Monday 22 October 2012

NS Coach Newsletter Vol 1(10) October, 2012



Volume: 1 Edition (10)
Posted: Monday, October 22nd, 2012

 “Players should expect the best - We can deliver”

News: “Milk`n It!”

When can you milk a cow and play lacrosse? At the Milk Sport Fair of course, which hosted thousands of grade school and junior high students to a wide variety of sports, including lacrosse, between October 17th and 19th. OK, Bessie wasn’t a live cow, if that was her name at all, but you could milk a full sized model cow at the sport fair, which seemed very appropriate considering the venue, Halifax’s Exhibition Park.

For Lacrosse Nova Scotia, this was the second Milk Sport Fair of the year and just as successful as the spring Truro event. Since its inception back in 2002, the sport fair has hosted more than 44,000 students, teachers and parents. A great big Thank You goes out to coaches Tim Muise, Sara-Lynn Knockwood, Joe Swann, Gary Drohan and his son, Peter and Greg Knight, who ran the booth. An estimated 3549 students attended the October event from 34 schools ranging from Tantallon to Hants to Musquodoboit.

After talking to numerous students, teachers and parents, lacrosse has touched many families, directly and indirectly across the metro area. Many of the female students who visited the booth had or play lacrosse and many more students have friends that play. An interesting comment from one teacher was that there are not enough sports for Junior High School students.

In one example, sixty students tried out for a school volleyball team. Those students who did not make the roster were left without any sport avenue. This example makes a strong case for box and field coaches to help develop strong club (MMLL) ties to schools and the development of spring field lacrosse, which could follow the Metro Interlax program.

In 2013, the Milk Sport Fair will be held May 1st-3rd at Berwick’s Apple Dome within the King’s Mutual Century Centre and again at Exhibition Park in the fall. Do become involved and help promote lacrosse. Photos of the milking cow and the Truro event can be found at http://www.sportnovascotia.ca/Events/MilkSportFairSpring/EventHistory/tabid/1254/Default.aspx

News: “Coaches”

It is hard to believe, the start of the MMLL and ECJLL seasons are only six months away and the deadline for workbooks is only five months away. Avoid the rush and get them completed.

Don`t forget, you can always go to ``55 Links`` to check the minimum certification required for the discipline and age group you wish to coach at http://cla.pointstreaksites.com/view/cla/coaching-3/certification (Club, Provincial & National).

Column: “Tips from the Crease”

“Write from the Author’s mouth”

The timing could not be better to host author and coach Jim Hinkson next April before the MMLL season gets under way. If you are a box coach and have not read Jim’s classics, Lacrosse Fundamentals and Lacrosse Team Strategies, as well as Lacrosse for Dummies, you will get a chance to meet him in person with his latest revisions of his classics.

It was a great surprise to get an email last month from Jim Hinkson, who is making a book-slash-coaching tour next spring across Canada. At this time, LNSS is working on a weekend program that would allow box coaches the opportunity to learn skills and team strategies from the master. Complete details are being worked out, but do check LNSS’s website and newsletters for updates.

If you have any tips you’d like to share, email them to lacrossetechdirector@sportnovascotia.ca

Column: “Provincial News”

A little behind schedule, but Provincial Head Coach Applications (box and field) were sent out October 11th and are due November 1st. The successful candidates will be announced at the LNSS 2012 AGM Saturday, November 24th. Head Coaches should check ``55 Links`` to view minimum certifications required for coaching staff http://cla.pointstreaksites.com/view/cla/coaching-3/certification.

Note: The Exhibition Park arena will be used again for ID/Development purposes starting in January. At this time four dates have been booked between January and March, and LNSS is waiting to hear back on two more dates. Updates will be posted on LNSS’s website calendar and within this newsletter.

Column: “Alumni News”

What better opportunity for Nova Scotia’s lacrosse community to celebrate the last big hurrah of the season, then at the MUFLL playoff weekend November 2nd-4th. Check LNSS’s and MUFLL’s website site for details and do not forget the special Women’s Field Game at noon, November 4th. The playoff weekend will be hosted by Saint Mary’s University.
 
News: “Next Month”

Keep track of up-coming events on LNSS’s website newslider and calendar.

  • Deadline for Provincial coach applications, November 1st
  • MUFLL Playoffs, November 2nd-4th, SMU Stadium
  • Women’s Field Lacrosse Showcase Game, November 4th, SMU Stadium
  • LNSS AGM, November 24th

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