• The Little League competition has been completed with Ryde Eagles winning the State Title (undefeated) defeating Cronulla in the Final. Hills North finished third.

The results were Hills North defeated Quakers Hill 11-0 Hills North defeated Cronulla 16-7 Hills North defeated Ryde Falcons 7-1 Hills North lost to Hornsby Eagles 14-0 Hills North lost to Cronulla 9-0 – North were much more competitive than the score indicates as it gave up seven runs in the top of last innings.

Hills South defeated Bankstown 10-6 Hills South lost to Hornsby Eagles 5-4. It was a disappointing loss with poor defence in first innings giving up three runs and then gave up two more runs in the last. Hills South lost to Cronulla 9-2 after Cronulla accounted for Ryde Falcons 23-0.

As you will read in the correspondence there were again aspects of the competition that we continue to be unhappy with – not that any of these matters resulted in our team’s losses.

We were unable to dominate on the mound and on the final day we did not hit well.

Already we have decided to alter our approach to the training of Little League pitchers. That aspect of training will commence much earlier.

• One of the issues that caused unrest in the Little League was Cronulla twice not batting all available players in games – going with 12 and 13 players in the line up. This is a distinct advantage to Cronulla when the opposition has to play all its players for at least one innings and bat at least once.

The reason given was that the players were omitted from the line up in one game as they had pitched a Major assignment in the previous game. The other game a player turned up late because he was playing soccer. We cannot argue that point as last year we had a player unavailable at Easter because of Religious belief. It is a case of ‘what goes round, comes round’.

I have absolutely no objection to that ruling provided re players pitching majors if it is / was documented in the rules for the competition- but of course it would not have been – even though it is a basic protection rule. In fact I believe the rules for SJC should be that players throwing a substantial assignment should not be allowed to go to any fielding position.

It is my belief that even if BNSW won’t agree to that change (and they won’t) then Hills should instruct its coaches not to play pitchers in the field after throwing a substantial assignment. The present rule is being abused by Coaches because they cannot organize their playing roster.

It cannot be achieved at club level because of the smaller roster of players, however it can be achieved easily at representative level- provided the coach is ‘organized’ in his approach to the game..

The other rule that we should challenge is the rule requiring all Under 12 players to bat once and field for one innings. The rules already require that players achieve 46 or so defensive outs for the competition – that ensures reasonable player participation during the series.

The all players must bat rule is having an adverse effect on the playing standard of the competition. Coaches are pre occupied with not breaching the rule than with the winning of the game.

• The winter competition has commenced. There was no play on Mothers Day. We lost the Under 15 competition when there were only three teams.

There has been a substantial increase in the number of participating teams. There are seven teams in Under 16, four in Under 14 and eight in Under 12/13.

To have a viable Under 14 competition it was necessary to chase players to form a Hills Kings team. As it is the team only has nine players and badly needs a catcher.

Under 12/13 competition has been split into an Under12 competition and an Under 13 competition.

Certainly a lot of flexibility been taken by teams playing players above their age group… most I would say are out of their depth – but the standard in both Under 16 and 14 is not strong.

The draws will be issued Tuesday. There has been a change in the playing times- starts have been put back to 9.30 to overcome the dew that is on the grass at this time of year. Also all games will be played at 9.30am so they are all completed by 11am and allowing people to do something else on Sundays.

One thing we will change next year will be to charge a registration fee for all non Hills or Cumberland players. Cumberland would be exempted as we have an arrangement to play cross Association with Cumberland. Whether that is $11 per player or another amount will have to be determined.

The Under 16 draw will be changed to accommodate a request from Schofields for it to have Bye on 29th May.

• The Dugout has closed. It is said that it has been sold and is closed for renovations. I seriously doubt the accuracy of the rumoured potential buyer. Also closed is Demons Sports has closed it doors and gone into liquidation.

• The change in Club Championship format needs to be finalized. You will recall that it is being suggested that the points in first division competitions (Youth, Hay, Douglass and Petroff) be multiplied by either three or four, the North and Western conference points by two and Southern Conferences by one.

My preference is that the first division points be multiplied by four.

• Player Development is now fully underway. There are two sessions for Under 12, plus a catchers group, working on Tuesday nights.

The development for Under 14 pitchers has commenced on Thursday and the Sunday Development Program, which is free of charge, appears that it will attract more players than normal thanks mainly to Rouse Hill and Castle Hill being proactive toward this activity.

The Under 12’s have commenced playing scrimmage games, these will continue once a fortnight through winter.

We will be forced into a re think with under 14 Development as there is not as much space at Kellyville on Thursday night as we first thought.

This may mean that we have pitching development for Under 14 and 16 each Thursday night and general Development for Under 14 players once a fortnight. The dates will be 14th, 28th May, 11th, 25th June, 9th and 23rd July. The other option is to use the hitting tunnels on the alternate week. The answer will depend on how many players are interested.

• The application by Eagles to play cross association with Hills has been resolved. It was very much as I advised last meeting. Eagles are just ensuring their future should Cumberland does not form this season.

Cumberland does in fact intend to form as an Association again this summer. It has four clubs and almost already viable Under 16 competition and will conduct an Under 13 competition rather than Under 12 and 14 age groups as it offers a larger group of players.

It is intended that Hills will continue to offer Cumberland whatever assistance it considers it needs. It will not be entering representative teams.

• The Executive has discussed the suggestion of photo ID Cards. We continue to believe that there is no problem with a dispensation. We believe that it is possible to issue a list of players from information already forwarded to Hills in the form of player registrations.

• For the Club’s notebooks. There will be two Level 0 Coaching Courses held in the last week in July or first two weeks of August- depending upon the Instructors’ other coaching commitments. Baulkham Hills are fast off the mark, already nominating three people.

• It is time that as an association we commence to look for another ground to use as an overflow ground for both Baulkham Hills and Winston Hills older age teams. Already both Northmead and Sutton are at full capacity on Saturday mornings. Similarly there is also not a lot of surplus capacity at Centenary or Castle Glen.

One option may be John Curtin Reserve in Winston Hills – the draw back being that it is situated in Parramatta Council area.

• In the next few weeks we will invite applications for the Representative Coaches now we know what the format of the competitions will be.

I am assuming that the coach of the Youth League will require a minimum of Level 2 accreditation.

It is a strange twist that the Under 12 and 14 do not play any extra games and the Under 16 age group will play considerably less games. It has ruined what was a very good competition.

• The idea of the awarding of the Hills Medal to a player leaving Hills at the age of 15 or 16 was also not discussed.

Some further thoughts are that it be decided by the Executive.

It does not have to be awarded each year only when the player has displayed outstanding ability, sportsmanship and the ‘grey’ area of ‘what epitomizes a Hills representative player’, one of self improvement, being a team player,

It would be judged over the player’s representative career with Hills from Under 12 to Under 16.

• It is intended that Hills will offer two Holiday Clinics in the July School holidays. They will be three day clinics. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. Cost $50.

• There is very little news about on Cal Ripkin trials. We believe Joel Dyer is one to receive a recommendation for selection. I assume that Cameron Power would be in a similar position. Other than that I cannot see any other Hills players as possibilities.

• In an initiative to improve the coaching standard in Hills we have offered to subsidize one coach from each club to undertake the Level 1 Coaching Accreditation Courses being conducted in winter and one coach from within the Association to undertake Level 2 course.

The response has not been over whelming…the coaches that I am aware that have been nominated are P.Whatson (Hawkesbury), D Grogan ( Rouse Hill), T. McGuire (Baulkham Hills), plus the Little League coaches D. Lindsay, G.Clarke, S.Rofe and J Waddell

The need for a Level 2 coach is that to coach representative Youth League coaches next summer will need Level 2 accreditation. There are four coaches that I know have enrolled in the Level 2 course – they are Peter Olson, Richard West, Robert Stone and Vicki Galea. A decision as to who to offer the Level 2 sponsorship to is needed tonight.

It is intended that the coaches receiving the sponsorship will enter into a contractual agreement that they will to coach for their club or for Hills next season.

A further initiative being considered is that Hills will pay the subscription to the coaching Newsletter “Webball” to provide access for coaches to information and clubs access to training equipment. The options are

• Buy the one and consider whether it is useful for each club and perhaps recommend that each club take up the current 'free' subscription. If they don't take / use the 'free' subscription what hope is there that they would use more complicated stuff.
• On other hand - perhaps take out a subscription for each of the Hills rep coaches - see how they use it - perhaps start a 'coach network' so that we could discuss what is included with each other.

The latter would seem to me a more useful thing for Hills. It would be a small start and build if we want to build a type of Coaches Association. OR Approach Webball and ask them to accept membership for "Head Coaches" from all 12 Hills clubs, starting in July and renewable each July. The deal is that we disclose the fact that each membership will allow each club access to the restricted areas of the website, with rights to re-distribute that material to its own club teams, on the basis that:- o Such material is not re-published anywhere else, including on the web, o Such material is provided only to club teams for their own internal use, o Any product discounts available are used only by that club alone, and not aggregated with purchases from any other club. Hills pays the fee (USD39.50 x 12 = USD474 = A$677), and gets 12 paid logins, plus the one free one for Hills. Matters to be resolved Club Championship Level 2 Sponsorship of coach 2010 Rule Changes (left over from last month) Photo ID Card Subscription for Coaches

The Secretary’s report was accepted.

Mr. Schmidt reported on the April meeting.

• There was an update on the Touring Teams and the Pan Pacific Tournament.

• Mrs. Barnier raised the matter of preventing the advertising of the NSWJBL tours at the Champion of champions tournament.

• There was discussion on the problems facing Bankstown.

Mr. Whatson was ill and not at the meeting.

• The minutes of the last JLSC meeting were forwarded to clubs.

• Mr. Schmidt advised that Mr. Whatson had ‘wound up’ the JLSC as to why they had not achieved anything.

• Statement of Financial Position was presented.
• Payments were approved.
• Debtors and liabilities were disclosed.

Clubs A.G.M.: Mr. Borg advised that Carlingford has conducted its AGMK. The executive has been returned. Mr. Frew advised that Garry Bailey will seek re-election as President of Oakville. Mrs. Guyer advised that Winston Hills’ AGM will be held in a few weeks.

Winter Competition: Mr. Yard advised that the winter competitions have commenced with a number of combined teams. Have moved all the Under 12 and 14 games to a 9.30am start.

Working with Children: Mr. Schmidt advised that by June meeting it is hoped to have the details where Club Child Protection Officer can access an examination ‘on line’ to gain information. Mr. Frew advised Oakville want to have a Police check conducted for the Club’s Protection Officer. This is considered un-necessary as the position is to oversee the forms being signed and the Codes of Conduct enforced. Mr. Yard advised that both he and Nigel Hern, who oversee the Development Program should be subjected to the Police check. Mr. Niemi advised that Tony Richards has been appointed as Castle Hill’s Compliance Officer for Child Protection.

Identity Cards: Mr. Schmidt advised that the problem the Association has is not a player identification one. The problems are incorrect players’ dates of births and inconsistencies in dispensations where some are not even being applied for. The problem is simply having some players playing where they should not be. Looking for a balance that allows the Association to utilize the My Club data base as a basis of advising all clubs of the Association’s team registration. The information would not be placed on the website, rather on email or web protected by a password. The information would be handled by the Club’s My Club co-ordinator. Mr. Schmidt advised that we would be attempting to avoid placing players names on any website. The team rosters do not become available until October and received by Hills later than that. Mr. Yard advised that all dispensations are approved through a meeting and the details, including restrictions, are contained in the minutes. This information could be placed on a separate document and forwarded to clubs. Mr. Yard added that the rule book (rule 3.10) requires that any substitute players had to be named as a sub statute on the line up sheet.

Club Championship: It was agreed that the Club Championship points be calculated on a multiplication by 4 (for division), 2 (second division) and 1 point (third division). There was no change in Incentive Shield other than clarification that the minimum number of teams required to be eligible is four.

Rule Change: The rule changes were discussed at April meeting. Mr. Yard advised that Hawkesbury was unhappy with the rule that prevents Division One players from playing in Southern Conferences in a higher age group. Mr. Yard added that this was always the rule. Mrs. Henderson advised that Baulkham Hills was satisfied with the explanation given in relation to the rule changes. The document outlining the rules was accepted.

Level 2 Coaching Accreditation Sponsorship: Mr. Yard advised that there were applicants for the sponsorship of Level 2 accreditation.

It was resolved that the sponsorship be offered to Peter Olson. A condition of the sponsorship is that Mr. Olson be available to coach the Under 16 representative team.

Coaching Clinic: Mr. Borg reported the Parramatta Council conducted a Baseball Clinic at George Kendall Reserve. A total of approximately 30 players, including a number of Hills players, attended the clinic.