Morris Lions U19s Blog

New Photos from Charlotte

Many thanks to Mrs Sweet. We have another great addition to Morris Lions U19s Media Team. You can see the rest here.



 

Photos from Hyde Game

You can find them here. Thanks again Mr Hickey

Updated 2009 Schedule

All,

 

Click this link to find a revised schedule for this spring. In addition to the announced changes, we have also added a match/scrimmage at home against Keio Academy at the end of April.  Based on the responses I received regarding the NYRFC U19 reschedule, we will be playing NYRFC at home on Thurs. April 16.  This will be a day of 2 matches, held at the Denville pitch starting at 4pm!!

 

From the schedule you will see we now have 3 mid-week matches, all on Thursdays, with 2 of the 3 starting around 4pm.  I recognize it will be tough to get some of you to the match on time, but we need to start earlier to ensure we can get the 2nd match in to be fair to all the players.  We have some flexibility with the Keio match as that will more than likely be 3 30-minute period, so we can start later.  But for the 2 league matches, NYRFC and Parsippany, where we play at Parsippany, we have to be prepared for the early starts. 

 

One last comment regarding the schedule.  I have heard that a number of the juniors scheduled SAT tests for Sat. May 2 in addition to other activities on the day.  It was only recently that I moved the Maryland trip to the weekend of May 2, but prior to that the NRU Championships were on the schedule from the very beginning.  My question to you all is this, did you already figure from the beginning we would not make the playoffs so you decided to schedule your testing on that date?  Am I missing something?  I didn't realize May 2 was the only day available for SAT testing.  Thank you for your confidence in the team and your teammates!!

 

Coach John

 

 

ps.. I'm waiting on registration information from one more player and then I'll be able to forward a roster to everyone..

Photos From Charlotte c/o Mr Hickey

You can see them here.

Introduction to Rugby

Some resources to help people understand the basics of the game. Below is a video of highlights from last year with some of the basics of the game.

Here are the spectator guides sent out by Coach John:

Part 1
Part 2

Memories from last year's Charlotte Tournament

Gents,

To get you in the mood for this weekend's tournament, check out this old post with some of the players' best memories here:

"Hearing the other team moan every time the ref called for a scrum. Go Dozer" - Big Red

I think the best game moment, was either jake feury's dump, or Ludwig's excellent try in the first game. Ludwig hit that hole at full speed, and didn't stop. He is starting to make tuqiri look bad lol." Joe Ross

"Tie between Feury's tackle and Grego's try in that third game. Both were incredible." Matt Turinas

"Listening to the A-side cheering on the B-side on Sunday, then listening to the B-side "trying" to cheer on the A-side!" Coach John

You can see more photos here. And here is a very crappy quality video playlist pf some of the highlists

Photos From Keio Scrimmage c/o Mr Hickey

You can find the rest here.

Player Profile - Robert Stortz, Smokey

School: Morris County School of Technology 10th grade
Position: Openside flanker
How long with Lions: I started in 8th grade
Favorite memory: Winning our third U15 Jersey Cup in 3 years in the puddles and mud
Something others don't know: I used to play chess in big tournaments and won trophies and money for it
Anything else I want to share. I love playing for the Lions. It's like my second family. Let's show everyone how good our "rebuilding team" is.

Player Profiles

Gentlemen,

Here is a great opportunity to get to know your fellow players and for your fellow players to get to know you. Over the course of the season, if you would like to have it included on this blog we will post a profile of you.

Here is all you need to do. Email me, with:

- Your full name
- Age
- Where you go to school and your grade
- Your favorite position on the field
- How long you have been playing with the Lions
- Your best or favorite Lions moment
- Something the other Lions don't know about you that would surprise them (e.g. "I have the world's largest collection of door knockers)
- Anything else you want to share with your team-mates

As we get photos of you playing, we will post a profile.

For the guys who already have a profile, if you want a new photo or to update your profile just send me whatever you want edited.

Click on this link to see the player profiles we already have.

Keep coming back to this blog to learn a bit more about the guys you play with.

Can any of the new guys guess who the photo is?

Sunday's Scrimmage

Hello all..

 

Well the Rugby Gods are watching over us with regard to weather, as it looks to be marvelous weather for rugby on Sunday.  The time for kickoff has been confirmed, location is determined, all we have to do is show up!! That's one of the things that I love about rugby, the casualness of how things can be organized, organized mayhem as they say, yet somehow we get to the pitch, get kitted up and next thing you know, game on!!

 

So this Sunday represents our first outing in quasi match conditions.  Admittedly, we haven't worked on some of the basics, kickoffs, penalty plays, scrummaging, full backline positioning etc.. and the point is????  Remember, this is a "Scrimmage" and scrimmages are meant to be trials, tests, conditioning reviews without the pressure of having to perform for league results.  Outings like Sunday's are meant to provide the chance to work on those things that we can't effectively train on with limited location and less than desirable conditions.  So from a coaching perspective, we aren't expecting perfection, what we are expecting is a solid effort, that you question your decision-making, was it correct, what should I have done, what were my options.  We expect you to bring your enthusiasm and desire to learn, to improve, to have a good time playing rugby, regardless of the outcome.  There's plenty of time to get upset with a less than desired result, but not this Sunday.  This Sunday is all about practicing our patterns of play, practicing our ball in hand skills, practicing our teamwork.  After all, how many people get the chance to play the game in heaven?? You are the lucky ones, don't forget that!! 

 

I will have the team jerseys and additional shorts/socks for those that will be needing them.  Bring water, and dress accordingly.  The pitch will be a turf/artificial surface, so I advise long sleeves to wear under your jerseys as well as compression shorts to protect hips and thighs.  You should be able to wear your rugby boots, but bring soccer cleats if you have them just in case standard rugby boots won't be allowed.

 

See you all Sunday,

Cheers,

Coach John

 

"Who do you play for?"

 

 

Directions - We are traveling to Keio Academy of New York, located in Purchase, NY, just east and north of White Plains.  Kickoff will be at 1pm and we should plan on arriving no later than 12 noon.   I am providing the link to the school as well as directions below.  From Mennen arena, it will be about a 75 minute drive (depending on rate of travel!).  We will not be using a bus for this adventure, we will be driving ourselves.  If anyone cares to caravan from Mennen, we need to depart by 10:45 am. I will be at Mennen as well and can take 3 or 4 boys if need be.  For those of you from the northern reaches of the galaxy, er state, you can plan on 45 minutes to the school if you use Rt. 287 to access points north.

 

Keio Academy of New York

3 College Rd.

Purchase, NY

 http://www.keio.edu/english/tabid/205/Default.aspx

 

From: NJ/Upstate New York(West)
Rt. 287 North to NY State Thruway/87 to Tappan Zee Bridge.  Go east across the bridge to Cross Westchester Expressway ( Interstate 287). Continue on Cross Westchester Expressway east to Hutchinson River Parkway (exit 9 north). Hutchinson River Parkway north to exit 27. Left onto Route 120 (Purchase Street). Left turn onto Manhattanville Road. Right turn onto College Road and follow to campus.