GEJFA Minutes From 06-08-04

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

ATTENDANCE: John Veentjer; Scott Shelton; Beckey Ranstrom (Secretary & Inglemoor); Shawn O’Brien (At Large); Rick Hensen for Bob Goldberg (Officials); Billie Hartline (Scheduler); Susanna Chung (Knights); Greg Pardee (Wolverines); Lisa Walker (Bothell); Bob Woods (Eastlake); Chris Garrod (Five Star); Beckey Ranstrom (Inglemoor); Rick Hansen and Steve Warren (Issaquah); Neil Aguiling (Kirkland B&G Club); Dan Pitzler (Kirkland LW); Meredith Cutting (Mercer Island); Allen McDowell (Redmond); Steve Cox (Skyline); Gregg Meyers and Dave Redemann (Wildcats); Louis Lee (Redwolves); Chuck Nichols (Univac); Jon Summers (Woodinville).

Not present:  Sham Austin (Webmaster); Bob Peterson (Bellevue B&G Club); Ed Rafferty (Bears); Roger Moore (Kirkland Juanita)  

Meeting called to order by John.

Introductions were done. People were encouraged to update their website addresses and contact information on the sign in sheet. Every system was represented except for one.

Websites: Systems were encouraged to update their websites. Send mail to Sham if you need assistance. Check your sites to ensure that the information is current.

Minutes of the last Council meeting (February 3, 2004) were emailed out and also handed out at this meeting.

Winter work:

Rules clarification only, no changes in the meaning of the rules. Motion to accept as revised, seconded and voted on; approved with none opposed; rules will now be posted on the website.

Sham is working on the GEJFA website and making some great changes behind the scenes. Please take a moment and check it out. Way to go Sham!

Huskies and Seahawks – Inglemoor is pursuing a Huskies pregame because they are next up; we will have only one Huskies pre-game. John V is working to get two Seahawks pre-games.

Calendar review – see handout

Breakout preparation meeting – Aug 2nd meeting at Bellevue Boys and Girls Club.

Roster review – Aug 2nd Bellevue Boys and Girls Club, all systems need to have at least one representative present.

Coaches meeting – Aug 16th -Attempting to get Coach Frosty, then Coach Don James, Coach Butch from Bellevue or Coach Tom from Bothell to speak at the coaches meeting. (yet to be determined). Same format as before – we are reducing the number of rooms to lower the cost: Rookies and Cubs will each be in a class room; Sophomores, JV and Varsity will all be in the theater, and Seniors will be in the theater lobby.

Breakout Speakers– Shawn O’Brien (Seniors), Greg Pardee (Varsity, JV, Sophomore), Scott Shelton (Cubs), Chuck Nichols (Rookies)

Coach’s Exam –see hand out - some discussion regarding handing out the test ahead of time and discussing the answers during the breakout session so the coaches can self grade and maybe better understand the answers; thus no other follow-up will be necessary.

A suggestion was made to hand out and discuss the age/weight chart at the breakouts.

Team counts – need team count by July 1. Would appear that the count is up from last year by quite a bit so far.

Referees/Officials – greatly needed due to team counts going up in almost every system. Please recruit. Suggestion was made to ask relatives/coworkers if they have ever thought of being a football referee. Each system is required to bring two new referees every season. Shawn is calling retired coaches to see if they would be willing to coach again and to see about getting college age kids to give back to the organization by coaching or becoming a referee. High School kids are good but we really need college age and adults as well, this provides different levels of experience. Referees need to be at the August meeting. Remember they do receive monies at the end of the season for being a referee.

Uniform colors – If you are changing colors, please email John. The home team is primary and the visiting team is contrasting. See handout for current colors.

Introduction of Billie Hartline from Inglemoor that is assisting with the scheduling.

Conferences/Divisions – see handout – a sample of what it may look like this year was handed out.

Shawn spoke about the Tournament for Nov 13 and Nov 14th – Shawn is working to get more exchanges for our Seniors. If you have a Senior that is a month or so over age please email Shawn so that the other Senior teams can review the circumstances and determine if this player can be made eligible to play.

Shawn and John have meeting on Tuesday to gather information about a Jamboree at the Seahawk Stadium on Oct 3rd, possibly for the Seniors. More to come on this issue.

All tournaments are subject to approval and generally are not recommended - see handout – you need to remember that rosters must be reviewed to ensure proper matchup; you would need to have insurance – Club won’t likely insure and so far too much money is being requested to play.

Our championship games are better than the ones in Vegas, this is the report of the folks that have gone.

Coach Selections – Be careful! Keep in mind that coaches who are abusive are not the only ones that should not be coaching but there are also coaches that are just not good with kids.

We encourage the use of the new Coach’s Application form which serves several purposes: provide coaching experience background for the System; provides information necessary for the Boys and Girls Club to do the background checks online; and provides certification that the Code of Conduct has been read - see handouts.

WSP forms needed only if you don’t use the new application – see handouts.

Code of conduct forms needed only if you don’t use the application – see handouts.

First Aid Requirement - Reminders – everyone on the playing field needs to be on the roster, includes ball boys/girls. Each team must have a first aid certified person on the sidelines as well as identified on the roster.

NFL/NFF Coaching Academy – see handout –$40, BBQ 8-5 on Sat 6/19.

Some discussion on Kids Sports Network, they are like NYSCA. John likes Athletes for a Better World and is working with them to do something similar.

Age/Weight Chart changes were discussed in detail with a drawing by Shawn. It is available by download from GEJFA website. Another point of clarification was noted – players with 21 age points or more can’t play Rookie.

Player transfers/waivers – available by downloading from GEJFA website. Transfers can be emailed between systems. However, waivers require signatures.

Rosters – Game and Master – download available.

Seahawk Camp – see handout.

NFL Flag Football – see handout

Council Meeting Attendance – there was a brief discussion following up on this subject from last meeting: since almost every system was represented and due to the time we tabled this discussion until next time.

Next Meeting is August 16, 6 pm @ Bellevue Community College