• Team nominations are due by 29 August. Please do not be late as financial penalties will apply.
• As an Association we are keen to promote Under 11 live ball and Under 12 T Ball – for which we already have one team nominated (an all girls team which we will probably ‘lose’ if the concept does not get off the ground).

Rep Eligibility ...

• The eligibility to trial for Representative teams remains a ‘hot’ issue.
• The rule has never really changed – change clubs without a change in residential address and players are ineligible to trial for representative teams. There is an ‘escape clause’ in the form of a player release when they may get a release from their former club and meet some very strict criteria.
• The reason “I don’t like the club /coach” or “I will get better coaching” are NOT valid reasons.
• We are going to have a problem in Under 16, Two players have not registered with their last season’s club – that club now has insufficient players to nominate a team. The players no doubt will believe they will be able to pick and choose what club they will now play with.
  Not so! This has been discussed at Executive level and it is agreed that players whose club cannot field a division one team or cannot field a team in the age group – can only be eligible to trial for representative team IF they play for the club nominated by Hills or in a Hills ‘Kings’ type team.
• Only in the case where there is no composite or Association sponsored team are players able to change clubs and only then with a release, which requires the consent of their previous club. This rule is designed to protect the investment that any club puts into players by providing a disincentive for players with representative aspirations to change clubs. We want 10 strong clubs not two or three.
• This year it is probable that the Executive will encourage a Carlo/Kellyville/Winston Hills for a Hills ‘Kings’ type team.

Rep Trials ...

• The representative trials have started.
  • Under 12 – a very disappointing roll up of 19
  • Under 14 – 38 triallists – however it will be very difficult to find a ‘balanced’ squad. The problem of balance in Under 14 will also effect the Under 14 Association Cup team as it is probable that three or four Under 13 players will be selected in this years Under 14 State Cup team, leaving the Association team unbalanced – pitching and catching will be two positions it will be short of.
  • Unfortunately Ben Cone broke his thumb in two places in the trials yesterday. He will be out for approximately 10 weeks. He will still be considered for selection in the squad and be placed on disabled list.
  • Under 16 trial was washed out.
• We are going to select Jacob Younis in the Under 14 State Cup team even though he will not attend a trial. We are satisfied as to his standard.
• North Shore Juniors are no more – NSWBL, through Mr. Willot, convinced North Sydney to affiliate with Manly. Of course there was no suggestion that Kissing Point or Ku-ring-gai be given back to North Shore. Who is next, Bankstown or Cumberland? My guess would be Bankstown.

Equipment ...

• We have ordered 50 RH gloves – same model as last year.
• There are some LH gloves available from previous seasons.
• We have purchased a smaller all leather glove (10”) as a sample for Miniball.
• There are stocks of Kenko C class balls, K500 balls for Under 8 and Wilson 1010 baseballs.
• We purchased five rubber sleeved bats for use only in Ken Douglass League.

Kenko Update ...

• As foreshadowed last meeting, the Kenko ball was replaced as the ball for Under 12 representative baseball, five votes to four.
• As a point of interest Kenko are moving to alter the C class ball and make it more like the low bounce B class ball used by Under 16 in Japan. That will improve the C class ball we use in under 12 even more. The distributors believe that Baseball NSW will revert back to the Kenko ball.

Winterball ...

• The winter Grand Finals were played on Sunday. The games were only able to be played thanks to a herculean task by Kevin Ryan and Eddie Bray to have the diamonds playable.
• The winners were:
  • Under 14 Blacktown Workers 5 d Castle Hill 4
  • Under 12 Baulkham Hills 14 d Hawkesbury 2
     
• Personally, I remain unconvinced about the merit of the Under 12 competition – the standard was not good. The players would have benefited far more from Development and a short “Pony League” type game afterward. Every game I saw on Sundays in this age was a ‘walkathon’.

Other matters ...

• As an Association we are conducting the baseball segment of an Out of School Hours Program on behalf of Blacktown Council at Goddard Street school. Peter Street is conducting the program on our behalf. The program is funded by the Federal Government.
• ACCC is still to formally deliver its decision in relation to “third line forcing” request which allows the ABF to operate its Licensing Program. There was a conference held on 24 July between ABF and parties objecting to Licensing. We did not attend. Those opposing Licensing are hoping that the trend where ACCC has not reversed an interim decision, after issuing a draft ruling, will continue.
• The attendance of Under 12 at the representative selection trials – and last year was the same – really forces a re think of Under 12 Development. Each year we spend a considerable sum of money on this program. Players appear to be keen on the development opportunities – but not so keen on playing representative baseball. Next season there should be some charge involved to the player. Ryde charge $75 per player.
• Recommendation for representative coaches for season 2006/ 7 are:
  • Under 14 State Cup Jeff Catt with Greg Robinson Assistant Coach
  • Under 14 Association Cup Robert Stone
  • Under 12 State Cup Nigel Hern with Peter Olson as Assistant Coach
  • Assistant Coaches and Managers will be appointed by the Executive in conjunction with Coaches. There were no other applications received.
• The issue re Under 8 T Ball remains unresolved. In a position paper last year Castle Hill made a number of suggestions for this coming season. A copy of the paper is included in the correspondence. The proposal was
  • The Under 8 competition to be conducted into two separate competitions - Under 8 and Under 7 and younger.
  • Under 8 would play to old rules remove the tagging rule and maintain three outs.
  • Under 7 would play on a reverse diamond , bat all batters to an even number, and remove the three out rule.
     
  • Without commenting on that particular proposal it is considered that wherever possible the Association should be looking at playing in geographical area wherever possible rather than by age groups. The cost of petrol cannot be ignored while-ever there are options to reduce travel.
• The Association needs to make up its mind whether it wishes to ‘fight’ the defection of Danny Smulders and Jesse Morales to Macathur. If it is to be raised then it must be done at Wednesday’s night JLSC meeting.

• The main issues discussed were the touring teams and the forthcoming Pan Pacific Tournament. The USA and Philippines have withdrawn.
• Associations were requested to nominate umpires who they consider capable of officiating in Pan Pacifics.
• The web site for the Pan Pacific Tournament is www.panpacificbaseball.org.au.
• There are trials for the Singapore team on 27 August. Details are on the NSWJBL web site.

• The use of the Kenko ball in representative baseball was beaten five votes to four. It is believed that not many Associations trialled the ball.
• The issue of Morales and Smulders being eligible to Macarthur was raised.
• A Chairman for the JLSC was sought – there were no volunteers from within the meeting. The meetings will be chaired by Mr. Willot.
• The big issue is that the structure of JLSC is wrong. Baseball NSW see it as a planning group. Associations want to address issues of concern to them.
• Mr. McDonald is trying to have a structure of umpires. Blamed Mrs. Barnier and Mr. Bramley for demise of Junior umpires.
• Mr. Schmidt resigned from JLSC where he acted on Rules Committee.
• An issue to be raised is that players not wishing to play representative baseball but be eligible for State selection.

• Statement of Financial Position tabled and accepted.
• Accounts for payment approved.
• $286 in bad debts to be written off this FY if further attempts to recover them are unsuccessful.

• Kings Langley - has commenced registrations. The club has its “Try Baseball” day this coming Sunday ( ) and the following Sunday.
• Carlingford - has conducted its two “Try Baseball:” days and had a good response with 55 players attending each day
• Kellyville - has picked up a “couple of extra teams”. The club conducted one “Try Baseball” day – 45 children attended. Another day will be held next week
• Hawkesbury - has an additional 20 players this season. Should result in an additional Under 8 team. It also has two Under 10 teams; an Under 11; two Under 14 and one Under 16 Oakville - has also “picked up” players this season
• Rouse Hill - have conducted two registration days and will conduct a “Try Baseball” next week. It appears that the club will be down in numbers in Under 8. May have two Under 10, an Under 12 and Under 14
• Winston Hills - has its final gradings scheduled for next weekend. Likely to have three Under 10, two Under 12, Under 12 T Ball and two Under 14 teams. Short of players in Under 16.
• Castle Hill - Registrations completed with 180 players registered in first round. Team grading commence this weekend.
• Mr. Schmidt advised that Hills Hawks have 10 players to be placed in teams. Mr. Richards advised that Castle Hill would register these players.

Representative Baseball:  Mrs. Fox enquired whether the dates of representative baseball are know. Baulkham Hills wish to nominate to host a round of representative baseball.

Mini Ball:  Mr. Blundell asked the cost of mini ball. Mr. Schmidt advised the cost was $59 per team. A pilot of the program will be conducted in Term 4 of this year on a Friday night. Mr. Blundell commented that the cost was more than Kings Langley charged players for registration.

New ground:  Mr. Yard enquired whether Rouse Hill has the use of the ground at Commercial Road. Mrs. Barone advised that there is some confusion with both Soccer and Cricket claiming that they have the ground. Despite this, Rouse Hill are confident that they will have use of the ground.

Posters:  Mr. Schmidt advised that the recruitment posters have been completed. They are to be used as a promotion to increase the sport’s profile and publicity. The posters are undated and timeless. The artwork cost us $200 which was excellent value.

Youth League:  Mr. Yard advised that an offer had been made to Cumberland to play across the Associations, however there was no guarantee that this will actually happen. Mr. Yard was concerned that not all clubs could field a Division One team – however must have some players with the ability to play at that level. The answer is in fielding composite teams.

• Mr. Petrone advised that Kellyville may have a Youth League team and would take ‘orphan’ players.
• Both Carlingford and Kings Langley advised that they would like to try to enter teams in their own right.
• Castle Hill have applied for an extension in the time that lighting can be used at Knights on Friday night. If the extension is approved, the game times will be 6.00pm and 8.00pm.

Advertising:  The opportunity arises o advertise in the local Fairfax newspapers in the Sports Directory section. It is a situation where you are dammed if you do and damned if you don’t. The time is wrong. The Association has cut back its advertising. It was resolved that we would advertise for T Ballers, taking advantage of paying for three weeks for four weeks advertisements.

Meeting Venue:  Mr. Yard complained about the constant double booking of the venue and the noise that the meeting was confronted with. It was his view that the Association consider altering the venue.

Dispensations:  Dispensations are to be considered at September meeting. It is assumed that all dispensations will be considered at this meeting.

Youth League coaches:  It was resolved that the coaches of the representative Under 16 team be E. Bray (Head Coach) and S. Tossell (Assistant Coach).

Under 8:  Mr. Yard drew attention to the proposal of Castle Hill re Under 8, which was submitted last season. The proposal was that Under 8 and Under 7 be split by age. Under 8 would mainatain three outs and remove tagging rule. Under 7 to play reverse baseball and bat all batters. Mr. Yard stated he believed we would retain players more if we could play at a central venue or at least on a geographic base. As an Association we are prepared to conduct a Conference with three outs – clubs are to advise teams that wish to play in that competition.

Representative trials:  Mr. Yard advised that there were two players in Under 14 that will be considered for selection even though they are not able to trial.