens, Taubers, Yeagers and Hayeses. Sounds like a lot of fun.

I'm having difficulty today uploading pictures on the Web Gallery. I'm trying to get things sorted out but if I'm unable to get them posted you'll just have to be patient until we return on the 14th.

Ciao and arrivederci!

Laird

July 9th Afternoon

This afternoon's scrimmage against one of Camogli's club teams went very well. Coach Lynch was extremely happy with the boys' intensity and their being able to pick up some new concepts that he and Corey are teaching them. As with anything, water polo played at the high level that Jason expects his players to play at can be a very complex game. There are so many nuances that go way beyond what the casual observer sees when watching a game. That's why we're so fortunate to have such high level coaching that will prepare our sons' to play at the next level, and be successful, if they choose to do so. Our players are smart and they're figuring out what the coaches want them to do in a variety of situations. Water polo, like soccer, is a fluid game and players need to figure things out on their own and make a decision in a micro second. It's a difficult game to coach and to play and for our boys to play at the level they need to play to contend for another CIF Championship they have a lot to learn...and they're well on their way due to rigorous training here in Italy. This afternoon's scrimmage started at 2:30 and went virtually non-stop until 5. Both the starters and the second group played an equal amount of time. Some players in the second group got to play with the first group. As Coach Lynch says often, it's going to take EVERY player here in Italy and those who are not here but are in the varsity workout group. to give it their all to make this a championship caliber team..which Coach Lynch feels is very possible given how hard they've been working here in the Mediterranean.

After the scrimmage we walked down a whole lot of steps to the beach at Camogli where the boys played their circle volleyball game while Coach Corey and Coach Lynch took a swim in the Ligurian Sea. As they were all ready to walk back to their hotel in Recco (about 30 minutes by foot) four local soccer kids challenged the Newport Harbor HS boys water polo team to a game of four-a side soccer on a concrete deck next to the beach. With their Italian girlfriends watching the game the locals fell behind 1-0 on brilliant goal by either Zach Lucas, Nick Holbrook, Matt or Dustin - I don't remember who notched the first goal of the match. While their little 9-10 year old gremlin buddies were pelting our players and supporters with pea-sized berries from bushes in the planters that bordered the pitch - a little local intimidation going on! - Andy said he picked up one of the projectiles and zinged it back at one of those little buggers and got him on the head - "Served him right!" - the locals tied it up. Newport went ahead by one and soon thereafter the Camogli Commandos tied it at 2. Lynne Hayes decided it was time to hit the road and Jason oh so diplomatically said that a tie was in the best interest of world peace and the two sides shook hands and pledged world brotherhood to their foreign counterpart.

It was a GREAT afternoon. A lot of laughs and incredible team bonding. These kids genuinely like each other. What's not to like about these kids?!! You'd all be so proud of how their representing their family, school and country.

Ciao,

Laird

July 9th

I uploaded some more fotos this morning - sunset from Maggie's and my hotel room in Camogli and most of the rest show the steps leading up the hill from the bottom part of Camogli to the pool. It's quite a trek! A billy goat would be envious! But well worth it as the views from the hillside are spectacular. The boys will be returning to the Camogli pool this afternoon for a 2 o'clock game. Needless to say they're biting at the bit for some competition and according to Coach Lynch every day from here on out they will be playing some outstanding teams. After the pool training session this morning they all got in the weight room for an hour of strength training. It's quite a sight to see. Each player has a weight lifting partner and they go from station to station to work on a different muscle group. Coach Lynch and David are training partners and Coach is no slouch when it comes to pushing the iron. I also caught a glimpse of him doing no fewer than 10 very legit pull-ups. I was afraid for the wall that the bar was attached to!

There can't be another high school water polo program (and probably very few college/university programs) anywhere on the planet that gets the full course water polo treatment than our program provides the kids. Jason's a tough coach as we all know but I have concluded there is NO DOUBT that he has the best interest of EVERY kid in the program foremost in his mind. He wants them to achieve their potential and he will push and push until he sees them pushing themselves to the point that he feels they can. We as parents should be grateful for his commitment to our sons and their development as players and as men. As soon as he stops yelling and coaching our boys is when we need to start to worry. As a coach I tell my players that once I stop saying anything to them that's the time to get nervous because I've given up on them for their lack of commitment and unwillingness to be coachable. The good news: from my vantage point all of our kids are very coachable and they're all becoming better players...and people. As Maggie continues to remind me, 1) emotions fluctuate and 2) Newport Harbor HS water polo is an AP Water Polo class...and I promise you there is no other that comes close to ours thanks to Coach Lynch and Coach Delahunt. We are lucky to have them both.

Arrivederci !

Laird