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Mr Yard
provided this written report ...
Competition
status
The wet
weather continues to play havoc with the replay of
previously washed out games and un-played midweek games.
Just to make it worse all games were washed out on
Saturday. It could have been worse as we certainly
‘dodged a bullet’ the previous Saturday.
There
have been changes to the replay schedule for this week
to ensure all teams have an equal opportunity to qualify
for the finals. Our problem is now if the grounds are (i)
open and (ii) are in good enough condition to play on –
the ‘dressing’ of the diamonds given the length of the
grass will be a problem.
We have
cancelled the replays in Youth League this week and
Friday’s games will be a ‘shoot out’ to (i) determine
the minor premiership and (ii) fourth place.
The
other replays that have been altered for this week are
Cashmore South, Hay League, Leonard South, and Leonard
East.
I am
reasonably confident that there will be no team
disadvantaged all teams will have their chances ‘on
their bats’. It means that teams simply have to win what
are now ‘crunch’ games.
It is
theoretically possible to play some of the un-played
games next week - but I am not in favour of it. Next
week should be reserved for any teams playing off for
fourth place - if Lansvale and Kellyville draw on Friday
they are still equal and would then have to play off for
fourth.
Certainly not prepared to use up our one available week
for a grand final replays if weather is again bad - to
allow teams to catch up on games that up until now were
unimportant to them. Our problem is the same each and
every year - individual teams just won't organize
themselves early on. The good teams manage. The washout
date has been extended once - so it becomes a result of
actions and consequences.
The
replays in Petroff, Daisley and Catt can roll though
until 1 March as scheduled with adjustments to pick up
last Saturday games.
We had
to take control in January of the un-played games as it
was obvious that some teams were not being treated
equally (and could not have been) due to the other
decisions taken. Teams were picking and choosing who
they played. The result was becoming total and utter
chaos. I am convinced that left to their own devices
that some teams still would have not tried to play the
washed out and midweek games. As it is one team is still
four games behind and a few more three games behind.
With the
semi finals it is normal practice that if weather
interferes with the semi finals the Major Semi Final is
not replayed, the Minor Premiers qualify direct for
Grand Final. The Minor Semi Final is rescheduled for
Monday or Tuesday, with Wednesday as a wash out date. If
the games are again washed out, then the third placed
team will move through to the next phase of the
competition.
Winterball
Yes,
Hills will again offer Winter Junior Competitions in
Under 11, 13 and 16 age groups. We are quite prepared to
conduct the Under 13 competition as a Little League
style competition – finding coaches will be one problem.
Under 11 and 13 will be a Sunday Competition. Hopefully
the Under 16 will be a Friday night competition.
Commencement date will be early to mid April.
Little League
Little
League is in recess until the 20th February. We have had
nine games played and need three more games to meet the
12 game minimum. Our thanks to Greg Robinson who
accepted the position as Little League Commissioner, he
has administered the competition excellently.
There
has been a mixed response to the concept. The purists,
like me, are disappointed with the playing standard
which can only be described as poor. There are some good
players but overall the standard is not good. What the
competition has achieved is that it has provided players
with the opportunity to play a lot more games than
normal. It proves that it is possible to play some games
in the long Christmas break – a six and seven week break
which totally offsets the advantage of a summer sport.
It would
not have worked as well as it has without the draft
system which is the corner stone of this type of
community baseball.
What you
are seeing here is not what happens in America.
Competitions there are not open ended as to the number
of teams. Selection trials are conducted and then the
draft is conducted to place the better rated players.
Players not considered good enough are left to play in
another competition – just not Little League.
Little
League with its rules that 12 year olds must play Major
League will not work in areas that are club based and
graded competitions where clubs rely on the younger
players either to make up the numbers or deliver the
‘firepower’. It has a place in the Baseball scene – just
not the major scene.
Rep
competitions
The
representative season will be concluded this weekend,
weather permitting. The Under 16 team plays Ryde in the
Grand Final on Saturday night. The Under 14 team remains
undefeated after the qualifying rounds and the Under 12
team has qualified second. Both these finals will be
played Saturday and Sunday.
The
Under 14 Association Cup team finished second to
Cronulla losing the Grand Final 9-2
The
world lost a few trees in a flurry of correspondence
after Manly protested the result of an Under 14
representative game against Hills. The protest was
groundless and in Hills a club protesting along the same
lines would lose its $50 protest fee. The protest was
dismissed by Baseball NSW however undeterred Manly
intend to appeal the decision tomorrow night.
Judiciary
There
has been a Judiciary held as a result of an Under 12
coach being ejected in November. The coach was suspended
for the equivalent of four games. In this case he will
benefit from some games being washed out. There is
another Judiciary needed as a result of a Youth League
player and coach.
Age-date changes across the board
One of
the biggest decisions you will have to make shortly is
whether to change the age groups and the birth date
eligibility for the competitions. It may actually be
easier to refer to them as actual age competitions
7,10,12,14 and 16 year old competitions
The age
eligibility is under the age as at 30 April. I agree
that the age cut off should be either before the
commencement or at the completion of the competition. 30
April is neither it is just a USA date for Little League
as that is when the competition there will start.
Why
change is always so difficult to embrace is that the
goal posts change. We will be no different. 10 year old
age group is not be a real problem as it can provide
different Conferences for T Ball, Mod Ball or Live ball.
The 12 year old age group makes a little difference
because of the playing distance.
Where it
does makes a difference is that the 12 year old players
born in the first four months of the year, statistically
a third of the players, move to the 14 year old and not
Under 14. Also with 14 year olds not moving into the 16
year age group it may threaten the viability of that age
competition – especially as a graded competition. Both
threaten the loss of players at the lower levels of the
age group.
Breakaway bases
You need
to remember that breakaway bases are mandatory in Hills’
competitions from next summer season. Some clubs have
taken advantage of the Co Op program where the cost is
discounted by approximately two thirds of the cost.
Additional anchors for the bases are available where
clubs want to set the bases in on a range of playing
distances.
Development
Development activities meant a very busy December and
January and it cost Hills some money. To those that took
advantage of what we were offering it was money well
spent. We were able to utilize the services of Trent
Oeltjen. There were hitting sessions conducted for the
Under 12 representative team (twice), Kellyville (two or
three times), Kings Langley, Winston Hills (twice),
Hawkesbury, Oakville, Carlingford, Schofields and Rouse
Hill.
We paid
Trent for his services but the amount was well under
what you would think an American AAA player could
command for coaching. He also conducted private coaching
of hitters on up to three afternoons a week in December
and January.
In
addition we continued the pitching and catching
instruction on Thursday night. That program was badly
disrupted by the weather but on nights it could be held
it had up to 30 players involved. Oakville was the club
that supported the program the most.
In
addition we visited clubs with pitching instruction.
Lost track where that program visited. Both it and the
Thursday night program were offered free of cost. We
paid Trent, Michael Olson for their services. Phil
Leonard has still to be paid.
I
will want to talk about bats for 12 year olds
tonight. What is being sold as legal contravenes our
rules and are more expensive than parents need to
pay.
There
were three camps staged in January and attendance was
down due to Little League. While the numbers were down
it did allow that we could spend a little more time
teaching the various activities. Mindful of the
requirements of Little League each of the camps
concentrated on hitting (as we had the services of Trent
Oeltjen on five of the nine days), pitching / throwing
mechanics and fielding.
Other
areas covered were double plays, pitcher's cover, drop
step, fly balls, relay plays, trailer plays, outfield
cuts and relays, soft hands, diving plays, base running,
running techniques, backhand plays and the very popular
game of 'fumbles'. The players played a game at the end
of each day which provided them an opportunity to put
into practice their newly taught techniques. In all 52
players attended the camps. The ratio of coach to
student was generally better than one in four so players
were able to receive individual attention. They resulted
in a small profit.
Unfortunately the camps are very hard on ‘equipment’ and
some of this is going to have to be replaced. A
proportion of the income of camps is going to have to be
put aside for replacement of equipment. The majority of
the equipment used is mine.
General business
- I
have refused a request to vary a no pitch
restriction on Tom Roberts’ dispensation. Tom was
given dispensation as a nine year old to play Under
12 Douglass with the normal no pitch condition. The
player is obviously not being challenged enough by
playing in the infield.
-
Last Monday, Hills along with NSWJBL conducted a
hitting Lecture at Demons Sports Club. Trent Oeltjen
was the main speaker. Again the intent was not to
make money (the profit was not worth the effort) but
rather to improve the knowledge of particularly the
parents of players and also coaches and the players
who attended. Approximately 70 adults and children
attended.
- The
final report of the BSC has been received. It was
too large a document to be downloaded and copied for
to night’s meeting. Certainly our thanks have to go
to Kevin Fitzgerald, Andrew Borg and Greg Robinson
for a great deal of time and effort in completing
what is a very detailed report.
- In
the correspondence there is a letter complaining
about the draw for Peter Street North. This is the
second complaint which is about is about the number
of byes teams receive. I had answered the original
query in early December. I must admit I do not
understand the query. The draw was a fair one when
it was prepared in September.
- Clubs
need to play more attention to the submitting of
results – at times we seem to know more about which
games have been played than Club Recorders. It is
not the Recorders fault it rests squarely on the
shoulders of coaches. It certainly makes decision
making difficult.
- Two
former Hills players have signed Professional
Contacts to play in USA. Tim Stanford has signed
with Texas Rangers and Adam Spencer signed with
Chicago Cubs.
You will
be asked to consider a recommendation tonight that has
the Executive a little confused as to the right course
of action.
It
relates to a game in Under 12 Leonard East between
Schofields and Carlingford. The game was scheduled
for Murray Farm midweek in January – the 23rd or
24th . Schofields were concerned that rain was
forecast on game day – sent an email the previous
day saying that they were going to defer the game.
The email was addressed to a work email, but the
person was on holidays.
It
certainly was an unacceptable method of cancelling a
game and unaware of the request Carlingford turned
up ready to play but no opposition. The Club advised
that the ground was open and play was possible until
at least 6pm. Schofields are now saying that there
was a severe storm around Riverstone that day and
nobody would have wanted to venture out in that
weather. The weather was bad that day however we
played Little League at Castle Glen that day- but it
was wet.
Really the fact there was a storm on game day is
immaterial as Schofields were not intending to turn
up anyway. We were prepared to replaying the game
last week but it was washed out. It cannot be played
this week – Schofields are required to play Baulkham
Hills Emus who has to play in an attempt to qualify
for the final series. That game is just far more
important although Carlingford also need to win to
have a chance of making the ‘four’.
Seeing the game now cannot be replayed should
Carlingford be awarded the game on forfeit?
In
addition to the written report, Mr. Yard reported that:
- The
Kenko bats on loan to clubs are to be returned
immediately after the team’s last game of the
season.
- The
‘legal’ bats in Under 12 are 2¼” dia., minus 10
weight to length differential. These bats are still
available at a cost of $90 which is cheaper than
what is being charged for bats which are illegal in
Hills’ competitions.
-
Problem in re draw of Daisley League due to a high
number of washed out games not played.
-
There are 12 line scorebooks available which are $5
cheaper than the books with ABF logo. The saving to
a club is substantial.
-
There is no venue yet announced for the Under 12
representative final.
The
Secretary’s report was accepted. |
