Minutes
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Call to order at 7:00pm
ATTENDANCE: John Veentjer; Beckey Ranstrom (VP); Joe Morgan (VP); Billie Hartline (Scheduler and Inglemoor); Randy Wilkens (Bellevue B&G Club); Greg Richardson (Bears); Tom Louis (Knights); Hugh Gladner (Wolverines); Ron Walker (Bothell); Greg Brink (Bainbridge Island); Billie Hartline and Duane Ranstrom (Inglemoor); Marlow Green (Issaquah); Donna Eken (Mercer Island); Michael Murphy (Mt Si); Tami Steckler (Redmond); John Nelson (Shoreline/Univac); Jim Sypher (Skyline); Michael Burrus (Woodinville)
Systems not represented: Cedarcrest; Eastlake; Five Star; Kirkland
Call to order
Introductions – reminder to update regarding System Presidents and System Reps – also ensure web site are updated.
Minutes of the last meeting (attached) – if there are any comments send them to John.
Calendar review … June 5 – Next Council meeting … July 1 – Team Count, home game dates and times due … August 1 – Preliminary Master Roster for review due … August 7 – Council Meeting … August 13 – All Coaches Meeting at BCC … August 14 – First practice
Background checks – Boys and Girls Club will continue to do the checks, however, we need the Systems to prescreen the background check information for completeness … ensure Coaching Application has System on it (top right corner) … We need to do background checks on each and every coach and any other volunteer who has contact with the players … To be covered by the Club insurance, all coaches and other volunteers must be rostered … Systems must ensure that when they turn in the background check forms (hopefully everyone is now using the GEJFA Coach Application); this will streamline the handling of problems that the Club encounters … these forms need to be turned in not later than August 1 with the Preliminary Rosters … forms for coaches added later are to be turned in promptly to the Club. A review of the background checks against rosters will be done much earlier this year.
Coach Training … USA Football Coach School – June 23 at Qwest Field … other coach training available such as Glazier Clinic, ASEP On-line, NYSCA On-line, other alternatives
Grievance Committee procedures … will ensure that the Grievance Committee membership is comprised only of System representatives which can include System designated individuals … asked for interest in forming a committee to address equity of punishment.
Officials … Each System needs to recruitment two new officials; young officials are welcome, but need more adults.
Rule Review
● Held brief discussion of Age/Weight Chart. Although there had been comments indicating a desire to make some changes, none have been introduced. The Age/Weight Chart stands as is.
● Council membership is appropriate stated in the current rules and no changes are needed. There are 17 System votes and 3 Athletic Director votes. However, a quorum is based only on the 17 Systems and not Athletic Director needs be present. The elected officials have no vote unless also serving as a System Representative. The GEJFA President has a vote only to break ties.
● Game schedule – A motion was made (Woodinville) and seconded (Skyline) to have a 7 game regular season for those levels that have 24 or more teams. All teams will still have 9 games. The top 16 teams will move into a playoff bracket and all other teams will form a separate bracket to play matchup games for two weeks. Teams in the playoff bracket that lose in the first round will play a matchup game against other losing teams in the playoff bracket. There will still be two conferences and two divisions within each of those conferences. The vote was in favor – 8 to 5.
● Boundary enforcement – A motion was made (Inglemoor) and seconded (Woodinville) that transfers from outside the boundaries of a System will not be accepted until players living within the boundaries of that System have been accommodated up to some System established date (e.g., usually after open registrations have been completed). In discussion, some System indicated that would be June 1, others indicated it might be as early as May 1. The importance of boundary enforcement was emphasized, however, this was not part of the motion nor something on which we voted. The vote on this motion was in favor – 12 to 1. Also, Systems are reminded that they cannot turn players away or wait list them until their teams are full with at least 26 players.
● 32 point rule – A motion was made (Bears) and seconded (Bothell) that this rule would be changed/clarified to require that no team shall lead by more than 32 points over another team at anytime during the game. Vote in favor – 13 to 0. Discussion also included establishing break points at half and requirements that not should starting offenses on a dominate team be rearranged in a big lead, but also should the starting defense. These are items for which Systems need time to consider and could if appropriate be raised at the next Council meeting.
● Detachable cleats – no motion to change the rule. Detachable cleats are still not permitted in our program. At the February Council meeting we asked that Systems check with their home HS regarding the acceptance of detachable cleats. The NFHS Rules allow detachable cleats to specification and the WIAA Guidelines allow subject to the HS policy. Since some high schools still do not allow detachable cleats on their artificial turf, a clear and uniform standard in our program is necessary. Thus, NO REMOVABLE CLEATS. Warn your players/parents early.
Next meeting: June 5th (Tuesday) 7:00pm @ Bellevue Boys and Girls Club
Adjourn