Defenders and Dodgers
Who: 6th-8th grade attack, midfielders, and defenders
Where: Union Point Sports Complex
When: More info coming soon!
Time: TBD
Price: $200
Coach Gerry Byrne, Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator at Harvard University, & Neil Hutchinson, Offensive Coordinator at Harvard University, present the first "Defenders and Dodgers" Clinic presented by ByrneMethod.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
COVID Waiver:
All participants must fill out the online Union Point Sports Complex Waiver prior to participation. For the event name, please write in “Defenders & Dodgers”.
Click Here to Fill Out the Union Point Sports Complex Waiver.
Official Address:
Union Point Sports Complex
170 Memorial Grove Avenue
South Weymouth, MA 02190
Please Click Here for Directions to Union Point Sports Complex
Entering and Exiting:
We are very fortunate to have this bubble tomorrow, especially with the ugly forecast of cold rain. Click Here to See the “UP Fields”. There is a designated entrance, and a designated exit door for our bubble. We are in BUBBLE #2. Please enter at the Red Star (closest to the Parking lots) and exit at the Blue Star (Closest to our field space).
MEET THE STAFF
Gerry Byrne
Coach Gerry Byrne is in his 2nd season as the Head Coach at Harvard University. In his short time in Cambridge, Coach Byrne has transformed the Crimson lacrosse program, returning it back to the national spotlight.
Byrne arrived in Cambridge from Notre Dame where he was an assistant coach for 16 seasons, covering two stints. His first stop in South Bend, Indiana, was from 1989-91, before returning in 2007. In between, Byrne served as head coach at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire, from 2003-06.
Byrne helped the Fighting Irish to 14 NCAA tournament appearances (including 13 straight), 11 conference titles (regular season and tournament), and an overall record of 170-78 (.685). More impressive was the impact Notre Dame, which earned one of eight national seeds in 11 of the last 12 years, had once in the NCAA field as it reached the quarterfinal round or later on 10 different occasions, twice earning a spot in the finals (2010, 2014).
Over his final 13 seasons at Notre Dame, Byrne helped tutor 62 United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) All-Americans, with 15 of those selections earning first-team honors, and 13 USILA Scholar All-Americans. During Byrne's tenure, UND was also awarded the USILA Kelly Award (most outstanding goalie in NCAA Division I) twice and the USILA Schmeisser Award (top defensive player) three times.
Byrne's work did not go unnoticed as he was named the 2011 Intercollegiate Men's Lacrosse Coaches Association National Assistant Coach of the Year and was on the top coaching staff at the conference level three times, winning the coaching-staff-of-the-year award in the Great Western Lacrosse League twice (2007, 2009) and once in the Big EAST (2012).
Neil Hutchinson
Coach Neil Hutchinson is in his 2nd season as the Offensive Coordinator at Harvard University. Focusing on individual player development, Coach Hutchinson has a proven track record of success at his previous stops at Notre Dame, UMBC and Towson University.
Hutchinson joins the Crimson Staff following a successful stint at Notre Dame. Working primarily with the midfielders and face-off specialists, Hutchinson helped guide Bryan Costabile now with the PLL Atlas, to career highs in both Goals and Assists. Costabile was also the ACC Offensive Player of the Year, as well as a First Team All American.
During a COVID-19 Shortened 2020 season, multiple offensive players were on pace to set career highs in both goals and assists, with several players close to eclipsing those highs in only 4 games. Averaging nearly 12 goals per game, the Crimson Offensive scored on 36% of their shots, good enough for 9th at the Division 1 level.
At Previous stops at UMBC and Towson, Coach Hutchinson’s impact was felt on the offensive end of the field. Coach Hutchinson also served a role in the development of current PLL Waterdog Ryan Drenner during his time at Towson.
OUR CURRICULUM
Defenders
Harvard Head Coach Gerry Byrne will be instructing the defenders throughout the day, some of the teaching points he will cover are:
-Approaches
-Breakdowns
-Drop Steps
-Footwork
-Stick Positioning
-Close Outs
-Stick Checks
-Hand Work
Dodgers
Harvard Offensive Coordinator Neil Hutchinson will be working with the dodgers all day, focusing on:
-Preparation & Footwork
-Vision & Reads
-Stick Protection & Body Positioning
-Creating contact & Separation
-Exploring Different Areas of the Field