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Support Coach Moose – Growing Lacrosse in Waikato & Te Awamutu

  • Sport is for Everyone — Lacrosse at Adaptive Play

      5 June 2026

    One of the things I love most about lacrosse is that it was never meant to exclude anyone. The game has its roots in First Nations culture as the Creator's Game — played across communities of all ages and abilities, long before organised sport existed. That spirit is something I try to carry into everything I do with this programme.

    Recently I had the privilege of running a lacrosse station at the Te Awamutu Sports Adaptive Play Festival — a community day supported by the Halberg Trust, designed to make sure children with additional needs feel included in sport and active play. Lacrosse was a highlight activity on the day, and watching kids who don't always find their place in traditional sport pick up a stick and light up is exactly why I do this.

    Your support helps me keep showing up for moments like these — in schools, at club days, and at events where every child deserves a go. Thank you.

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  • Te Awamutu Sub-Union Lacrosse Project

      5 June 2026
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    I'm Moose — a Canadian living in Te Awamutu who has spent years bringing lacrosse to local communities across the Waipa district.

    Lacrosse is a natural summer complement to rugby, football, and other winter codes. It builds footwork, hand-eye coordination, spatial awareness, and teamwork — skills that make young athletes better at every sport they play. For kids who aren't drawn to cricket or individual sports, it fills a gap and keeps them active year-round.

    I'm working with clubs across Te Awamutu, Pirongia, Kihikihi, Ohaupo, and Otorohanga to introduce a Lightning Lacrosse League — small-sided, fun, and easy to pick up. Local kids play, local parents help run the teams, and local college students officiate. Each community owns it.

    Your support helps cover equipment and delivery costs to keep this free and accessible for every kid who wants to give it a go.

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  • Autumn Strides - March 10, 2026

      10 March 2026
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    Rehabilitation continues to move in the right direction — my balance and coordination have improved significantly, and my walking gait is coming along well. Fatigue remains a challenge, but I'm managing it by staying active in ways that bring me joy.

    Lacrosse has become my primary training ground, and I wouldn't have it any other way. Getting on the field with my teammates keeps me motivated, and I've been supplementing that with flow ropes, kettlebells, and sandbags to build mobility and strength. It's been a rewarding mix of sport and recovery.

    This weekend brings the Senior National Tournament, and I'm excited to be there — both supporting the festival and competing alongside the Canterbury Region. It's going to be a great event!

    Beyond my own training, I've been pouring energy into growing the game here in Te Awamutu and across the Waikato. That means coaching two youth teams — a girls school team and a boys composite team — who are an absolute joy to work with. Watching them discover lacrosse each week, having a blast with a bit of stick ball, is one of the highlights of my week.

    Behind the scenes, I've also been working hard on marketing lacrosse in our local community — creating social media content, building awareness, and doing whatever I can to give this sport the presence it deserves in our region.

    Photo: Chiefs Rugby Home Opener.

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  • Using the Medicine Game to Rebuild – One Trick at a Time 🥍

      15 April 2025

    Throughout my rehab, I found myself turning to something familiar and fun: lacrosse stick tricks. What started as a way to pass time quickly became a form of physical therapy. Working on my coordination, balance, and control helped me rebuild strength and mobility—and kept my spirits up on tough days.

    I’ve shared a short reel on Instagram showing what some of that looked like. https://www.facebook.com/reel/1161228562401650

    Every drop, miss, and fail was important in this process, it helped me harness the fire within so that every toss, flip, and catch became a small win—both physically and mentally. It reminded me why I love this sport so much and gave me something to work toward during recovery.

    Thank you again to everyone who’s supported me on this journey so far. Your generosity is helping me stay connected to the sport I love, and push through the hard days with a stick in hand and purpose in my heart.

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  • Four Years Later: A Life-Changing Moment

      23 March 2025
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    Four years ago, I was training hard for the Senior National Lacrosse Tournament when I pulled muscles in my lower back. At first, it seemed like a minor setback, but a few days later, I learned the life-changing reality—it was a spinal cord injury.

    In an instant, everything changed. The journey since then has been full of challenges, but also growth, resilience, and incredible support from family, friends, and the lacrosse community. While my path looks different now, my passion for sport and coaching remains stronger than ever.

    This anniversary is a moment to reflect and to thank everyone who has stood by me. Your support has meant the world, and I’m excited for what’s ahead.

    Thank you for being part of this journey with me.

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  • Lacrosse: My Path to Recovery and Purpose

      19 March 2025
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    A few years ago, while preparing for Senior Nationals, my life changed in an instant. I suffered a spinal cord injury called Cauda Equina Syndrome, leaving me partially paralyzed in my lower limbs. Doctors told me I’d never walk again. It was a devastating moment, but I refused to let it define me.

    Lacrosse has always been more than a game to me. Growing up in Canada, I understood its deep Indigenous roots as the Medicine Game—a sport played for healing, both physically and spiritually. In my recovery, it became just that. Though I could no longer compete at the same level, I found new ways to stay involved—as a coach, mentor, and community leader.

    Coaching in Waikato and Te Awamutu has given me a renewed sense of purpose. Every practice, every game, and every player I work with reminds me why I keep pushing forward. Capturing the sport through photography allows me to share these moments, celebrating the passion and dedication of athletes.

    Staying active in lacrosse has been my rehabilitation and motivation. It has helped me adapt, grow, and continue contributing to the game I love. No matter the challenge, I believe in pushing forward—because lacrosse has given me the strength to do just that.

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  • Waikato Senior Men's Coach 2025

      18 March 2025
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    Over the past 10 weeks, our team has been preparing for the **Senior Nationals** with a training program designed to develop teamwork, trust, defending, and scoring. With 10-14 athletes attending each session, we focused on understanding each other’s strengths and adapting to positions and strategies that best suited individual skills.

    Despite our best efforts, the pressure in key matches against **Auckland** and **Wellington** was tough. Unfortunately, when the pressure mounted, we struggled to maintain our team structures, and individual efforts to score fell short.

    However, once those high-stakes games were behind us, our match against **Canterbury** for 3rd and 4th place was a highlight. The game was played in great spirit, with moments of brilliance showcasing the teamwork and camaraderie that we’d worked so hard to build.

    Though we didn’t secure the top spot, everyone will have experienced growth we saw within the team and the spirit demonstrated by a handful of players was inspiring. I hope to use this experience to advance my skills in building a team, continue improving and come back even stronger next year!

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  • Christchurch Visit and my Omeo chair

      18 March 2025
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    For the senior National Tournament weekend I decided to arrive early on Friday morning in Christchurch so I could tour around the city. When I arrived I only had me my Omeo mobility chair and a couple bags. Decided to test out 'backing' and travelled 8.6km on my wheelchair before the battery ran out approx. 20m from the hotel, was first time I'd run out of battery.

    Beautiful city to ride through Christchurch.

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  • Te Awamutu College Lacrosse Legacy

      18 March 2025
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    Looking back at my time so far here in Te Awamutu and my involvement with lacrosse. Great to see the legacy that our community is starting to become, including the representation coming out of Te Awamutu College.

    Congratulations to the gentlemen pictured below competing at the senior national lacrosse tournament in Canterbury this weekend (March 15/16, 2025)

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