Club President’s/Women’s Representative Meeting on proposed changes to
Women’s Soccer Competition for 2012 season
Tuesday 21st September 2011
Queens Park clubrooms, Wharf Street, Cannington
MINUTES
No / Item / Comment1 10pm / Welcome & Apologies / Present from WSC: Penny TannerHoath (Chair), Leo Coppens (Vice/Beckenham), Steve Ireland (Perth Hills), Darren Taylor (Brooklands)
Present from FBW: Peter Hugg (CEO), Janette Spencer (Board Member), Tanya Oxtoby (Women’s Manager), Elisa D’Ovidio (NTC Coach), Jessine Bonzas (NTC Coach), Jamie Harnwell (NTC/W League Coach)
For record of club presidents/representatives present: see attached attendance document at foot of document.
Item / Discussion Points / Recommendation / Action / By Whom / Dead line
2 / Draft proposal for reform of the Womens’ League Competition / Penny TannerHoath opened the meeting by explaining the purpose of the meeting, asing clubs to turn down or off mobile phones and introducing the WSC and FBW personnel present (congratulations to Jamie Harnwell on W League coaching appointment).
The major purpose of the meeting was to discuss the draft reform proposal, which had been circulated by the WSC and placed on the womensoccer.com.au website, with club representatives. Feedback had previously been gathered by the WSC via email (to the socceron address), telephone and face to face. Teams who play in the existing Division 1, who are about to be promoted into it, or have a strong girls programme and a women’s team, were targeted and contacted directly by WSC members for their feedback on the proposal.
Penny went through the main points of the reform and the structure of the new league. She emphasised the new structure was intended to retain players, improve regionalisation and was based on feedback that the WSC had received from clubs over a period of at least five years.
Peter Hugg told the meeting the draft reform proposal had been discussed at the FBW board the previous day and the board supported the proposal and commended the clubs and WSC for reaching this point in the process.
In answer to a question about how many clubs were likely to play in the proposed new structure, Penny explained the format was based on an eight team model (not a maximum of 8 teams as was incorrectly stated in the proposal document) for each of the Premier and Division One leagues. Clubs that were to commit or show EOI by October 15 would be expected to have a suitable structure (main and reserves team) in place by the start of the Women’s Night series to show FBW they have the commitment to be a part of the new structure for 2012.
It was expected that the existing teams in Premier league would form the 2012 Premier League and that the new State League Division One would be formed from the strongest existing Division One clubs.
Peter added that if 12 teams applied then FBW would obviously have to be stricter on the criteria to apply. At the moment a simple Expression of Interest was enough to allow the new structure to be successful for 2012.
Open to the floor.
At this point, there was feedback from the floor in regard to potential problems that could result from two clubs joining the proposed Division 1 which were in close proximity to each other and that for many clubs wanting to join the new division the major problem was in getting a reserves team. A couple of speakers suggested the addition of the D1 should wait until next year owing to lack of time, but others spoke against this, saying that there was sufficient time for clubs to prepare.
There was comment from two club representatives that teams entering the new Division 1 could be assisted if there was more flexibility about the rescheduling of games.
Penny noted that the criteria discussed was based on geographical location, financial viability, performance, league table position, numbers of junior and other teams, however simple interest was required initially with the ability to support a first team and reserves to show a minimum stability for the club.
The proposed model by WSC was State League Premier Northern Redbacks, Queens Park, Beckenham, UWA Nedlands, East Fremantle, NTC, Balcatta and Bunbury Forum Force and State League Division One Melville, Subiaco (from Premier to Division One), Quinns, Suburbs, Curtin, North Beach, Woodvale and Mandurah. (Leeming drop out as they do not have any other supporting teams)
Peter Hugg noted that clubs would make their own decisions about whether they wanted to put teams – in either the competitive or social side of the competition. One club representative suggested that FBW could allow teams that apply for the new Division 1 one year in which to get a reserves team going (i.e. not field a reserves team in the first year).
There was then discussion in regard to the streaming of the rest of the women’s divisions into competitive and social streams. One issue raised was that some teams are divided on whether they should play in a social or in a competitive stream.
Another issue raised was how the mobility/sharing of players between social and competitive teams would be managed, with two representatives concerned that this could operationally prevent them from being able to fill their higher-ranked competitive teams from lower ranked social teams in the event of player injury/absence.
Leo advised that mobility and other operational issues would be decided after the structure was agreed and that that could happen by FBW before the season starts in 2012.
A club asked what happens if this proposal is not accepted. Penny suggested that this meeting would shape that, but that the default clause was that the competition would remain as is.
Peter Hugg asked for an informal show of hands what clubs would support this structure.
More discussion about the viability of remaining teams and strength or numbers of teams able to fill a north and south competition.
Peter Hugg said that 15 October was the cut-off date for Expressions of Interest from clubs wishing to join the new Division 1. He said if the WSC met on 16/17 October to consider these EOIs and the EOIs then went to the FBW board meeting on 20 October and were approved board, then the new Division 1 could be formally approved at the end of October 2011
A motion was put from the floor that the competition be separated into State League Premier and Division One with reserves for 2012 and leave remainder of competition as is. All clubs agreed by show of hand. To which Penny let loose a woohoo, thanked the clubs for attending and concluded that part of the meeting. Leeming left at this time. / New Competitive Stream to be Premier and Reserves and Division One and Reserves and rest of competition to remain as is for season 2012. / 15 October is the deadline for Expressions of Interest from clubs to join the new Division 1. WSC to meet prior to consider these EOIs. The EOIs will go to the FBW board meeting on 20 October, with a view to approval. If applications are approved by FBW board, then the new Division 1 could be formally approved at the end of October 2011 / FBW/
WSC/
FBW Board / October 15 for EOI and October 18? For FBW endorsement
3 / Women’s News from FBW / Peter Hugg shared relevant women’s football news
a sponsorship deal between FBW and Healthway, which should help clubs with items such as first aid kits
The appointment of Tanya Oxtoby as a full-time coordinator for womens’ soccer.
· A sponsorship deal with Bankwest and the subsequent appointment of Samantha Kerr, Matildas player, as the Bankwest ambassador. Sam is available to clubs for club presentation nights, giving talks to teams, etc, by arrangement with FBW.
· Tanya Oxtoby is putting together a coaching course specifically for women coaches to take place in the coming months. Penny Tanner noted Canberra Soccer is interested in sending over women coaches to take part in this.
· Heather Reid is running a women’s sporting conference in Melbourne with a strong focus on women’s football supported by FIFA. There will be funds in next year’s FBW budget to send representative.
· Cambridge Bowling Green has been converted into two five-a-side soccer courts for Rebound Soccer that FBW is planning to run a 32-team mens’ competition as Football Five’s shortly. If there is sufficient interest from womens’ teams, a similar competition could be held for them. This venue is available for hire by clubs
· FBW is about to advertise for a Technical (Skills) Director
· Vodaphone will become the official phone company for FBW.????
· FBW is planning a 20 – 30 minute compilation ‘highlights’ football show for broadcast over Football West TV. This would be a $120,000 investment and cost $3,000 to $4,000 a show.
· Grants are available to clubs for professional development, research and study purposes through the Women’s Development Fund – a total of up to $26,000 should be available per annum. This is not for players to use to attend national championship.
· The FBW Awards night on 15 October is an amalgamation of previous men’s and women’s nights and will be held at Burswood.
· On the following weekend (22 October) FBW will hold an open night at which the rest of the trophies for season 2011 will be presented.
· There are trials for the Perth Glory W-League team being held on next Monday night (26 September). These are trial by application. The first home game is November 5 at NIB Stadium. / Letter to go from FBW to Bunbury Forum Force in regard to the criteria that if they can produce two teams of players (main and reserves teams) then they are able to stay in the State League Premier Division in 2012. ????? / Peter Hugg / Asap
TUESDAY 21ST SEPTEMBER CLUB MEETING FOR 2012 RESTRUCTURE:
ATTENDANCE REGISTER
Hammersley Rovers / Gordon Miller / Premier 17
NTC 15s / Elisa D’Ovidio / Coach / Premier
NTC 15s / Jessine Bonzas / Coach / Premier
NTC W League / Jamie Harnwell / Coach / NTC
Subiaco AFC / Lorraine Bastow / President / Premier
Leeming Strikers / Katie Ashton / Secretary / Division One
Leeming Strikers / Ashleigh Haskett / Player / Division One
Bassendean Caledonians / Kylie Janney / Player / Division 2
Bassendean Caledonians / Belinda Hayward / Player / Division 2
Suburbs United / Zane Abraham / Coach / Division One
North Beach / Treasa Young / Division One
North Beach / Linda Weir / Player / Division One
East Fremantle / Rob DeKleine / President / Premier
Beckenham / Jason Washington-King / Coach / Premier
Queens Park / Lynda Woodfiin / Manager / Premier
Brooklands FC / Darren Taylor / Coach / Division 4
UWA Nedlands / Conrad McKelvie / Coach / Premier
Melville / Jonny Gibson / Coach / Division One
Balcatta SC / Ralph Carbone / Committee / Premier
Balcatta SC / Rosanna Carbone / Committee / Premier
Perth Hills / Steve Ireland / WSC / Division 4
Apologies:
Lee Waterman Quinns, Kevin Duggan Warnbro, Kelsey Ferguson Beckenham
Meeting Commenced at 7.05pm Meeting Ended at 8.30 pm
Signed as a true and accurate record of the meeting held on / / /
Chairperson signature ______
SC Member ______
SC Member ______
SC Member ______
SC Member ______
SC Member ______