٠Certainly a lot of distractions with the start of the season only a month away.

The issue of the RSO seems to be interesting the minds of some.

The first rule in decision making is to ensure that you have all the facts- a simple, yet common sense approach. The RSO principle is not yet approved – nor do we know what it will look like if and when it is approved– yet we have people holding meetings and trying to make decisions ahead of that!

The Executive has been saying the same thing since the RSO concept was floated…when it becomes a fact we will respond. The first criteria we needed was that Major League – ‘sort itself out’ and that still has not happened.

I know there are those that are uttering that Hills may be ‘left behind’ – which I consider to be a ridiculous proposition. From where I sit – looks like a lot of self interest and not necessarily the best interest of Hills or Baseball is the prime objective.

For 23 or more years we have been able to administer the League fairly and honestly – now we have some who wish to exercise a display of what reason?

The BNSW problem is that there are three Major League Clubs in the Hills catchment. On what basis do those clubs lose their identity to be incorporated in the Hills RSO? If the situation was reversed and Hills Juniors were being asked to give up its colours and heritage, would we readily agree to such a concept without one ‘hell of a fight’?

This situation would never have occurred under the previous NSWBL Executive Council as it was always careful in admitting new Major League clubs – ensuring that club’s geographical areas of responsibility could be self sufficient in attracting players.

That Policy holds true today, it is only in Hills that there are now three Major League Clubs and then even under the ‘New World Order of Baseball’ Blacktown ML is supposed to be located in the Greater Western area and North Shore has moved from its original home at Willoughby. Bad or quick fix solutions have a way of coming back to haunt administrators.

٠ I know I keep repeating myself by saying the playing standard is falling. The decline is no longer gradual rather it is rapid.

To this end we have organized a pitching and catching seminar on Thursday at Kellyville – where we hope to provide the parents and coaches with some basic knowledge in how to teach their children the basics of throwing and catching. Instructors are Richard Olson (who is about to return to the College of New Mexico), Andrew Olson, Phil Leonard and myself. There is no charge for this seminar.

We attempted to conduct it last week – had one person turn up.

٠ The representative team selection is a head ache (to put it mildly). No teams have been selected as yet – hopefully all three will be selected by next Monday night.

Certainly the Under 12 and 16 age groups will be considerably weaker than last season and the standard in Under 14 is not particularly strong – overall however it does have some ‘firepower’.

I think we need to set some parameters to the selectors that where the standard of players is equal, preference should be given to the ‘true age’ player over the younger ‘two year’ player. If the team is not good enough – then so be it but players should not be advantaged because they may be better players next year- the team is this year’s team and players have to be selected on what they are doing at the trials.

Should not need to restate that players changing clubs are ineligible to trial for Representative teams – but I have to. There are two players trialling for the Under 14 team that are in fact ineligible as both have registered with a different club this season than last season. Those players will be withdrawn from the trials this weekend.

Along the same lines - to be eligible to play in a Hills’ Representative team players must be registered and playing in a Hills competition. Should the player cease playing in Hills and player will be withdrawn from rep team. No exceptions.

٠ The 2010-11 Rulebook will be presented for approval tonight. A summary of the rule changes are:

• 4.7 (c)… Deleted need for Play Off for equal fourth
• 4.8 (d) …A housekeeping change
• 7.14 …. Ground Officials. Was provisional now mandatory.
• 9.3 Protocol for Scorers
• 10.2 … Rule updated to reflect intent of anti-collision.
• 11.3 (f) Allowing players to proceed ‘home’ where the ball ‘evades’ the catchers in Under 12 Leonard South
• 11.8(f)...Re-worded and simplified to define the foul line in T Ball and Mod Ball

٠ Dates have been set for Rules Meetings for Season 2010/11. The dates are Monday 6th September live ball Tuesday 7th September Mod Ball and T Ball, Probable venue Riverstone RSL

٠ Season start remains unchanged Live ball 11th September with T Ball 18th September. Koala League 16th October

٠ We are already receiving dispensation requests – all players will need to he assessed at the Dispensation Assessment day – last Sunday in 29th August (Sunday to avoid Junior Sport). Need to register the Dispensation Request so all same age groups can be assessed at one time.

٠ Last meeting we should have formally admitted Eagles a member club of Hills on the same conditions as Quakers Hill and Blacktown were admitted last year. This should be done tonight.

٠ The JLSC has altered the Playing Rules for the Representative games. It has ‘dumbed down’ the pitching rules to make it easier for coaches to manage the pitching rotations by allowing pitchers to come direct from the field.

The re-entry rule has been abolished (was proving too hard for Coaches to understand). They have introduced the provision of Designated Hitter in the line up.

As an Association we intend to ‘instruct’ our coaches that we want our pitchers to be included in the hitting line up and not use a Designator Hitter. It is ridiculous to think that young players will be prepared to be pitchers and not have the opportunity to bat.

The irony is that a simple re entry rule was deleted because it was too hard for some coaches to understand – yet a Designator Hitter Rule, which can become complex at the time of changes in the field was introduced. Interesting to see how it plays out.

٠ There is a note on the website inviting nominations for position of Managers for the Under 12,14 and 16 Representative teams.

٠ If the ‘Players Market’ is to be operated again this year then we will need early advice of what players Clubs have surplus or are short of. Most will have some idea of player numbers as they work though the various Grading Days.

٠ This weekend Hills will host the visiting Japanese teams on Sunday and Monday. Sunday at Ashley Brown with Under 13 and 16 – game times 11am and 2pm. Monday evening at Knights Field with (hopefully) the Under 12 and 16 State Cup teams playing.

٠ Greater Western is seeking ‘Friendship players’ to enable it to field an Under 16 Representative team. We have agreed to assist by providing players that is IF the players wish to play for Greater Western. My guess is some will choose not to.

٠ There have been a number of advices re upcoming events forwarded to clubs in last week. They include details of Scorers Seminars, Level 0 Umpiring Course, My Club training and the Hills Administrative Timeline for 2010/11.

٠ The provisions of Child Protection have changed and this will force a change in our procedures. It is a matter for discussion tonight. Clubs need to use update online forms.

Links to the websites are: http://www.dsr.nsw.gov.au/children/resources.asp

https://check.kids.nsw.gov.au/volunteer-declaration.php

٠ Did any clubs other than Schofields apply for the Woolworths’ Community Grants?

A quick skim through the successful clubs indicates not many baseball clubs were successful (or applied) - those that were successful are mostly bigger clubs:

Dapto Chiefs, Fairy Meadow Pirates, Arncliffe Scots, Bankstown Sports, East Hills
Greater Western, plus one or two of its clubs and Schofields Scorpions.

٠ Among the ‘may not get to’ items tonight because of a very full Agenda are

My concerns re viable first division competitions in all three age groups – Under 17,14 and 12. What is the best way to provide for competitive players such as Dean Frew, Isaac Whatson and Mitchell Inskip who are playing in struggling clubs and without the opportunity to play first division… yet will overpower the Second Division competition.

Dean will be a danger to anyone he pitches against in any second or third division – yet take him out of Oakville and they will not have a team. It is a real possibility that he will be not allowed to pitch in low divisions.

With a number of new TCO’s the correct method of completing and submitting both My Club and Hills’ Registrations and where to find the necessary information on the website.

The Secretary’s report was accepted.

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

Blueprint – The Blueprint process is coming to conclusion with a number of meetings still to be held. Mr. Schmidt had issued a draft Hills’ Position Paper for the approval of the meeting. The process is now being conducted by three sub groups, however there are still a number of groups that do not know what is happening…..hoping for what they want to happen rather than what will happen. The final decision will be with the Board.

Mr. Schmidt has made submissions/contributions to the various meetings. There is support for some of his ideas while others are not fussed about them. Mr. Schmidt advised that the whole thing is a set of dominos as the maths do not work out. In the Hills’ area there are three Major League Clubs.

At present Penrith appear to be wanting to go by themselves in something thought to be impossible. Blacktown’s position is one of ‘wait and see’. Should Penrith form as a major league club, then there is a problem for Hills.

Mr. Schmidt stated that Hills will not choose which Major League will survive.

Mr. Yard stated that he believes when push turns to shove, BNSW will decide which Major League Club will survive or perish.

Mr. Schmidt does not see the colour of the uniform being an unresolvable issue.

Mr. Schmidt stated if we are going to go through a reform process, we need to get something out of it…. that is the unity of Hills.

The meeting was in agreement that the Draft Position Statement be the official Hills’ position.

Administration Timetable – was issued and agreed

Eagles application for membership – Eagles were admitted as a member of Hills on the same basis as Quakers Hill and Blacktown. It will not be eligible to the Hills’ funds prior to season 2010/11.

Rule Changes. The recommended rule changes for the coming season are: -

• 4.7 (c) The rule requiring a play off for fourth place has been altered. The process will now be the same
  process for determining other positions for the finals
• 4.8 A housekeeping change, tidying up the process for entering a protest.
• 7.14 Makes the Ground Officials mandatory.
• 9.3 Protocol for Scorers introduced. Emphasis that Scorers are part of the neutral Umpires ‘crew’
• 10.2 Re-written to emphasise the rule as an anti collision rule rather than a ‘must slide rule’.
• 11.3 (f) Allowing players to advance home on balls evading the catcher in Leonard South.
• 11.8 (f) Defines the pass ball line in Mod Ball to be the same as T Ball – being the foul line.

The rule changes were approved.

Child Protection: Mr. Schmidt advised that this aspect will be an issue again this year. The presentation of Child Protection on the Department of Sport & Recreation has altered. The form previously printed out and signed is no longer available – the form needs to be completed on line. What clubs have from last year remains current. It is only the ‘new’ coaches and managers and all volunteers that have unsupervised access to children that need to complete the Child Protection Paperwork.

Girls Baseball: Mr. Taylor enquired about girls’ representative baseball. Mr. Yard replied that it is Hills’ intention that it would enter teams in a representative Girls competition. However, he doubted that we would have sufficient players for an Under 13 team – especially pitchers and catchers. He added he was confused as to whether the age group is Under 15 and not Under 16.

Mrs. Wright advised Baulkham Hills registration days will be this week. The Club is likely to have four Under 17 teams.

Blacktown has increased it numbers in Under 7 but still short in Under 12.

Mr. Petrone advised Kellyville has lost a team from last year.

Mr. Power advised Carlingford had a big turn up at its Come and Try Day with 70 players. Club has two more teams than last year – five Under 8 teams.

Mrs. Unitt advised that Rouse Hill’s Come and Try Day was successful, however retention of players was a problem.

Mr. Wright advised Winston Hills will have the same number of teams as last year.

Mr. Forbes advised Eagles’ Registration days did not attract a good attendance. Club has lost players to other clubs.

Mr. Schmidt suggested that clubs execute exit polling for those players not re registering. To obtain uniformity, the clubs should adopt the same sort of questions which Mr. Schmidt offered to supply.

Level 1 Course: Mr. Pigram advised that Blacktown has organised a Level 1 Course at Laybut. Commences 30th August. Coaches from other clubs are welcome to attend.