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