The purpose of this organization is to govern, coordinate and develop participation in the Kentucky Youth, Middle School & High School lacrosse programs and coordinate participation in the Kentucky Youth Lacrosse program; adopt and enforce rules and regulations, develop schedules and administer to the needs of its members.

Board Meeting

March 19, 2013

Attendance- Wayne Coffey, Ann Fleming, Crystal Kannapell, Greg Schuler, Kennedy Simpson, and Andy Tarter (via telephone)

Absent- Mike Anderson, Greg Beachy, Brandon Davis, Edie Fullerton, Tim Jones, Jacob Knight, Vicki Latino, Byron Miller, Chris Niblock, Bert Severns, Ryan Smith, Bill Stewart, Dean Walker, and Dusty Wethington

Ann called to the meeting to order at 6:35 PM. Due to lack of quorum, approving the January 15th and February 19th minutes was postponed.

President’s Report-

Ann mentioned that she was sending flowers on behalf of the Board to Byron on the death of his father.

Ann reported that Coach Tim Donley (Bowling Green) had contacted her and Greg to encourage the KLA in ensuring safety in the area of head injuries in lacrosse. Greg and Ann had replied to him that the KLA was encouraging training and technique for coaches & officials and sportsmanlike conduct of players & parents. Dr. Donley offered to track concussions and help with education. Greg discussed the idea of officials tracking by school or by player, which is not currently done. Ann offered to put concussion information on website.

Ann reported that the Middletown Fire Department had contacted her regarding 5 acres of field space behind their Upton Lane station that has been developed into fields and previously used by St. Patrick’s. She told him that she would bring this to the Board, and although we had already secured fields for the spring league there might be a need if we offer a summer league.

Ann mentioned the US Lacrosse 4th Quarter Chapter report that she had received and forwarded to Board members. Wayne noted that the ratio of players to officials is twice as high in Indiana as Kentucky.

Ann said she and Greg had met to discuss the direction of the KLA and agreed that this is a period of great transition and we need to really focus on what is our mission and purpose. Ann read an email she had received from Brandon, which included his resignation as of May 31st due to being “tired of the hippocratic behavior we as a Board have exhibited over the past three years…As the KLA our job is not to run in season leagues, it is to grow the sport, hence why we are in the far minority of chapters (who run leagues)…If we took all the time we spent putting out fires that arise inside high school lacrosse, imagine all the time we could devote to program development, coaching education, running preseason tournaments, as well as summer and fall leagues.” Wayne and Kennedy agreed that youth and Middle School should be our area of focus and let the high schools manage themselves. Greg suggested we have a post season dialogue with the high schools with a goal of divesting ourselves of the high school leagues and focus on the mission of helping and offering resources for growth via youth. Ann suggested part of the focus should still be to offer coaching education and researching adding officials’ education programs.

General discussion ensued about a variety of topics:

Wayne mentioned two new groups that have contacted him for officials-

Tom Wyndham is running a U9 league April 14-May 18 (http://www.laxriverrats.com/youngbraves.html) and two people are planning the Bluegrass Lacrosse Festival this summer which, Lacrosse America apparently, has gotten behind. (http://bluegrasslacrossefestival.com/)

Ann reported that the summer league/clinic sub-committee had not met, but she had contacted LYLA to see how they operate their summer and fall leagues. Summer leagues are for youth through post-high school, 6-8 weeks (register in May), $75, one day per week (high school on Tuesday and Middle School and girls on Thursday) for 2 hours, players are placed on teams based on position and experience to balance teams, coaches are travel team coaches (Legomen) and profit is split with them, high school is all scrimmage and Middle School is clinic for 1 hour then scrimmage 1 hour. Fall league is organized by school with school coaches with registration in September. Wayne had suggested maybe offering to 1st/2nd grade and 3rd/4th grade.

-  Discussion ensued about the KLA High School Girls league. All 5 of the teams are also participating in KSLL league and it was felt the only benefit with KLA is an end-of-season tournament. The question was raised “would a tournament of 5 teams promote girls lacrosse?” It was agreed that two of the five teams would be happy to have trophies. Brandon had emailed his concern that no other sport, sanctioned or not, has a consolation tournament which is in essence what this would be after they are finished with KSLL tournament. Ann expressed her concern that we had still not received an answer from KSLL on our request for an exemption to their deadline of teams not being able to play after districts. Greg said that the initial understandings of why we offered the league have changed (to offer a league to teams not interested in joining KSLL, but they all did-). There was much discussion about purpose, benefit and feasibility. Andy mentioned that the HSB DIII last year only had 5 teams and we had a tournament. The idea of hosting a tournament at the #1 seed was discussed. Greg suggested we contact the 5 programs to discuss their desire for a tournament and how they could assist with logistics (date and site). Ann will work with Brandon to contact the teams.

-  The options for the HSB tournament were discussed. So far, the only bid is from Georgetown College with a cost of $750. Andy asked if Centre had been contacted. Greg asked if the 4 games (11:00 5/6, 1:00 7/8, 3:00 All-Star and 6:00 HSB) were mandatory since that seems to be what deterred Henry Clay. There were discussions about the coaches holding the All-Star game another day or having the 5/6 and 7/8 boys be a different day, possibly in Louisville this year. Greg suggested Board members contacting the various schools who had expressed some interest- Bryan Station (Tim), Henry Clay (Andy), Lafayette (Tim), Lexington Catholic (Greg), and Woodford (Dusty) as well as Centre (Ann to Bert)- to discuss with them what they might be able to offer. It was agreed that a decision needs to be made by the end of the week.

New Business

Ann mentioned that we need to schedule the USL constituent survey meeting. Greg suggested instead of only one site, to offer 4 regional meetings (Bowling Green, Lexington, Louisville and Northern Kentucky) to talk with coaches, officials, leagues, players and parents. It was agreed that Greg would contact Tim Donley and T.J. Burns to see if they would host in the second week of June. We need to get the dates to USL as this is part of our Chapter compliance.

Ann reported that she has contacted USL to determine procedure for them to send out a Chapter e-blast. We need to provide the copy and artwork and their Communications department will format into template and send out (2 week lead time needed). It was agreed to aim for monthly and Ann will create a schedule (attached). We could include PCA tips, what is KLA, what is USL, grant announcements, regional meeting dates & locations, announce summer league/clinics, and maybe a team/player/official/coach of the month profile.

Discussed meeting dates and felt that we would need to meet on May 7th to finalize tournament and award details. Summer retreat was tentatively set for August 3rd.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:40 PM. The next meeting will be held on April 16th at the offices of Thompson, Miller & Simpson 734 W. Main Street, Louisville. Please mark this date on your calendar and let Ann know ASAP if you can not attend so we can determine if we need to reschedule as it is crucial that we have a quorum at the next meeting.

Respectfully submitted,

Crystal Kannapell

Addendum:

On April 20th, the KLA Executive Committee voted by email on 3 issues:

1. if you support a KLA end-of-season tournament for the High School Girls (background- there are only 5 teams in the "league" only 2-3 of which have submitted KLA paperwork; per KSLL rules- of which all 5 teams are also participating- our tournament would have to be completed byMay 6th)-the ExCom voted no, but would financially support a tournament if all five schools want to put on something themselves...Brandon will you contact them?

2. your preference for Boys tournament site selection- attached are bids from Georgetown College and Bryan Station as well as a spreadsheet outlining the other sites that were contacted.The ExCom chose Bryan Station... Tim, please notify all the sites whoexpressed interest

3. If there is any interest in using the Middletown Fire Department fields (possibly for summer clinics).The ExCom voted no as there is no need right now...Ann willrespond the Chief