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