ST. GEORGE DISTRICT NETBALL ASSOCIATION INC.
MINUTES OF THE FEBRUARY COUNCIL MEETING
Held on Wednesday 18 February 2015 at Club Rivers, 32 Littleton St. Riverwood
commencing at 8:00pm ______
CHAIR: Robyn Ellis MINUTES: Lara Mina
PRESENT
Executive: Lara Mina, Tracy Tsovolos, Sarah Hay, Tairua Ben-Vavia, Barbara Hay, Tawhi Taua, Robyn Ellis
Life Members:
Martin Doohan Robyn Coppleman
Club Delegates:
Raylene Bevan (Arncliffe Scots) Kristy Lane (Arncliffe Scots)
Julie Spika (Kardinia) Kelly Jacksmith (Kardinia)
Kathy Peddieson (Kites) Patricia Hawe (Kites)
Natalie Morris (Kyle Bay) Cathy Mercer (Oatley RSL)
Carol Bresnahan (Oatley RSL) Graham Harris (Rockdale)
Michele Harris (Rockdale) Cecelia Palmer (Ramsgate RSL)
Samantha Golding (Ramsgate RSL) Deb Cummins (St. Ursulas)
David Watt (St. Ursulas) Hannah Hijazi (Titans)
Vanessa Hijazi (Titans) Tamlyn Holtz (Tu Kaha)
Ana Lewis (Tu Kaha)
Observers:
Tia Eketone (Kites) Kay Rudder (St. Ursulas)
Emily Togher (St. Ursulas) Kelly Holtz (Tu Kaha)
Cathie Bolton (Tu Kaha)
The President declared the meeting open at 8:05pm
1. APOLOGIES
Linda Free (Executive) Margaret Bensley (Life Member)
Marguerite Goodman (Hurstville United)
Moved: Kyle Bay Seconded: Robyn Coppleman CARRIED
2. CONFIRMATION OF COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES AND ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING FROM 19 NOVEMBER 2014
The minutes from the Council Meeting and AGM from 19 November 2015 were read and adopted.
Moved: Robyn Coppleman Seconded: Oatley RSL CARRIED
3. BUSINESS ARISING FROM MINUTES FROM COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES AND ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING FROM 19 NOVEMBER 2014
Nil.
4. NOTICES OF MOTION
Nominated By / Robyn Ellis / Club: / ExecutiveSeconded By / Tairua Ben-Vavia / Club: / Executive
Existing Clause
(please state if the clause is Constitution, By-Law, Rules/Policies i.e. BL 7.12 a) / POLICY
6.3 A JUNIOR GRADING COMMITTEE
i) All age groups shall be stand-alone ie. 9s, 10s, 11s, 12s, 13s, 14s, 15s, 16s.
ii) One (1) player per team may play one (1) year down of their age qualification. The player shall not be a Development or Representative player.
iii) State League players are not eligible to play in the Junior competition.
iv) Players accepted into the 11 and 12 years Development Squad are to play in the A division of their own age group or the age above where possible.
v) Junior Representative players to play in at least the age above ie. 12 years Representative players in 13A, 13 years Representative players in 14A, 14 years Representative players in 15A, 15 years Representative players in 16A.
vi) An even number of teams shall be graded in A division for each age, thereby eliminating a bye round where possible.
Proposed amendments to existing clause or proposed new clause / Change to read
i) All age groups shall be stand-alone ie. 9s, 10s, 11s, 12s, 13s, 14s, 15s, 16s.
ii) One (1) player per team may play one (1) year down of their age qualification. The player shall not be a Development or Representative player.
iii) State League players are not eligible to play in the Junior competition.
iv) Players accepted into the 11 and 12 years Development Squad are to play in the A division of their own age group or the age above where possible.
v) Junior Representative players to play in at least the age above ie. 12 years Representative players in 13A, 13 years Representative players in 14A, 14 years Representative players in 15A, 15 years Representative players in 16A where possible.
vi) An even number of teams shall be graded in A division for each age, thereby eliminating a bye round where possible. F: 18 / L: 5 CARRIED
Rationale / This creates flexibility for Clubs and teams when grading and applies a common sense element to ensure that the skill level of players is spread evenly throughout the Junior competition.
Discussion:
Tu Kaha: Requested examples from the Junior Competition Co-ordinator whether there had been any issues with junior grading now that provisional grading has been now completed.
Junior Competition Co-ordinator: The reason for suggesting this change is that if Clubs didn’t have an A grade team and have B grade players, players should have opportunity to stay with their Club.
Where Clubs can accommodate players, they are asked to do so. If Clubs can’t, this then gives them the flexibility to retain their players.
Tu Kaha: We don’t think this is needed. .
Arncliffe Scots: We feel this inclusion is important. We have a 12-year Representative player having to play into the 14s. If the player wanted to stay, this would apply and it used to be the case.
Tu Kaha: That is one example where the player is happy is play up. This is an issue for the Club, not the player. This change can be applied in the future, if it needs to be used but it can used to manipulate grading if carried.
Tu Kaha: Representative players should be encouraged to play at the highest level possible. The policy was created to strengthen the junior competition. There are junior teams playing in the senior competition, which is a separate issue. We feel that this amendment should be held over to the Policy Meeting as it is not valid now.
St. Ursulas: Players want to play with their friends. The 15As is weak competition and playing in this division would not develop a player’s skill. A 14 years Representative playing in the 15As would not develop their game.
Ramsgate RSL: The 14s are not happy about playing in S1. It is Representative Coaches choosing to play their Representative teams in the competition and the Grading Committee grading them in Seniors. Parents within the Clubs have the option to decline this option.
Tu Kaha: We would allow this to occur for our players to develop.
Martin Doohan: For or against, this policy has been voted in. This should be reviewed at the Policy Meeting in September.
Tu Kaha: Asked if this could be held over to the September Policy Meeting.
Secretary: This may be a foreshadowed motion and asked that it be moved and seconded:
Moved: Tu Kaha Seconded: Tu Kaha.
Amendment to policy be held over until the September Policy Meeting.
F 7 / A 14 LOST
Martin Doohan: Provisional grading has been completed. This change should be void.
Junior Competition Co-ordinator: The Club may move a player from the 12s to the 14s if there is no team with 13s. Not all Clubs have A Grade teams. Also not all representative players have been registered in teams.
Martin Doohan: I am concerned about the legality of this policy particularly if junior representative players are not registered.
Tu Kaha: We are concerned why the Executive would want to change the policy. This is context for growth for players.
Treasurer: Having a daughter that played junior representative netball, representative netball was where you went to play competitive netball and Club was for fun and enjoyment. Having the Club outlet was what has kept her in the game.
Junior Competition Co-ordinator: Given the discussion on this at the policy, I was overwhelmed. In terms of grading, we are down three (3) junior divisions but have grown in NetSetGO.
Kyle Bay: Some Clubs have put teams together that will smash other teams in their division. All players should be given a fair go through competition. Clubs need to be responsible for their players.
Tu Kaha: Are Executive still strong on the policy given teams placing at State Age? We should be encouraging representative players to achieve.
Ramsgate RSL: If a representative player wanted to play in their existing Club, the policy change should be carried, because there is no leeway for the player to play down.
The motion was put to the floor.
Nominated By / Robyn Ellis / Club: / ExecutiveSeconded By / Lara Mina / Club: / Executive
Existing Clause
(please state if the clause is Constitution, By-Law, Rules/Policies i.e. BL 7.12 a) / POLICY
6.3B SENIOR GRADING COMMITTEE
i) Senior grading shall be divisional.
ii) Allocation of points will vary year to year depending on recommendations from Senior Grading Committee.
iii) Special loading - any play eligible to play in a team that won a Grand Final in a St. George day competition in the previous year – 1 additional point.
iv) Special deduction – any team that finished last in any divisions will have one point deducted from their relevant playing status. Where two (2) teams finish on equal points, goal averages will be used to determine the team that finished last.
v) Teams will be graded on the sum of the five (5) highest ranked players .who played in the year previous.
vi) Status points can be retained over two consecutive years. Playing status is based on the highest grade played in the preceding year. If the player did not play in the previous year, status points from the year before will be accepted.
vii) Teams graded into the highest Senior division may be invited to participate in a combined competition with another District.
Proposed amendments to existing clause or proposed new clause / Change to read
i) Senior grading shall be divisional.
ii) Teams will be graded on a minimum of five (5) players returning from the previous year.
iii) A minimum of five (5) teams and a maximum of eight (8) teams shall be graded into each division having regard to the provision of a balanced competition.
iv) The team that won the grand final will automatically be promoted subject to clause ii).
v) The team that finished last in their division after the completion of the competition rounds is automatically relegated subject to clause ii).
vi) Where two or more teams have equal points the grading priority will be determined by which team has the most players from the same team in the previous season. If teams are still equal, grading will be determined by the final finishing position of the team in the previous year. Where two teams have equal points and played in different divisions in the previous year or did not compete in any division in the previous year the grading priority will be determined by the team that played in the higher division.
Ladder positions will be based on the team that the majority of the current team played in in the previous year, noting that this may not be their current team.
WITHDRAWN
Rationale / The existing method of grading was difficult to apply to the Senior competition and was not applied in 2014. This will create greater flexibility in terms of grading.
5. ELECTIONS
EXECUTIVE
Senior Vice President O’Bray Smith (Oatley RSL)
Junior Vice President Hayley Vizzone (Subscriber)
Junior Representative Co-ordinator Robyn Coppleman (Life Member)
Zara Trevitt (Arncliffe Scots)
Senior Representative Co-ordinator Barbara Hay (Kyle Bay)
Senior Competition Co-ordinator Tawhi Tua (Tu Kaha)
Night Competition Co-ordinator Nil. nominations received.
Robyn Coppleman was elected as Junior Representative Co-ordinator. The positions were accepted. At this stage, the Executive will be responsible for the position of Night Competition Co-ordinator until such time that a nomination is received.
SUB-COMMITTEE / TRIBUNALS
NIGHT COMPETITION COMMITTEE
NOMINEE / NOMINATED / SECONDEDNight Competition
Co-ordinator
Nil nominations received. Night Competition brings lot money into the Association.
6. CORRESPONDENCE AND BUSINESS ARISING
A list of correspondence was not available for the meeting.
7. REPORTS
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Welcome
Firstly, I would like to welcome you all back for another season of netball at St. George and I would like to extend this welcome to any new or returning Club delegates to Council and I hope you enjoy your season with us.
The Executive have been meeting regularly throughout the off-season getting things ready for the upcoming season, which are only a few short weeks away.
Best Wishes
Flowers were sent to Moira Gaha who was celebrating a special birthday in January.
Executive Update
Cathie Bolton has resigned from the acting position of Junior Representative
Co-ordinator in December. In the interim, the Secretary has been overseeing the portfolio in particular junior uniforms.
Appointments Update
The following appointments have been made in the off-season.
Tory Allen - Assistant Coach; Team 3
Marguerite Goodman - Manager; Team 4
Robyn Ellis - Manager; Team 5
Grace Vedamuthu - Assistant Coach; 12s Development Squad
Working with Children Check
An email have been sent to all appointed coaches, managers, people in paid positions and Executive as appropriate advising them to complete their Working with Children Check and forward a copy of the email provided from the Children’s Guardian. It is important that details of your license match the online form so that the Check can be processed.
As yet, not all those in appointed positions have been compliant with this request and as such will require follow up. Those failing to comply may be stood down from their position so it is important that we comply with this legislation.
From a Club perspective, this is something that you must also enact. If you need any assistance to set this up, please let me know.
Sponsorship
Calls have been fielded from Fernwood Beverly Hills, Yoganic Frozen Yoghurt, The Athlete’s Foot, Hurstville and the Rocksia Hotel, Arncliffe in terms of sponsorship. We are also looking to renew our sponsorship agreement with McDonalds for the next few years so we are working to achieve this in the next few weeks.
Community Partnerships Grant
The Association has been approved a grant for court lighting. At this stage, we are liaising with Council to determine whether a DA is required, so work is currently on hold.
License Agreement
The License Agreement is still under review with Rockdale Council. The proposed changes offered by the Association have not been added to the draft agreement returned to us by Council, so we continue to pursue these changes so that Council does not have us responsible for all maintenance to the premises.
Premier League
UTS/St. George Sparks has been granted a franchise in the 2016 Premier League competition. Eight (8) franchises have been granted for Premier League. We are now in the process of working through a number of conditions to secure our franchise by the end of March. A meeting is being held tonight at Netball Central to discuss franchisees moving forward.