• The Under 12 winter program commenced tonight. It involves 24 players which is the maximum number we can handle. There was a second round of offers after the initial ‘pick up’ rate was not particularly high. Most of the better players have accepted the offer. It would not be fair to compare this age group with last year’s representative team.
• The players invited and involved were named.
• Phase two of the program will commence next week when the program for under 13 and 14 starts. It will be held at 5.30pm to 7 pm also at Knights. Invitations have yet to be forwarded. We do not intend to include players involved in the Baseball NSW program as they have their own midweek training and we certainly do not want to be accused of coaching ‘different techniques‘ to the coaches they have.
• The Sunday morning development commenced last Sunday and attracted two players. With next Sunday being Mothers Day the program will not be held – it will resume Sunday week. Obviously if the numbers do not improve the program will be wound up.
• We will continue with our development of catchers. We have asked clubs to nominate players however that achieved little response. Our initial aim was to find at least a second catcher for all of next season’s three representative teams. That program will be incorporated as part of the 12 and 13 year old Development program. It cannot be done with the Under 12 as the older players take up too much space on what is already a crowded Knights Field.

Winter Competition

• The Sunday competitions have commenced with competitions in Under 12, 14 and 16 – the first time we have been able to achieve the three age groups. In total we have 16 teams. There are three clubs outside Hills involved they are Blacktown, Moorebank (both in Under 14) and Quakers Hill (Under 12). NSWJBL has provided two Under 16 teams.
• There is a two innings or 50 pitch limit imposed on the competitions.
• The Under 12 competition is not a good standard and really players would be better off in development however, experience tells me that they would not want to be involved in that program. The Under 14 competition is basically an Under 13 competition in the Hills teams. In a way this had to be expected as the better Hills under 12 players are involved in the NSWJBL team to Japan. That team and the Under 13 team train on Sunday morning.
• We need to clarify a rule for the Under 12 competition re advancing when a pitched ball evades the catcher. The suggestion is to play Phil Leonard League South rules which allow the runners to advance one base as far as third base but not score where the ball evades the catcher. The playing standard overall is no higher than Leonard South.

Coming Summer Season

• The start date for the 2006/7 competition in live ball and Under 10 competitions will be 10 September, 2006.
• Applications for the position of coaches of the Hills representative teams close on 30 June, 2006. Preference will be given to those coaches who in the past or are presently involved in our Development activities. The information will be placed on the web site.

BNSW Issues

• In a repeat of last month's situation with the World Children’s Baseball Fair (WCBF), BNSW placed an item on their website on 24 April advertising the Cal Ripken trials would be held the following Sunday. The notice gives the indication that it was sent to Association Secretaries (was not received by any Association that I know of). I expect as a member of Baseball NSW, Hills would be formally informed of such trials/information. I was alerted to the item by a parent seeking Hills’ recommendation to allow the player to trial.
• You have the proposal of the Major League Committee proposal to take control of the Under 16 representative competition. 
• Last month one of the questions I have asked is advice from those clubs that require a Level 0 course to be held. Really apart from an initial expression of interest from Rouse Hill and Schofields, without any details, there have been no replies. Hills will not conduct the course, Baseball NSW withdrew the authorization of its previous Level 0 instructors and three of the instructors will not undertake courses on behalf of Baseball NSW nor will they seek re- accreditation. If you have people requiring official Level 0 accreditation we need to have an indication of the number of people requiring training and the dates and venues possible for us to organize Baseball NSW to conduct the course. As an organization we continue to be prepared to undertake courses for those coaches wanting to further their knowledge without requiring accreditation.

Other matters

• June, July is the Annual Meeting season. Hills’ Annual General Meeting will be 11 July. Nominations for Executive positions will close at the June meeting
• NSWJBL Annual General Meeting will be 28 June. Nominations for its Executive positions will close on 31 May. Hills has traditionally nominated people for that Executive and this year we seek approval to nominate Cheryl Barnier as President, Mark Farrell as Vice President, Pat Royce as Treasurer and John Yard as Secretary.
• Baseball NSW Annual General Meeting is scheduled for 19 June, 2006. Another financial loss is predicted.
• As far as I know there has been no decision as to what ball will be used in Under 12 representative competition. Irrespective of the decision taken – we should be clear in our mind that there is no intention to change the ball used in Hills Under 8, Under 10, Under 11 (if it proceeds) and Under 12 Phil Leonard Leagues. Playing with an 8 ½” hard ball would be dangerous at this level and counter productive to encouraging players to play the game.
• There were no submissions received from clubs for possible rule changes and only one suggestion received from an Under 10 coach.
• Oakville has a letter in correspondence querying Graeme Clarke’s eligibility to participate in the NSWJBL Under 12 Program. You will recall that Graeme changed clubs (left Oakville to join Castle Hill) at the start of last summer season. There is nothing that can be done in the NSWJBL Program – it is a Hills rule only. NSWJBL used to be concerned with players changing Associations but not clubs within an Association. The letter has relevance to Hills has Graeme is included in the Hills winter development program. Basically the policy is that players changing clubs are ineligible to represent the Association that season (depending when he changed clubs) and not included in any development program. He was not included in last winters development squad – is that exclusion a season or a year?

Matters arising from the Secretary’s Report:

• Mr. Schmidt advised that the eligibility rules for development are:
  Rule (2.6(a)) “To be eligible to be invited to any development activities organised by the League, must:
  (1) be registered with an affiliated club, or in the case of winter development, indicate their
  intention to so register at the appropriate time for the forthcoming summer season.”

• Bankstown formalized its request for information as to T Ball registration fees – cost is $5.50 inclusive of GST
• 15 players selected in team to play in IBA World Series, since then Patrick Fazzone has withdrawn.
• NSWJBL able to secure cheaper air fares for team to go to USA.
• Funding applied for Under 12 and 13 program as part of Year of Exchange Program.
• NSWJBL applied to Blacktown Venue Management for use of BOP for Pan Pacific Tournament as there was no reply from Baseball NSW. In the end while both Blacktown Council and Blacktown Venue Management were supportive of the application and wanted the tournament to be conducted there they could not ‘get around’ the lease documents – the ground is leased to ABF. Alternative venues are being sought.
• Baseball NSW claim Pan Pacific Tournament is not recognized as a Year of Exchange event - NSWJBL has no idea what Baseball NSW is talking about. The event is listed on Year of Exchange web site and NSWJBL has the Federal Government approval number.
• Larry Etcell has not sought re election for any position within Cumberland. He will not continue with NSWJBL where he has been a long term Director.
• Need people to work for Pan Pacific Tournament – interpreters, grounds men, umpires, scorers, publicity..

Mr. Schmidt reported that the last JLSC meeting was a  coaches debrief.  Approximately 40 coaches attended. 

The summary of the questionnaire will be presented to the next JLSC meeting.  The responses indicate no push to change anything – most supported “leave it alone" – apart from an overwhelming support for the pitching regulations to return to what they were – and return to the five game State Cup final concept that used to be run by NSWJBL.

• Statement of Financial Position tabled and accepted.
• Accounts for payment approved.
• Mr Yard added the comment:-

  We traded at a small profit in the vicinity of $400 for the financial year. I believe this to be an outstanding achievement for what we provide from a $10 membership fee. We will need to consider an increased user pay principle in the next few months as our revenue is not as high as it once was yet the services we provide have not declined but have probably increased.

• Nothing presented

Cannot see any advantages or benefits for Hills or to Baseball NSW.

The draft submission to be submitted to the JLSC was approved.

Rule Changes: Mr. Yard advised that there was only one proposed rule change received – it related to the use of pitching machines for Under 10. The Association will proceed with the previously advised suggestion to reduce the pitch limits for particularly Under 12.

Mr. Schmidt stated that the dispensation policy clearly needs to change making it more user friendly and to better define what we are trying to achieve by allowing dispensations. Mr. Bray commented that the policy is OK – it just needs better assessment, maybe have an independent panel to assess players being considered for dispensation. Mr. Yard stated that most of our problems are with players wanting to play up with no regard of the demands of increased distances and higher playing standard. Mr. Schmidt considered that it is doubtful that a panel could ‘stand up’ in court and be able to state that they could be confidant in their decisions. Mr. Bray stated they could be confident in two aspects, height and weight comparison with older age group – the problem is players with ‘phantom skills’, just wanting to play up. Mr. Schmidt advised that it is time to go back to parents and have them assume responsibility – we have to ensure that we protect ourselves against litigation. Mr. Bray stated that the problem comes with clubs who run minimum rosters in Division One competitions – have greater numbers in second Division competitions and then want dispensations for younger age players – by passing the second division players. Smaller clubs do not have the flexibility of the number of players. The panel would be a “Hills” panel appointed by the Executive. Members would not be club affiliated people. It was suggested that they be the representative team coaches. The question of best way to handle the dispensations for substitutes was left until next meeting. Mr. Bray suggested that if the Association deleted the rule which requires teams to bat all players – it may encourage teams to take players who are not as strong into First Division teams..

Representative Coaches: The application for coaches is on the web site. Copies have been forwarded to last season’s coaches. Closing date changed to June 30 in order to have coaches appointed prior to trials.

Mini-Ball: Mr. Schmidt enquired whether there was any interest in the Mini-Ball concept. At this stage the program will be piloted at Kellyville – other clubs can enter teams if they wish.

Recruitment: Mr. Schmidt advised that the recruitment plan had been sent out to clubs and was seeking the clubs’ reactions. With the internal boundaries and associated schools that clubs are responsible for, Mrs. Fox stated that Winston Heights Public School is shown as Baulkham Hills Club but is more appropriate to be a Winston Hills responsibility. Jasper Road is shown as Winston Hills but is traditionally a “Baulkham Hills school”. Schofields is claiming Coverdale School is its area of responsibility. Mr. Schmidt advised the clubs that they have a scope of opportunity – but they have to figure out what they are going to conduct in the way of recruitment. Mr. Schmidt also asked whether there was any interest in the Baseball NSW Try Baseball program – the indication was that Hills clubs do not want to get involved.

Cancer Council Day: Mr. Petrone advised that Kellyville will be participating in the Cancer Council Day at Castle Hill Showground on 20 May, 2006. The club will again set up its batting net and operate from 8am to 4pm. It will hand out the scatter days, and may advertise its Try Baseball Day at the same time.

Annual General Meetings: Carlingford and Winston Hills have both held their Annual General Meetings. The Hills Annual General Meeting will be in July. Nominations for the Executive positions will close at June meeting

Kellyville Grant: Mr. Petrone advised that there has been no news as to the Kellyville application for a Regional Area Grant for the lighting of Kellyville.