We had an issue with two clubs, Baulkham Hills and Kellyville not batting all available players in a Youth League game. This occurred despite a warning at the last meeting that this rule was being breached by coaches coming to a mutual agreement to ignore the rule.

This was not an isolated incident – Baulkham Hills appear to have breached the rule at least three times (against Kellyville twice and against Castle Hill), Kellyville twice, although I am told that there is a third occasion as well.

The result of this incident is that the game has been declared a no game … no competition points will be awarded and in addition both clubs will be fined $50. It is time to draw a line in the sand where there are deliberate breaches of the rules occur especially protection rules or ones which are aimed at increasing the participation of players. Any further similar breaches of this rule by either coach will result in them attending a Judiciary meeting.

A notice was subsequently issued to all clubs reminding them of the rule which is important in the attempt to retain players in the sport and for their enjoyment.

There have been two requests for a report from both clubs – these have been ignored by both clubs.

It was not a good month for rules as there was a game called early and the top of the innings not completed – Schofields batting scored enough runs with two out to take the lead in the game. The game will be resumed when the two teams next meet from the point that the umpire incorrectly called time.

Last Friday’s Youth League game between Baulkham Hills and Kings Langley could not be completed prior to the 9.30pm curfew. You will recall that last Friday there was an electrical storm. Umpires called time when there was lightning seen, this delayed the game by 12 minutes while the umpires waited to make certain that there was no more lightning.

We are not critical of the umpires acting on safety issues nor can we be critical of Castle Hill observing the Council curfew of the operation of lights. An extension of the curfew is with Council at the present time. The operation of lights at Knights is an ongoing issue and the problem will not go away any time soon. There was no rule breached and the result will stand.

I am assisting Rouse Hill with coaching of some of its players and coaches on Wednesday nights. This is in return for the use of Centennary Park for training of the three of the Hills representative teams. We hope to soon expand this coaching to pitchers invited from other clubs.

Our volunteer umpires’ ranks are thinning. We struggled to supply umpires for the recent representative games at both Northmead and Sutton. Last Sunday we were unable to provide a base umpire at Murray Farm for Youth League. This Sunday games are scheduled for Castle Glen and we still have to ‘find’ a plate umpire for Under 16 and base umpires for Under 12 and 14. The situation will only get worse.

Clubs need to start to organize the playing of midweek games. Already there appear to be a number of games where the two teams concerned cannot agree on a suitable day to play the game. The ‘drop dead’ date is 14 February – past experience shows that games not organized by December struggle to get played. There was a note to clubs requesting that they advise any difficulties in organizing the playing of these games. Most conferences have at least one midweek game following the wash out in week one.

The Under 12 Leonard South competition is to be redrawn following the round of 25 November. There are a number of alternatives on how the split will be achieved. The problem is the two T Ball Teams – Winston Hills Xenas and Kellyville they are simply not ready to play ‘live ball’. There are three or four other teams in that competition that are struggling.

One option is to play Mod ball with the two T Ball teams. That concept rests with Rouse Hill and Carlingford. If that proves not to be an option it will probably mean Under 10 Daisley being redrawn to accommodate the two T Ball teams. Again I have gone to clubs seeking input as to individual club’s wishes and receive no reply.

Schofields are requesting to move home ground to Melrose. Eventually this will place them in a position where there are outside the Hills boundary and in the Cumberland area. It will only leave Under 10 and 8‘s playing at the school at this stage.

I can see no benefit in moving Under 12 away from Schofields to a diamond which has no better amenities. We certainly do not wish to enter into a ‘turf war’ with Cumberland in attracting players in an area that Quakers Hill would see as its territory.

At the October meeting I reported that Mitchell Bray had been cited to appear before a Baseball NSW Judiciary on a breach of code of conduct charge. He was found guilty and suspended for one representative game.

There have been two rule changes introduced into Youth League. One is to enable the coach to add a player to the lineup up until virtually that player is due to bat. It was introduced to overcome having to name players at the start of the game when they were not certain that they would actually be at the game.

The other was to remove the restriction of 64 pitch maximum for representative players. The rule was originally introduced as a protection for representative players as players pitching a major assignment must have one day’s rest before playing again. Because Youth League is a Friday night competition the one day rest falls on Saturday enabling them to play, but not pitch, on Sunday. The rule change is to provide clubs with a little more pitching depth as well as be consistent between pitchers who are non representative players.

We will be advertising another five day camp in January school holidays – either 15 -19 January or 22 - 26 January, 2007. We are investigating the possibility of a pitching and catching camp on one week. The other camp would concentrate on hitting and fielding. Camps will be commercially based.

Payment for Baseball NSW player registration is due tomorrow. We are aware that some clubs have not received an invoice for payment despite the fact that they have completed the input required by ‘My Club’. My suggestion is that as you know your player numbers – then pay the amount taking off the discount for payment on time. Those who conducted Try Baseball have a further discount to be applied. I have the Bank details of Baseball NSW if clubs wish to direct deposit.

I would like to congratulate Kellyville for ceasing the games at 11am last Saturday as part of Remembrance Day. It is important that the Youth of today understand the important parts of Australia History. I hope other clubs did the same thing. Cricket which was playing at Kellyville also observed the minute’s silence.

We are entering a period of continuous restrictions. With the wash out of a round of representative baseball Sunday week- there is representative baseball scheduled for 19, 26 November and 3rd December. In addition to those dates there is a replay of Youth League on 22 November and an Under 14 Association Cup game on 26 November and 10 December. These games will have an effect on any midweek games scheduled.

The Baseball NSW All Star game is scheduled for 16 December (the date set for washouts). Because there are penalties imposed on players who were selected and do not turn up, we gave the players the opportunity to declare themselves unavailable. A number of Under 12 did not want to play in the game.

The coaches have nominated players and the nominations submitted. The players are

• Under 16 – Byron Aird, Travis McDonald, Mitchell Bray, Mark Trau, Mark Hern, Ben Cone and Blake Palmer.
• Under 14- Jacob Younis, Joshua Blanco, Ben Macerola, Kirby McIntosh, Ben Cone, Nathan Webster and Kyle Darroch.
• Under 12- Zachary Shepherd, Hayden Bray, Eamon Davis, Tim Wakefield, Graham Clark, Hayden Webster and Victor Woo.

We have received an application for donation to players who make the State teams. We have never done this. Our preference is to spend our money on players’ development before they reach State level. Our development programs continue to be free to players.

In past year’s when we dominated State teams with up to 18 players being selected in a year such donations, to be meaningful, would have drained our finances. If we have money to spare it should be used (a) to provide as inexpensive baseball as possible and (b) to improve players who do not have the opportunity of good coaching. This is in an attempt to improve our playing standard which is slipping quickly. Financial assistance is more a club ‘thing’ than an Association.

Peter will give a report on Mini Ball. It has worked and has proven that there is a niche in the market to play the game at early evening/night.

The obvious flow on to this is to offer a T Ball competition at night next season. It would be a separate competition to the Saturday competition… looking to attract a different player base.

The re-grade in Under 17 Cashmore North and South has been completed. Lansvale go up to Cashmore North at its request and Baulkham Hills go down to Cashmore South. Castle Hill also had the opportunity to be regarded down but declined.

In Under 14 Hay Kellyville were given the opportunity to be regarded but declined the offer.

• There was a debrief of the Singapore tour.    

• An invitation has been received from Chinese Taipei to visit Taiwan and wish to visit Sydney in July/August.

• There was discussion as to who is responsible to pay the insurance excess where there is legal action against an individual.

• The minutes of October minutes were not available.
• Information as to information submitted on to My Club registration system. It is understood that it was intended to raise an issue as to why Hills’ registrations fell by 33%. It was not raised – nor is it correct.
• Information was available on All Star Day although incorrectly claimed information was with Associations.

• North Shore continued to be a voting member while ever it can conduct a six team competition.
• Mr. Willott foreshadowed that the Audit Committee will consider the question of Association’s of dual affiliation with NSWJBL pending a review at next AGM. Also there may well be minimum number of teams/players set as being a minimum for membership.
• Question was asked why umpires could not be accredited for T Ball only. NSWBUA have not been in favour of such accreditation – the matter has been referred to it again.
• Champion of Champions tournament was discussed – apparently to be introduced in 2007 for Minor Premiers rather than Premiers.

Matters arising from JLSC report: Mr. Hook asked whether the Baseball NSW financial statements had been accepted. Mr. Schmidt replied that the matter was still on going – some items require disclosure.

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

• Protest fee (Rule 7.8 c ) - fine only to be imposed if result sheet not supplied after being requested to do so.
• Result sheets (Rule 9.2 a) - fine only to be imposed if result sheet not supplied after being requested to do so.
• Infield Fly (Rule 21) - in Petroff League – no infield fly in this conference.
• Under 8 Akers
  • Rule 27 - rule now allows an 11 player defence.
  • Rule 11.5 - Under 8 T Ball comes into rules for all T Ball. Pass ball line becomes the foul line
• Rule 11.4 f – amended so third strike in Mod Ball is consistent with rules for live ball.
• Rule 11.6 – amended so as to enable teams to vary the batting order in relation to where the batting line up starts each innings – the actual order of batters cannot be altered. *** should it say which age group??
• Substitutes can only play in outfield, cannot play ahead of a registered player, must bat in the last positions. First nine hitters must be first nine fielders.
• In the event of genuine injury or illness there is to be no automatic out to be applied where there are more than nine players listed in the line up. Automatic outs apply in first division competitions where teams commence games with less than nine players.

Mini Ball: There are 58 players involved in two sessions on a Friday night.

Newsletter: Was a reminder to advertise the newsletter in club magazines. At present there are approximately 900 subscribers.

Matters arising from the President’s Report:

• Mr. Bray suggested a rule change limiting the use of ‘high performance bats’ in Under 17 and Under 14. Mr. Bray claims the bats unfairly reward the better hitters.
• Mr. Schmidt expressed an opinion over the legal concern on restriction of bats.
• Mr. Yard expressed a similar concern – but undertook to consider finding a better way to write the rule.

• Castle Hill Mr. Bray advised invoice received today
• Kings Langley Mr. Blundell advised that it had not received an invoice and Baseball NSW advised they do not know why it has not been received.

Ground Improvements: Mr. Bray advised that the batting tunnels at Knights Field are 90% complete. The lighting is operational. Work will be completed with in two weeks. Mr. Hook advised that the playing surface at Sutton had improved.

Rule Clarification: Mr. Hook sought clarification of the rule relating to the ball remaining within the 15ft semi circle in Daisley ….. the ruling was- the ball is a ‘foul’.

Under 12 Leonard South Conference: Mrs. Trau advised that Carlingford do not wish to play T Ball if the conference is split. Mr. Yard advised that the most likely scenario is that Daisley will be split, with the two Under 12 T Ball teams (Winston Hills Xenas and Kellyville Mustangs) being regraded into Under 10 Daisley once the Leonard South is redrawn. Clubs have been given an opportunity to comment upon what grade they wish to play.

Under 10 Daisley: Mr. Tossell asked whether the Daisley League would play live ball this season. Mr. Yard advised that this is unlikely given the overall playing standard of the Conference. The better Under 10 players should be playing Under 11.

Melrose: Mr. Yard advised that Schofields Under 14 and 12 teams will be playing at Melrose Park from December. Mr. Yard added that the ground is in the Cumberland area and the ground will only be used as an ‘overflow ground’ – the Under 8 and Under 10 will continue to play out of Schofields school.

Dispensations:

• Schofields submitted an application for an Under 17 players (dob 15.12.92) to play Under 14 Southern Division. Player’s parents will not allow him to play Under 17. Mr. Yard spoke against the dispensation stating that it is unfair to players in Southern Conference to play against a player eligible for Under 17 – the Association has to be fair to all players. The standard of Under 14 South is poor. Dispensation refused.
• Kellyville submitted an application for Caleb Maylek (Under 12 Douglass player) to play Under 14 Street South, on a casual basis. Mr. Yard advised that the player is known to him – his concern was that the player was an Under 12 Division 1 player, to play Under 14 Southern Conference – this was never previously allowed. Dispensation granted, but player cannot pitch or catch in Under 14 – restricted to outfield.
• Bianca Vlimmeran (dob xx.xx.96) never played before to play Under 10. Dispensation approved, subject to assessment. Cannot pitch, or play first.
• Jacob Sullivan (Rouse Hill (dob xx.xx.97) to play up in Under 12 Leonard South. Has been assessed.
• Tyson Charter (Kellyville) (dob xx.xx.97) an Under 9 playing Under 11 but wanting to play Under 12 Leonard South with Mustangs – the Kellyville team playing T Ball. Has been assessed. The reason for the dispensation request is to get away from a problem the boy has. Dispensation approved.
• Mr. Yard advised it is almost certain that the player will be playing in his correct age group if the Mustangs are regraded.

Complaints: Mr. Schmidt advised that all coaches are placed on notice as a result of complaints from parents about issues of swearing, alcohol consumption, smoking and a general reduction in discipline. As an organisation we need to lift our game – there needs to be a line drawn to prevent any further deterioration. It has to be noted that Council has introduced a non smoking area in the immediate vicinity of playing fields.