Minutes
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Call to order at 7:00pm
ATTENDANCE: John Veentjer; Beckey Ranstrom (VP); Billie Hartline (Scheduler and Inglemoor); Shawn OBrien (Senior Coordinator); Bob Goldberg (Officials Coordinator); Andy Main (Bellevue B&G Club); Greg Richardson and Rick Schroeder (Bears); Greg Pardee (Wolverines); Ron Walker (Bothell); Louis Lee (Cedarcrest); Billie Hartline and Duane Ranstrom (Inglemoor); Robert Reeves (Five Star); Dave Ciszewski (Issaquah); Doug Wozeniak, Craig Peterson, Tom Michajla (Kirkland); Donna Eken (Mercer Island); Michael Murphy (Mt Si); Tami Steckler (Redmond); Michael Burrus (Woodinville)
Systems not represented: Bainbridge Island, Eastlake; Kirkland; Knights; Shoreline/Univac; Skyline
Call to order
Introductions reminder to update regarding System Presidents and System Reps also ensure web site are updated.
Minutes of the last meeting if there are any comments send them to John; otherwise they will be posted as is.
Calendar review June 23 Seahawks/USA Football Coaching School 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.
System Fees Handed out the fee estimate sheet. There are essentially no changes. Fee due dates as indicated on the estimate sheet.
Quick review of each Systems registration status. Most Systems report numbers are up. Took preliminary team counts.
Reminders that the Age/Weight Chart, Player Transfer Form, Waiver Form, and Sample Roster forms are all available on the web site.
Brief discussion regarding System coordinated camps or other local camps need to be in a proper format so that they dont constitute a practice. Generally the camps should be open to all youth and structured in some way other than to bring together GEJFA teams. The best approach is to work with local high school coach to get a camp run by the HS with the HS players as the trainers.
Scheduling reminder to get team counts to Billie by July 1. Reformatting the schedule for the levels with 24 or more teams 7 game season with 16 teams entering the tournament bracket and the other teams entering a consolation bracket. All will still play 9 games. Winners in the tournament bracket proceed per the tournament schedule. Losers in game 8 will be matched against another loser for game 9. In the consolation bracket, teams will be matched woth other teams of like record for game 8 and then again for game 9.
Huskies pre-game Woodinville has lead on arranging. Seahawks John V will work with the Seahawks to arrange a pre-game.
The revised rules were emailed to everyone so they would have the rule revisions highlighted in color. The majority of changes were made to clarify the rules where questions/issues have previous been raised. Major change addressed the 7 game regular season and associated tournament brackets. Several questions were raised (1) Rule 1.C.(2) currently requires GEJFA Council approval for players to play at a higher level per the rule. This has been changed to require System approval and no GEJFA Council approval per the other conditions of the rule. Moved by Bellevue, seconded by Issaquah and passed unanimously. (2) Rule 1.C.(3) allows a player to be assigned by age points only to a level higher than the lowest level for which he/she is eligible by age-weight. This has previously only been covered on the Age/Weight Chart and has been added now to the rules. This provision is subject to the discretion of the System. The proposed language was altered to eliminate reference to the preceding paragraph which would have suggested that this option was available only to players who were within 5 points of the next higher level. (3) Question raised regarding proposed language under Grievance Committee as to what constituted perceived conflict. This could involve a Grievance Committee member who is also a coach, who might have no real conflict, but because he coaches at the same level as the coach before Grievance, particularly if that coaches team was on that Grievance Committee members schedule, could be perceived to have some bias. The propose language was accepted. (4) Rule 6.K.(4) requires all players, even those who are being disciplined, to play at least 12 plays in the game. Although this was questioned because this may mean the player really doesnt then get disciplined, no change was proposed.
Reminder regarding the proper selection of coaches this rest with the System. Coaching Application form should be used this serves three purposes, giving football or coaching experience to be considered; providing information and approval for a background check; and verification that the coach has read and understands the Code of Conduct. Coach training opportunities exist Seahawk/USA Football Coaching School (strongly endorsed), online course with ASEP which can be arranged with Bellevue Boys and Girls Club. All Systems are required to provide a written description of the form of training provided to their coaches and the degree of coverage. Coaches Meeting will be same format as last year. No guest speaker yet identified. Seeking coordinators for each level who would also serve to cover the break-out sessions. Question was asked do we want to try to focus more on the positive by having some form of coach recognition at the GEJFA level that might also be passed to National recognition programs such as NYSCA, or should we just encourage System level recognition. There was no strong feelings on this idea and no significant interest in pursuing this at the GEJFA level.
We need better accounting of volunteers beyond just the coaches. Please use the master volunteer roster (sample available) and submit with team rosters and update as needed. Background checks will be performed on all coaches and should also be performed on any other volunteer who has significant contact with the players. Failure to roster these volunteers and submit a background check form (can use the coaching application) would likely mean that these volunteers are not covered under the Boys and Girls Club insurance.
Please continue to recruit officials. We would like to have each System identify at least two new officials. We will try to get more PNFOA officials as well. Although the high school students are always welcome, more adults are preferred.
New meeting will be Tuesday, August 7, at 7:00PM at the Bellevue Boys and Girls Club and there is no Council meeting immediately preceding the All Coaches Meeting on August 13.
Adjourn