• The Under 16 Representative team lost its game against Macarthur on protest. Eddie was not fully conversant with the rule where players pitch in State Trials they can only throw a total of 64 pitches. Mitchell Bray threw 67. Eddie had to attend a meeting as a result of the breach of the rule. He was reprimanded. The breach of this rule is not being implemented across the board – We believe there have been worse breaches of the rule ( even where pitchers were not even allowed to pitch on Sunday ( yet threw a major) have gone undetected/ ignored.
• Mitchell Bray has been cited on a breach of code of conduct resulting from game against Macarthur. He attends a Judiciary hearing tonight. The game against Macarthur was not played in a good spirit by the Macarthur supporters.
• Draw for Under 14 Association Cup has been issued - the draw as it stands has no home games for Hills. At least we won’t be chasing venues and umpires. I am concerned that double headers being played in the competition, it will test the available pitching.

Koala League competition will commence on 21 October.

As an organization we offered to consider requests for re-grading, the deadline was 9 October – but clubs are not good at meeting deadlines. Clubs in Under 16 have badly understated the playing standard of its teams – as they did last year.

Confusion on rules that require all players named (maximum 12) on the line up sheet to have to bat. Certainly Baulkham Hills and Kellyville have breached the rule in Youth League. Obvious coaches and umpires do not know the rules.

Taken delivery of the two batting machines ( using golf size practice balls) also Jugs Lite Flight machine.

Swapped the rounds of representative baseball involving Kellyville and Baulkham Hills. Baulkham Hills host Cronulla in October and Kellyville is the venue for round against Manly.

The latest copy of the Newsletter has been issued. We are requesting that you publicize the Newsletter through the clubs magazines – asking players/parents to contact the editor if they wish to be included in the distribution list.

Have had an Under 8 coach sent off – has to go the Judiciary – clubs cannot agree umpire was wrong – especially as the Executive considers the umpire was correct.

The camp started yesterday – have 40 plus players. From this camp we are convinced that clubs are not passing on information. - There is no regard for deadlines. The ‘drop dead’ date was 29 September – at that date we had nominations in the low 20s and invited Cumberland to nominate up to 25 players.

• Seven Associations have paid the membership fee.

• The ACCC ruling re third line forcing was discussed.

• Proposed to alter the NSWJBL financial year to 31 December – this is to overcome the touring teams costs and income being in separate financial years.

• Decision to select team to participate in Under 13 South Ease Asia Championship.

• North Shore is no longer a voting affiliate with Baseball NSW. This has been done without any meeting of the Baseball NSW Audit Committee. North Shore is adamant that they meet the requirements of the Baseball NSW Constitution. It is looking for the support of other Associations to ensure that Baseball NSW comply with its own constitution.

• The request for financial assistance for a player selected for Singapore was refused despite the recommendation of the Executive.

• Mr. Catt reported that the September meeting was for Representative coaches and managers.  The format was question and answer on the playing rules in representative ball. The October meeting is scheduled for 11 October, 2006.

• Statement of Financial Position tabled and accepted.
• Accounts for payment approved.

Team rosters: Mr. Yard expressed concern that clubs were deliberately registering fewer than nine players in teams and 11 or 12 players in a lower grade in the same age group. It cannot be expected that the League will grant dispensations to enable players to play up to make up the numbers. The problem will be exacerbated in the final series or when/if players play five games in the higher grade.

Hawkesbury Under 14 Street North: Mr. Whatson advised that Hawkesbury was wanting to deregister Kyle Darrock from its Under 16 team and register him in the Under 14 team. This was after the player pitched in an Under 14 game, without being placed on the line up – on some understanding that he could pitch an innings in an Under 14 game without being named in the line up. This was done to have him pitching regularly. It was done without any approval from Hills. Mr. Schmidt advised that the playing rules require that Clubs’ register teams and not individuals. There is a limit of 12 players per team. With Kyle Darroch being registered in Under 14, there are 13 players in Under 14 and still insufficient players in Under 16 Brian Cashmore south Conference. Hawkesbury will ‘rotate’ a player each week to play in Under 16. It was agreed by the meeting that Hawkesbury be allowed to register 13 players in Under 14 which otherwise would be in contravention of playing rule 2.2(e).

Rule clarification: Mr. Blundell raised queries on mod ball rules where the batters are allowed to bat on after a batted ball is a foul on third strike.

• Mr. Yard advised that this confusion comes from the T Ball rule where the batter would be out on a foul ball with two strikes on the hitter.

Mrs. Fox queried the awarding of eight runs in an innings in Under 12 Leonard South.

• Mr. Yard advised that the extra run did not affect the result of the game. He added he had spoken to the umpire, whose actions were intended to have the best interests of the hitter – allowing him a home run. Mr. Yard advised that the only way there could be an eight run innings would be an ‘out of the park’ home run. That is extremely unlikely, if not impossible. He had given some thought to allowing the eighth run to be scored if the last run was a home rum. In the end the idea was discarded as coaches would abuse the rule by continuing to run the batter in the hope of forcing an error.

Under 11 Live ball and Under 12 T Ball: Mr. Schmidt advised that Baulkham Hills wanted the concept of Under 11 Live ball discussed at the meeting. A letter was read to the meeting. Mr. Yard stated that the Under 11 competition is not as strong as it was hoped. This is the result of a number of reasons

• Winston Hills lost five players from its last season’s Under 10
• Kellyville has three Under 11 playing in Ken Douglass League
• Other clubs found it easier/preferable to enter players in an Under 12 Leonard League when they did not have enough ‘true age’ Under 12 players to form a separate under 12 team. That was the case with Hawkesbury.

The call to revamp the Undere 11 is premature. Mr. Schmidt advised that Hills is committed to the Under 12 TeeBall concept – it is an opportunity to keep players in the game who otherwise would be lost to the sport. It is hoped that both the Under 11 and Under 12 TeeBall competitions will develop.

MiniBall: Mr. Schmidt advised that Mini Ball is to commence on 20 October, 2006, and the hunt is on for players to act as ‘instructors’. There are 50 plus players with almost an equal split between male and female. The equipment has been organised.

Dispensation: Kings Langley submitted dispensation requests for K. McIntosh and B. Macerola to be used to ‘fill in’ if the Under 17 Youth League is short of players. Both are State Cup players and their abilities are well known.

Other dispensations were:

• Tim Phelps and Mitchell Whitfield are required to play Under 10 Mod Ball, to have a full team. Both played Under 8 T Ball last year. Both dispensations were approved subject to assessment.
• Simon Black, Jason Bailey, Jarrod Lofts and Matthew Whitfield to play Under 10 Mod Ball with his brother and no room in Under 10 T Ball. Approved, subject to assessment.
• All four players have been assessed by J. Yard and considered capable of playing Under 10 T Ball. Dispensations approved.