Agenda: Shires League Meeting
Saturday 23rd June 2007 at Express Holiday Inn, Milton
Keynes. 11am to 1pm
1. Welcome and apologies
Present:
Ian Rizzotto League Secretary, Josie Smith Schools & Youth
Board, Malcolm Smith Schools & Youth Board, Eric Brown Schools & Youth
Board, Derek Batchelor Badminton England, Barbara Lincoln Bedfordshire, Paul
Adamson Bedfordshire, James Baldwin Berkshire, Don Gilders Buckinghamshire, Rob
Stanford Buckinghamshire, Sandra Dennis Cambridgeshire, Robert Carter
Cambridgeshire, Karl Bergh Cheshire, Jemma Jefferies Cumbria, Pam Rickerby
Derbyshire, Lisa Ridley Derbyshire, Eric Richardson Essex, Tim Bircher
Gloucestershire, Tony Clarke Hertfordshire, Phil Westwood Hertfordshire, Pat
Walker Hertfordshire, Edward Strilesky Kent, John Sweet Kent, David Dunlop
Lancashire, Lea Sell Leicestershire, Vanessa Stanton Leicestershire, Pete Hall
Leicestershire, Sue Hutt Lincolnshire, Richard Hutt Lincolnshire, Simon Piff
Norfolk, Sonia Asbrey Northamptonshire, Clive Westwood Northamptonshire, Michelle
Pulford Nottinghamshire, Steve Burns Shropshire, Andy Harris Shropshire, Steven
Lunt Staffordshire, Yvonne Pears Suffolk, Lisa Jacobs Suffolk, Sonia Dickson
Warwickshire, Nigel Hargreaves Yorkshire, Gordon Milne Yorkshire.
Apologies:
Paul Adcock Nottinghamshire, Kim Cappleman Hampshire, Helen
Bennett Sussex, Paula Rowe Middlesex, Vicky Bowater Worcestershire, David
Bowater Worcestershire, Jane Coles Avon, Alan Morris Sussex, Richard Taylor
Northumberland
2. Appointment of Management Committee
Management Committee
A Management Committee consists of 4 members, plus
a chairperson – the League Secretary.
Ian Rizzotto explained the background behind the
need for a management committee (see the notes below for further details). This
year the committee were not called upon to make any decisions. Ian welcomed
continuity of committee members if possible, because experience in dealing with
tricky matters was often beneficial and therefore asked the regular members if
they wanted to continue.
The
committee members for 2007-2008 are
Paul Adcock of Nottinghamshire (Group A)
Tim Bircher of Gloucestershire (Group B)
Dave Dunlop of Lancashire (Group C)
Surrey to provide the Group D representative by 01
10 07 please
Note: This is taken from the Shires League Guidelines.
A
Management Committee consisting of 4 members shall be established at the AGM at
the start of a new season. The purpose of the committee will be to make
judgements on the interpretation of any of the Shires League rules in the event
of a dispute. Any member of the committee who is directly involved with a
dispute would be excluded from the discussions. Committee members would not be
from the same county. The League Secretary would have the casting vote.
All counties, in
rotation, put forward a person from their county for the management committee,
for the term of office of only one year. One county from each of the groups A,
B, C and D would be proposed and the following year a different county from the
groups would be chosen, until all counties had been represented and then the
cycle would begin again.
3. Matters for discussion / voting
·
Northumberland’s application
to join the Shires League was agreed unanimously, therefore Northumberland will
join group C at the U15 age group.
·
Food and drink at home matches
It was agreed unanimously that food and drink
should continue to be provided at county matches. However, as some venues do
not allow the consumption of food and drink not purchased at the venue, the
guideline was amended.
Guideline 26 now reads:
The
home team should provide some simple refreshments for the visiting team and
their supporters. This would normally include hot and cold drinks, sandwiches
and cakes. However, if the rules of the centre ban the consumption of drink /
food not purchased at the venue, then the visiting team manager will be
informed at least 2 weeks prior to the match. This will give time for the
visitors to make their own arrangements for refreshments
·
First Shires League
match before end of October
Ian Rizzotto acknowledged that as some counties
were experiencing difficulties with making arrangements to play matches so
early in the season, it was decided to leave the proposal as a recommendation.
In order to make sure that you have played all of your matches at least two weeks
prior to the Shires League Final, you are advised to arrange matches earlier
than later in the season and it is suggested that you try to play at least one
match during October and a total of 4 matches in each age group before
Christmas if possible.
Ian stressed that the two teams invited to the
finals will be the teams that are 1st and 2nd in each
group as of 6th April 2008 for U13 groups, 23rd March
2008 for U15 groups and 30th March 2008 for U17 groups.
Consequently, matches played after these dates will not count towards
qualification for the entry to the finals for that season.
·
Triangular matches
It was agreed that triangular matches could be
played by mutual consent of all three parties.
It was also suggested that 4 counties could meet at
one venue and play two different teams there. This would mean that there would
be no waiting for any team. For further guidance in this matter, please contact
Ian Rizzotto. Although a little difficult to arrange – the idea seemed very
good indeed.
In order to reduce the travelling for long distance
matches it was confirmed that matches could be played at a venue between the
two counties. The cost of shuttles would be shared. Each county would make
their own arrangements for refreshments.
·
Giving advice between games
It was accepted that a change of wording would be
used when discussing the term “coaching”. In future it would be referred to as
advice. Eric Brown to email Ian Rizzotto with the exact wording, hence these
minutes to reflect what the meeting agreed, but the exact wording would be
sorted out before 01 09 07.
It was agreed unanimously that the team manager
would nominate up to 2 people to advise members of the team on aspects of their
play.
It was agreed unanimously that advice should not be
given during the game, from the back of the court or elsewhere.
It was agreed unanimously that advice would not be
given during the change over of ends at 11 points.
It was agreed unanimously that advice would be
allowed for up to 120 seconds during the 1st and 2nd and
the 2nd and 3rd games.
·
Shires League Finals
– format
It was agreed unanimously to keep the format of the
Shires League Finals held in May 2007.
·
Hours that courts should be booked
After some discussion it was agreed to recommend
that 10 courts hours should be booked to hold a Shires League Match. Eric Brown
said that the latest figures showed that the average time for a best of three
match using rally points was 28 minutes. Hence 20 x 28 minutes would only just
fit in the 10 hour booking. Most counties find that they have to book a four
court hall for 3 hours or a three court hall for 4 hours. Playing two matches
simultaneously, a four court hall could be booked for 5 hours.
Guideline 22 has been amended to fit in with the
proposal.
·
Award of rubbers for walk over matches
We agreed that more discussion was needed regarding
the reason why counties felt it was necessary to cancel or postpone matches,
before we agree on the course of action in the proposal. Further proposals
would follow in the next few weeks for counties to consider and vote upon.
It was agreed that a decision on this issue was
needed by 01 09 07. All counties would be invited to vote by email / post after
a consultation period.
·
Schools Youth Board Representative.
Two nominations Ashley Reed of Yorkshire and Marie
Mathers of Staffordshire.
Ian Rizzotto asked the meeting to allow him to
choose the candidate to represent the Shires League for this year, having
spoken to both of them first to ascertain how their experience might be of
mutual benefit to all parties. Eric Brown was hopeful that funding could be
found to co-opt both nominations.
·
Groups for 2007-2008
In order to allow
counties to make fixtures at the end of AGM meeting as usual, Ian Rizzotto made
a decision on the composition of the groups based on the views of the
membership gathered from the Action Reply Slips.
However, planning for
the groups for 2008-2009 will begin shortly, to give more time for consultation
and consideration.
4.
Reminder of
things that fixtures secretaries need to give league secretary
· Remittance by 30th September 2007. Fees required displayed on website. Invoices have been sent out. This list will be removed early in October.
· List of names, addresses, telephone numbers and e-mail address of each team manager, including U11 manager if required (friendly only.)
· Confirm the date, time, age group, and venue of all your Shires League fixtures.
· Collect relevant number of Shires League Match Sheets.
· For counties fielding a second team, first team nominations by 30 09 07
5. Date and venue of next meeting
· To be fixed with Badminton England once the date of their AGM is known. The provisional date is Saturday 28th June 2008.
6. A.O.B.
· Take opportunity to thank Badminton England for arranging venue today and buffet meal. Their support is very much appreciated.
· Reminder that fixtures are provisional until 30 09 07. After that date, fixtures can only be changed by mutual consent.
7. Fixtures
· The last hour is given to making fixtures for the forthcoming season.