Morris Lions U19s Blog

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..

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.

The 2009 Schedule - What we have in store!

All,

 

I have finally completed our 2009 schedule.  We have matches/scrimmages starting March 1, continuing until May 31.  We have some exciting events this season besides the league schedule.  Of note, we are hosting Hyde School from Washington, DC for a weekend.  We are hosting Park School from Canada for Jersey Cup weekend.  We are providing opposition to a Welsh touring side, Bridgend College.  We are traveling to Lehigh Valley, Keio Academy in Purchase, NY, Charlotte, NC and Havre de Grace, MD.  All in the name of rugby!!   We will provide parental and player support for the Jersey Cup weekend and the Gibby Run (more details on this effort at a later date, but we will be assisting with the events through hands on support).

 

We have scrimmages starting March 1 and play every weekend to the end of April.  League, New England and National playoffs are the first 3 weekends in May and I have purposely left them open.  We can either contest for those competitions or look to schedule other events.  Time will tell. 

 

As for the hostings of Hyde and Park Schools.. the hosting means we will offer to keep players in our homes.  This is a time honored rugby tradition and a wonderful way for our players to share experiences with players from other parts of the country/world.  More details on these important hosting events to follow in a separate email.  Below you will find a link to a short video talking about the Hyde School program.

 

Please review the schedule and let me know as soon as possible when you will be away for any particular match. I know there are SAT's, spring breaks, Easter breaks and other family commitments during the spring and so the coaches can plan accordingly, we need to know your availability.  It is a full schedule and we need everyone available as much as possible if we are going to make our mark on the season.  As you all know, I don't harp on commitment.  We learn of your commitment soon enough through your participation, communication and intent to improve your skills  The great majority of you are commited, we can tell through your actions and efforts.  That is what is needed if we are to surpass our accomplishments of last season.  It won't be easy.  Last year's team set the bar very high.  We the coaches are commited to working with you boys to improve on last year's success, now all that is needed is your effort and desire.  We look forward to the challenges ahead.

 

One final note regarding the schedule.  As we have in past years, we will be using buses to transport to all away LEAGUE matches (but not to Parsippany).  We won't however use buses to travel to the away scrimmages, Lehigh Valley and Keio Academy.  We might consider hiring a bus for the trip to Md, but will discuss that at a later time.

 

In the mean time, review the schedule and mark your calendars!!

 

Coach John

 

 

"Who do you play for?"

http://areyouwatchingthis.com/tv/programs/SH011238830000-Hyde-Rugby-A-New-World/13512365 

Event: "Hyde Rugby: A New World" "Hyde Rugby TV Special" 

Host: Fox Sports 

Start Time: Sunday, February 8 at 11:00am EST 

Where: Washington, DC 

(Also will be re-broadcast end of February) 

To see more details follow the link below: 

http://www.facebook.com/n/?event.php&eid=65683417256&aref=22571760 

Snowbowl

Team Hickey - Numerous tries

Team Turinas - Numerous tries

 

End result - draw!! Some might say it's like kissing your sister, however, considering the effort on the day, the result was fitting and fair. And that doesn't have anything to do with the fact that Coach Simon needed ointment for his face after a snow/ice burn from the last play of the day or the fact that yours truly could have used some oxygen.  It has to do with the fact that both teams worked very hard passing, tackling, supporting as a team.  Very few tucked and tried to run through a crowd and those that did were punished for it through snow rubbed in their face and turnover of the ball.  In fairness to those few, this was the first outing and we will all work to break you of those habits.  Most of all, we had FUN.  To me, any time I can get out to play rugby, it's fun. Sure it takes work, sure it takes concentration, sure it takes discipline, but, it's fun, rewarding and sure beats sitting home.

 

We plan on building on what we did this past Sunday, as we will be getting out to Mennen on Sundays, temperatures permitting.  Getting out will help us with fitness, which we all sorely need, and we can continue to work on our patterns of play on a full sized pitch, all in the name of fun!  Getting outside will also give us a chance to see where you are with decision making with ball in hand.  We have a lot of work ahead of us formulating the team.  Team activities have taken a backseat to individual skill work, work that I know is not the most inspirational or stimulating.  However, no one is performing at a standard where individual skill work can be put aside. 

 

So, with the Snow Bowl III behind us, we move on.  The weeks ahead of us will be drudgery at times, exhausting at times, and hopefully, inspiring.  We will test your decision making ability, we will test your fitness, we will test your desire and resolve to play and mold yourselves into a team.  Most importantly, we will work to improve your rugby skills.

 

Thanks to all for making Sunday such a success.   See you all on Thurs..

 

Coach John

Rudy Kelly Alumni Day 2008 - Wrap-up

All,

 

I know this has been long overdue, but quite frankly, I have been trying to find the right words to put into perspective the joy and sense of pride we felt in order to adequately describe the days events.  In the 7 years the Morris Lions have been in existence, we have graduated 91 players. This year, there were 33 players in attendance, not including 2 more that will always be in attendance, Rudy and David, and 2 more, the brothers Rosica serving in Iraq, that we know would have been part of the gathering if it not for their duty assignments. So, with the 35 players in attendance, we had representation from every graduating year! In our first year, 2002, we had 2 graduates, Rudy Kelly and Tom Meek. I include the 2002 year in attendance, with Rudy watching over us, while Tom is studying for his Doctorate on the west coast, so we can kind of excuse him! But from every other graduating year, we had representation from at least 2 players, with the 2008 class returning the most players(in fairness, they were the largest graduating class with 18 players, 14 of which participated)!  Adding to the festivities was the holiday collection for our troops, spearheaded by Donna Waliky, Gibby Scholarship Committee chairperson, with special assistance from Bill Dobbs and JoAnn Rosica, and with numerous other "volunteers".  With founders Bob Karetsky, Kirk Murrell and yours truly in attendance, along with the Kelly's and the Gibson's, well, it was a day to remember. 

 

Bob, Kurt and I reminisced about the time we met at a restaurant in Short Hills mall in early 2002, laying the groundwork for the formation of the club.  Our hope was to spread the word of rugby, with hopes that in ensuing years other high school rugby programs would add to the growing list of local teams.  Low and behold, St. Peter's Prep, Union U19, Parsippany U19, Palmetto Bears U19(Naples, Fla.), and more recently Delbarton HS, all grew from the Morris Lions.  To see so many boys from past years, socializing, playing, laughing and cheering again was special indeed. To see the current club members giving their all and taking the alumni to task on the pitch, acquitting themselves quite well, was special indeed.  To see so many parents returning to watch their sons, renew friendships with hugs and kisses, was special indeed.  To see the parent of a former player take up refereeing and being part of the day in his new role, was special indeed. Hearing the boys cheer for each other, for the referee, for Rudy, for Gibby, was special indeed.  For all of us to be gathered under the posts for a group shot, was special indeed.

 

Kurt made a comment that this was the first year where he didn't really feel we had to be on the pitch with the boys to provide assistance, guidance or fill in to get the needed numbers as in past years.  That doesn't mean we won't be stepping on the pitch in years to come, of course we will, what it does mean is the program and the importance of the alumni day is such to the boys that enough want to come back year after year.  Add to it the club side being so keen on playing and showing their skills, well, we seem to have succeeded in ensuring the long term viability of the day.  As I watched the boys at the end of the match sessions, as I looked over at the crowd on the sidelines, it made me so proud to be a part of something so very special to so many people.  The day has become special for a number of reasons.  Each of you have your reasons, all of which are important and valuable to the experience.  Whether it being a recognition of the Kelly and Gibson families and their personal contributions. Whether it be watching the boys interacting old and new, all with one thing in common, the crest on their chests.  Whether it be the parents reflecting on the past and updating each other on the present.  Whether it was watching the coaches still showing the flair they had been known to possess in the past. Whether it be shedding a tear reflecting on pride shown by the boys as representatives of the Morris Lions.  All and more is what made the day so special for all.

 

Over the years, our accomplishments might not always have been reflected on the scoreboard, but that lack of scoreboard success has been more than made up for in tradition, honor, sportsmanship and a true sense of pride in being a Morris Lion, past and present.  At times, as coaches we have lamented our lack of scoreboard success, however, after a day like we had, well, we have been convinced that our program operates for all the right reasons, allowing young men the chance to prove themselves equally, gather confidence, develop long lasting friendships, showcase skills and show their joy in playing the game played in heaven.  

 

Finally I'd be remiss if I didn't mention 2 things..

 

1. To the Lane Family, we sorely missed your presence for a couple of reasons, one is many players and coaches were saddened by not having to prove themselves worthy by surviving a Tom Lane tackle, and almost as important, many people were left out in the cold without their traditional "alumni day soup"!  So Caryn, as much as we know family is important, well, perhaps a visit on another weekend might be more appropriate?? We await the return of the Lane family next year!   

2. A very special thanks to John Cahillane, owner of the Rattlesnake Ranch Cafe for hosting the after match social.  It was an overwhelming success!  It was such a success that I greatly underestimated the anticipated attendance, but John and staff took things in stride and ensured there was plenty to eat for all.  As coach Simon so aptly put it, it felt like a regular match day at his home club in England, everyone in the clubhouse after the matches, both young and old socializing, again showing why we love this sport so much. With John's approval, you all can be sure we will make it a regular part of the day, the after match social at the Rattlesnake Ranch Cafe.  John has been a long time supporter of Morris Rugby and we would like to continue that association by making the Rattlesnake part of the agenda and social activities for the 2009 Rudy Kelly Alumni Day.

 

In closing, I want to thank each and everyone one of you that attended the festivities. I was overwhelmed by the generosity given for the troops. I was overwhelmed by the joy, camaraderie, emotion and pride shown by all the players both before and after the match sessions.  I was overwhelmed by the response of the parents, both current and past.  All of the founders, Bob, Kurt and I are so proud of the Morris Lions and all that the program has come to mean to so many people.  One thing you all might not know, Xavier HS in NYC has had a very successful, nationally ranked rugby program for over 30 years.  But they'd be hard pressed to match what we have accomplished over 7 years. Over the years the one very important thing you boys have taught me and now truly believe is, "once a Lion always a Lion"!   As another year unfolds, let us continue to ask each other, "Who do you play for?"

 

There were many, many pictures taken on the day by 4 very capable photographers, Bob Karetsky, Bill Ross, Jim Hickey and JoAnn Rosica.  The links below will take you to the Morris Lions U19 team blog and the source for all of the pictures. The number of pictures would rival the Super Bowl coverage!  Take a look, enjoy, relive the day!!  The links are aggragated here.  The Lions U19 team blog is here - http://morrislionsu19s.typepad.com/

 

Thank you and see you next year,

John

Indoor Training Starts Dec 4th

We start indoor training this coming Thurs., Dec. 4 at the Randolph Indoor Sports Pavilion (directions here) from 7-9pm.  Bring indoor training clothes, water, a mouthpiece and a desire to improve your rugby skills. We will be training every Thurs. evening from 7-9 pm at the same location thru until mid-February.  There will be no training on Christmas Thurs. and the following week, New Years Thurs..

Feedback on the Scrimmage

All,

 

We wanted to take a few minutes to provide some feedback regarding the scrimmage this past Sunday and send out a reminder for this coming Saturday's Alumni day.  Admittedly, it was probably one of the coldest days I can remember for playing rugby.  Whether on the sidelines watching or standing on the sidelines waiting to play, either way, boy it was cold!! That in of itself would have been enough to deter even the most faithful sports fan, but for everyone to stay around and see the day through, well you all deserve accolades for your perseverance!!

 

All of which bodes well for the program for both players and parents.  I mention the parents because ultimately you are the ones that make the effort to get your sons to training and the matches.  You are the ones that make the effort to pay the fees, so you are important to the success of our program and we acknowledge that.  As for the players, we had over 40 on the sidelines ready to play, a great turnout for a scrimmage in admittedly freezing weather (at least it wasn't raining!!)  Your patience as we sorted out the sessions, providing direction and feedback along the way was appreciated.  It can be daunting remembering names, identifying the proper positions, ensuring everyone gets their time with so many new faces, but it is a good problem, a very good problem to have for a program such as ours. 

 

Overall, we were very pleased with the efforts of all.  It appeared that you all took the various training points from these last 6 weeks and attempted to apply them throughout the afternoon.  By and large those efforts were successful.  Early season scrimmages such as Sunday's can be characterized by confusion, hesitation and sometimes, to a lesser degree, success. Sunday's session had elements of all three, with success surprisingly being realized to a great degree!  Returning players started slow but found their pace, at times showing flashes of excellence.  The former U15's brought raw skills, energy and lots of questions.  The new players brought eagerness and enthusiasm, with a desire to apply their new found skills from the fall training sessions.  Combined, in our eyes, the day was a resounding success. 

 

You will find we coaches don't necessarily measure success solely in terms of wins.  We generally measure success based on whether the players execute the game plan, using the skills we have coached them on, performing at the highest possible work rate.  We believe that if we do our job of preparing the players, the desired results will be realized.  After watching you all play on Sunday, we believe we are pointed in the right direction.  Admittedly, we have a way to go to get ourselves ready for the challenges ahead, but, from what we have seen, the foundation is set, all that is needed is for you the players to come ready to learn and trust our lead.  Each of you can contribute to our success next spring.  Believe in your coaches, believe in your teammates, believe in yourselves, the rest will fall in place.

 

Lastly, remember about the Rudy Kelly Alumni match this coming Saturday the 29th, starting at 12 noon at the Pocono Rd. pitch in Denville.  Returning players and the former U15's will make up the side playing against the alumni, with new players sitting out.  Everyone is encouraged to attend, especially the new players and all the parents. You are members of the team now and it is important to learn about the history and tradition of the club, it is the basis of what the Morris Lions represent.  The Kellys, Gibsons and the Levins, the family that has donated the Willie Blumberg award, will be in attendance, which bodes well for a fantastic day of rugby and renewed friendships.  And to top it off, the weather will be a balmy mid-40's and sunny!! 

 

We hope to wrap things up by 2 or 2:30, at which time we will be retiring to the Rattlesnake Ranch Cafe in Denville, off Rt. 53.  Cost will be $15 per person which will cover the expense for food and refreshments, with a small portion of the $15 serving as a contribution to the Gibby Scholarship.  As identified in an earlier email, we are also assisting with gathering goods for the troops as a Morris Rugby Corporation activity.  We are asking each individual attending to bring at least one item from the list of items presented below, or a cash contribution for shipping.  We have 2, perhaps 3 former club members who are serving their country in Iraq and Morris Rugby as a whole has decided to gather items to send them in support of their efforts.  

 

Below is a list of items the soldiers ask for: 

 

Single packages of drink powdered (Gatorade, Crystal Light, Kool-aid, etc)

Magazines, crossword puzzles, Sudoku puzzles

Chapstick

Beef Jerky, Beef Jerky and more Beef Jerky

Nutritious snacks (Power Bars, Trail Mix, Gum, etc canned nuts/pretzels/chips, tuna in foil packets, sunflower seeds)

Dark beanie caps that are worn under helmets at night (They MUST be dark)

White athletic socks

DVD’s and CD’s.  Please mark them “Property of US Armed Forces”.   Sadly, these items are stolen from our soldiers and being sold back to them.  When the soldiers see they are marked, they know it was stolen.

Stress balls, playing cards, nerf balls, RUGBY BALLS, dominoes, poker chips, Uno cards

Stationary, envelopes and pens for letters home.  Our troops do not need stamps; they can mail letters home at no charge.

Batteries (AA, AAA, and C are the most requested)

Travel size toiletry items (foot powder, shaving cream, mouth wash, Visine eye drops, nasal spray, disposable razors, q-tips, Neosporin, hand sanitizer, baby wipes, Kleenex, cough drops, deodorant, dental floss, antacids, etc.)

Dry soup – (Ramen or Cup of Noodles packets)

Microwave Popcorn

Instant Oatmeal packets

Letters and notes, addressed to “Any Soldier”.  A brief heartfelt “thank you” means so much.  This is the most important item!  They love to hear from us and mail brightens their day.

 

We the coaches and our families wish everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving.  I am thankful for being given the opportunity to share my passion and love of this special game, the game played in heaven, with you all. If you are traveling, may you have a safe journey to your destination, but most of all, regardless of where you share this holiday, enjoy this special time with friends and family.   

 

See you on Saturday.

 

Yours in rugby,

 

Coach John

Coach Matt

Coach Simon

Coach Kurt

 

 

"Who do you play for?"

2008 Rudy Kelly Alumni Game

All,

I'm sure you have heard the rumors, anticipated the announcement, and here it is.  Saturday, Nov. 29 is the day!  Dust off the boots, find those shorts, dig up your socks and bring yourselves to the Pocono Rd. pitch in Denville on Sat., Nov. 29, 12 noon.  The Morris Lions 2008 Rudy Kelly Alumni Day is upon us!!

Here are the details:

1. Kickoff for the U15s will be 12 noon - 2 15/20 minute halves only.. no longer
2. Kickoff for the U19s will be 12:45-1pm. - This year there will only be 3 20-min periods.  This year the alumni will not play against the men's team, you will play one 20 minute session against each other, with the 2nd 20 min. session a side will play against the existing club side.  The last 20 will be another alumni session against the club.. if you all want to play longer, we can work something out..

By limiting the amount of playing time, to about 2 hours total, we want to allow everyone time to socialize more, let the current club members meet the former players, letting everyone renew friendships etc.. This year, after the matches, we will be heading to The Rattlesnake Ranch Cafe in Denville for the after match social.  Food and sodas will be provided, with anyone wanting any other type of drink, to be purchased from the bar.  There will be a $15 per person charge to cover the food and refreshment costs, which includes a contribution to the Gibby Scholarship. Alumni Jerseys will be on sale for $40 for those that need one. Remember, you will be playing in your Alumni jersey!!

Additionally, we are asking every player to make a contribution to support the troops overseas.  We have 2 former players, and possibly another, that are in Iraq. Both Matt and Dan Rosica are in Iraq and we know Dan Sudler is in the Marines, but are unsure if he was deployed.  We are asking every player to bring any one of the following as your contribution to play:

Below is a list of items the soldiers ask for:

Single packages of drink powdered (Gatorade, Crystal Light, Kool-aid, etc)
Magazines, crossword puzzles, Sudoku puzzles
Chapstick
Beef Jerky, Beef Jerky and more Beef Jerky
Nutritious snacks (Power Bars, Trail Mix, Gum, etc canned nuts/pretzels/chips, tuna in foil packets, sunflower seeds)
Dark beanie caps that are worn under helmets at night (They MUST be dark)
White athletic socks
DVD’s and CD’s.  Please mark them “Property of US Armed Forces”.   Sadly, these items are stolen from our soldiers and being sold back to them.  When the soldiers see they are marked, they know it was stolen.
Stress balls, playing cards, nerf balls, RUGBY BALLS, dominoes, poker chips, Uno cards
Stationary, envelopes and pens for letters home.  Our troops do not need stamps; they can mail letters home at no charge.
Batteries (AA, AAA, and C are the most requested)
Travel size toiletry items (foot powder, shaving cream, mouth wash, Visine eye drops, nasal spray, disposable razors, q-tips, Neosporin, hand sanitizer, baby wipes, Kleenex, cough drops, deodorant, dental floss, antacids, etc.)
Dry soup – (Ramen or Cup of Noodles packets)
Microwave Popcorn
Instant Oatmeal packets
Letters and notes, addressed to “Any Soldier”.  A brief heartfelt “thank you” means so much.  This is the most important item!  They love to hear from us and mail brightens their day.

Finally, we will ask for the traditional bonfire.. we will ask for the Lane soup kitchen.. we will ask for the Grego covers..  we will ask as many of you as possible to attend.  The Kelly's, Rudy's parents, will be there to provide the ceremonial prematch toss of the coin.  Parents are welcomed and encouraged to attend. Bring your friends, spread the word to any current and former player you are in contact with, let them know you are playing.  Plan to stay for awhile after the matches at the Rattlesnake to help renew the friendships.

Beyond that, I would hope you all will plan on attending to remember and honor those that have come before and those that represent the current. For a few of us, emotions run very high on this day and well they should.. as you know, Bob Karetsky, Coach Kurt and I are all about tradition and carrying on the tradition and history of the club.  In so doing, every player, past and present understands who and what came before them, so they can appreciate that they are playing for the honor of the badge that graced or graces their chest.

See you on the 29th!!

Coach John

End of The Season Wrap-up

All,

 

I know this is long overdue. Once the season ended I felt I owed it to the company I work for to put in a decent week's work and try to catch-up on those things that have been put to the side to focus on rugby. Imagine that, actually putting a full 50 hour week at the job I was hired to do!  Anyway, I've been laboring hard to get caught up and that is my excuse for not getting this note out sooner.

 

This note will be in 3 sections, the first to cover my thoughts on the season, the 2nd a thanks to the senior players and parents from the 2008 season and finally, a few words for the future.  This will be the last communication to the seniors and their parents, as once this note is sent out, I will be creating a new distribution list for the 2009 season, one for players and one for parents. 

 

Admittedly, it took a few weeks to get over my disappointment with our performance in the playoffs then the Jersey Cup.  Coach Matt and I have spoken at length about what went wrong in the preparations.  Yes it takes the players to execute on the pitch, but it is up to the coaches to prepare the players for each encounter.  As we all learned, we had a very good 70 minute side, but the side could not adjust to the pressures of 40 minute rugby.  I can assure you, we will be better prepared next season.  Beyond those 2 weekends of rugby, we had a very successful season.  I'm not talking about success in terms of wins and losses, but in success in learning and team building.  As we said throughout the season, this was one of the best groups of boys we have had in years with regard to learning and team building and ultimately, on the pitch success.  How you came together as a group, young and old, was a testament to your efforts to accept all the players on your team, regardless of skill.  How so many of you showed up at training day after day, week after week was what we are now understanding to be a key for our future.  Over the years we the coaches and founders have discussed our mission as a club. Is it to promote the sport, to infuse interest and passion in the game played in heaven, or do we focus only on winning. We have tried to strike a balance, opting to focus on building core skills as the way to long term success. Skills that any player can use if he should choose to continue his rugby career after high school and beyond.  In so doing, we have not used winning as the sole purpose, only that winning would be the result of our focus on core skills and team building. In other words, "if you build it, it (sic) will come." Thank you boys for following our guidance.  Thank you for having the faith in our beliefs, values and philosophies.  The Morris Lions are stronger for it.  

 

To the graduating players and parents, this was a very special year because we graduated several of those players and parents that have been with the club since its inception.  I can't help but be emotional when talking about this group.  To the seniors, we wish you all the success in your lives, no matter what you should decide to do or where you go.  If rugby is part of your future, that's fantastic, if not, we hope you enjoyed your tour of duty with the Lions. One last word of wisdom to share with you.  Find something you enjoy to do, something positive that is, and put all you can into it, don't accept mediocrity.  Find something that you are passionate about, something positive that is, and build on that passion, investing in it. Throughout your life, if you can say you are doing what you enjoy doing, well, you have won half the battle.  Please stay in touch with us, let us know of your adventures in your new lives, and remember, we have our alumni game in Nov., the Saturday after Thanksgiving.  If you have new email addresses, please send them to me so you can be kept advised through the alumni distribution list I have.  To the parents, you have endured to many emails to count over your years of participation and I thank you for your patience. We the coaches thank you for all the years of driving and coming out to matches, your countless hours of volunteering.  We thank you for sharing your sons with the Lions.   This was a season to behold, we are glad you were a part of it.  Remember, once a Lion, always a Lion.

 

And lastly, the future.  Yes we graduated 18 players. Yes we graduated nearly a complete starting pack.  Yes we lost half our starting backline.  Does that mean we are worried?  Well....  but seriously, what this means is the pressure is not on the coaches, but rather YOU, the returning players.  How does this increase the pressure on you?  Well it is up to you to recruit players to fill the void.  It will be up to you to bring the players in that will help you next spring. You the returning players will have to stand up and make yourselves counted.  Many of you took a back seat to the seniors that were leading the club. Now it is your time, your time to lead and take charge. Who will be the ones to step up and lead, who will be the ones that bring the new players out necessary to fill the void?  Who will be the ones to lead by example and take this club to another season of success?  Mr. Turinas has already talked about creating a short DVD which will be used as a recruiting tool.  The DVD can be shown on a player or on your pc, either way, it will be a tool to be used to recruit those players we will need to take us to new levels of success.  The choice is yours.  You the returning players will ultimately determine the success of next season.  The coaches will be ready to do their part.  What will be your part?  Are you ready to take the challenge?  Are you ready for 2009?

 

We will be sending out periodic communications detailing any summer activities as well as the start of the fall recruiting sessions.  As always, I'm available to discuss anything that is on your mind.  We will be starting up a new Parent's Committee which will meet sometime in July to begin preparations for the fall and new season beyond.  Parent volunteers for the committee will be welcomed.  Keep a watch out for any updates.

 

Again, on behalf of the coaching staff, we thank you all for your support and participation this past season.  We had some sad times and great times, all a reflection of life in general.  The key is being able to deal with the sad times to make the great times all the more enjoyable.  Keep well this summer, pleasant and safe voyages on your summer vacations and we look forward to seeing most of you again in a few short months.  May you all have a pleasant and safe summer.

 

Yours in rugby,

John

End of Season Banquet

All,

The date and time has been set for the season ending banquet.  We are
holding the banquet on Sunday June 8 from 1:30 to 5:30.  The Grego's are
the organizing lead for this event.  The party will be held at "Fireman"
Dean Leuzarder's property (where we have held the 2 Snow Bowls).  There
is a pond on the property for fishing (not swimming).  We will hold the
party rain or shine.

For those new to the team, we encourage all players and their parents to
attend the party.  This is to celebrate the season and recognize the
graduating seniors.  We also hand out 2 very special awards, the Willie
Blumberg and the "Gibby" Scholarship.  Each senior will receive a
special commemorative gift acknowledging your participation in the
program.  We have quite a few seniors graduating and we want to
recognize each and every one.

We are asking that everyone please confirm your attendance to the
Grego's by next weekend, May 31/June 1, in so doing they can gauge the
food requirements.  In the attached flier you will find directions to
the party site and instructions on what to bring based on your playing
position.  Bring chairs and the desire to celebrate the club.

As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to ask.  The
contact information for the Grego's is below.

Thanks for your cooperation and support.

JS


Tom and Chris Grego

Email - tagrego@hotmail.com