GEJFA Minutes From 06-03-03

[Maps] [Rules] [ Age Weight ] [Weigh-In Procedures] [Calendar] [Trading Post] [System Reps] [Code of Conduct] [Game Day Report]

Attendees: John Veentjer, Scott Shelton, Shawn O’Brien, Bob Goldberg, Bob Peterson, Ed Rafferty, Bill Kusulos, Bob Woods, Chris Garrod, Beckey Ranstrom, Duane Ranstrom, Steve Hansen, Neil Aguiling, Roger Moore, Donna Eken, Allen McDowell, Chuck Nichols, Dan Albaum, Gregg Meyers, Dave Schroeter, Randi Leggett

Absent: Paul Manjarrez (Knights), Sham Austin (Webmaster), Rick Wells (at large), Greg Pardee (Wolverines), Dan Pitzler (Steelers Black), Zach Hector (Woodinville), and Sam Adkins (Woodinville)

Call to Order at 1900

Introductions:
Email addresses were updated.

Web Pages- Everyone is encouraged to update websites. People are calling John and want to know how to register. This information should be on your web site. Be sure to reply to John by email if he asks for a reply to notify him his emails are getting to you. Old minutes were reviewed and approved. They are posted on the web site.

Review:
Calendar- Preliminary rosters are due JULY 1. They don’t have to be complete but we’re looking for team counts to spot preliminary problems. Email them to John as an Excel spread sheet.

WSP forms for all coaches are due July 1 and a blank form is included in the packets. Bob Petersen requests to be sure your system name is in the upper right hand corner and that you submit your system forms as a group. Please indicate also at what level the coach is coaching.

Home field dates and times are due July 1. John asks that you get as many Saturdays as possible to allow the scheduler flexibility. You can always cancel.
5-6 Saturdays would be helpful.

August 11 is the mandatory coaches meeting. Have every team have a representative. It will be held at BCC, rooms TBA. No guest speaker as yet- Dee Hawkes and Don James were proposed as possibilities.

8/12/03 is the first practice. None are allowed prior to that date.
Jamborees are held on 8/23 or 8/30- we will need dates for the 8/11 meeting- if you know you’re holding a jamboree, tell John ASAP. John proposed giving a list of experienced officials to the jamboree host to make arrangements (pay if necessary), and the GEJFA will assign the less experienced ones for training purposes. This will spread out the experience some. John suggested if your system is contemplating a jamboree for the first time, to contact one of the systems who have already done one.  (I’m not going to list those who have done them for fear of missing someone and offending them).

Referee fees and admin fees are due 9/2/03 at the council meeting. The Boys and Girls Club fees are due on 8/19- bring $13 for each player not already a member of a Boys and Girls Club. This will cover your liability and supplemental accident insurance.

Coaches Meeting:
There will be a Council meeting at BCC at 6PM on August 11- room TBD followed by a coaches meeting at 7:00PM. Room fees have tripled so Sophomore/JV will be in the Theater, Seniors in the Theater lobby and Varsity, Cubs and Rookies will have their own rooms. The men in charge of the various groups are Seniors- Ed Rafferty, Varsity- Greg Pardee, JV and Sophomores Chuck Nichols and Bill Kusulos, Cubs- Scott Shelton, and Rookies- Rick Wells.

Coaches’ exam- sample included in the packet. Discussion revolved around emphasizing the 12 points in the questions. General consensus was it was successful last year and it would be repeated this year at the clinic. Call John if you have any suggestions for other questions.

Scheduling:
Team Counts.  Preliminary team counts were given. Woodinville was missing. If you have a Saturday when you can’t get a field, please notify Shawn. 

Registration Tips- in packet- lots of tips listed to have a timely and efficient registration process.

Conferences- included in the packets.

Coaches:
Get your coaches forms in for the WSP ASAP to Bob Petersen. Encouraged recruiting coaches of solid character. John reviewed some poor behaviors of coaches in the Sporting Kid magazine.

Code of Conduct- in packet and on web site for downloading. All coaches need to sign it.

First Aid requirement- list the coach or the designated parent who is your trained first aid parent on your roster. Person must be on the roster to be on the field.

NFL/NFF Coaching Academy- held on 6-14 and 6-15- gives 16 hours of training and offers CE credit. There will be HS teams there for demonstration purposes. Coaches can register up to the day of the event but they need a head count 72 hours in advance for food. $40 fee covers the extensive handbook, CD ROM, clipboard, food etc. Encourage your coaches to register.

Players:
Age/Weight schedule, Player transfer, and Player waiver forms available on the web site. There will be a column added to the master roster form for transfers/ waivers.

Code for Living form in handout reviewed. Coaches encouraged to have kids read and sign it.

Officials:
Information for recruiting included in the packet. Need more experienced officials. Recruitment most successful one on one.

Winter Work:
Rules clarification. Handout outlining rules changes voted on last meeting was    reviewed

o       All coaches must sign code of conduct. Parent code of conduct strongly encouraged. Code for living recommended for players and coaches.

o       Sammamish HS belongs to the Bears.

o       Clarification- if you have a grandfathered player, his exception does not apply to a sibling new to football unless there is an approved transfer (year by year).

o       A full team constitutes 26 players, and then a wait list may be instituted.

o       Teams must be split in a “like manner”. When necessary to balance size of teams, it is easiest with a swing school. Teams must be split either geographically or with a draft, but using a draft is highly discouraged, seldom works and often creates disputes.

o       5 point waiver OK for moving up a level. Nobody may move down a level. Use of these waivers is discouraged and should only be used when it is the players choice and most appropriate for the player and the teams involved. Kids should play at the lowest possible level.

o       Practice sessions- four the first week, five the next two weeks. You get one “freebie” with the first jamboree but if you play in a second jamboree, you must give up a practice.

o       Gameball- each team may use its own ball subject to official’s approval. Proper size counts, but the markings are generally unimportant. Composite is OK.

o       Playing time- Review of “old” and “new” rules. In the “old” rules which applied to all levels under HS varsity, the clock started as soon as the ball was ready after a change of possession. New rules allow that clock starts at the snap after change of possession.  ALL GEJFA levels will play by the “new” HS clock rules.

o       Substitution Rules.  Substitution may be made after four legal plays. If a penalty is declined, it counts as a legal play; otherwise plays in which a penalty is assessed do not count as legal plays.

o       Clarification of the 32 point rule- if the clock becomes a running clock, it remains a running clock for the remainder of the game even if the team behind narrows the gap. John emphasized there are a lot of “good sport” ways to keep games within 32 points- teach the kids to play both sides, let the other team score, etc.

o       Tie games- there will be no shootouts unless teams are in playoff situation (competing for the last playoff spot).

Changes to the rules were moved, seconded and unanimously approved.

Winter Work:
 BTSE will do GEJFA Web Site - will not do system web sites. Various sites reviewed, some great, some need much work. Stressed links need to work both ways - to the system site and back to the GEJFA site. Schedules and standings will be on the GEJFA site. Should have it set up so that coaches fill out game reports, submit them through a system filters and then to the VP. Skyline, Issaquah and Inglemoor commended for their sites; there are other good sites as well.  Issaquah has a great “coaches’ corner” for coaches reporting that should be viewed.

Huskies- Inglemoor/Kirkland are looking into getting some pregame play time. Need to know by July 1.

Seahawks- John contacted Seahawks and will try to get two pregame dates for the Hawks.

Other Business:
Videotaping - universal acclaim for the excellent quality of the championship taping by John Holmes. Mark Hamilton was the announcer and will repeat this year. General consensus was to do the same thing this year.

BTSE community event – dates were mentioned but no handout is yet available.

Seahawks free Gatorade camp- July 9,10,11,14 in this area.  Flyer in handout.

New design in rookie helmets was demonstrated. Helmets are made by Schutt and have an internal chinstrap- non airtight are $37 and air bladder are $57- great for fitting those small rookie players.

Skyline brought up question of system board of directors insurance. Boys and Girls Club insurance covers during the season but if there is off season activity- fundraisers etc- you may not be covered. System liability coverage is recommended for year round protection.  One example mention of costs, $750/12 months for $1 million coverage.

Adjourn at about 8:30pm.
Next meeting:  August 11 (Monday), 6:00pm  @  Bellevue Community College