Basketball Pre-season Meeting Minutes

November 6 , 2008

1. Attendees
   Bonnie Erickson, George McDougall
   Danny Eveleigh, Springbank
   Debbie Crawford, Cochrane
   Erhayat, Ozcan, Chestermere
   Ian Ferguson, Bert Church
   Jacquie Mirtle, RVS
   Jamie McLellean, Cochrane
   Jeff Smith, Cochrane
   Jess Bower, Springbank
   Ken Payne, George McDougall
   Mike Sera, Bert Church
   Rob Wilson, Chestermere
   Ryan Haggarty, George McDougall
   Sam Wilson, Springbank
   Scott McCormick, George McDougall
   Shane Hansen, Beiseker
   Steve Hamliuk, Cochrane
   Steve Maclean, George McDougall
   
   Regrets: Bow Valley
   
   
2. Commissioner/Statistician
   Thank you to Mike Sera, from Bert Church, for working as commissioner and statistician this season. A special thanks goes to Mike for all his work on our schedules.
   
   
3. CBOA/FIBA Rules
   John Weiland could not make the meeting. CBOA rates are $38 per referee per game. Travel is $6 per game per referee.
   Reminder: It was agreed that coaches can decide whether or not the home team wants the bench to the left of the score clock as you're facing the gym (as per FIBA rules) or if the home team would prefer the right side.
   
   Update: The CBOA does not have a new FIBA Rules sheet for this season. If you have any rule questions, email them to John Weiland at makethecall@shaw.ca
   
   Update: Coaches wanted clarification regarding communicating with officials during the game. Here is a statement from the CBOA:
   
   " If the coach wants to communicate with the officials it is done through the captain. The captain can ask for an interpretation of a rule but can not question judgement. Both the official and the coach can communicate as long as it is in a respectful fashion. The officials should not be threatening in their manner and should provide short concise explanations.The coach can ask for an explanation based on a rule interpretation but the coach's judgement is not a basis for discussion. Any gestures or loud comments directed at the officials or their decisions are not acceptable."
   
   
4. Schedule
   Went over schedule changes.
   Updated schedules are posted on the web (click for link):
   JV Girls
   JV Boys
   Varsity Girls
   Varsity Boys
   Beiseker is not able to field a boys team this year so JV Girls will be playing single games against their girls. Shane Hansen has lined up a ref to do single games in Beiseker and we'll take our chances with booking a ref. Please note that the South Central Zone changed the date of the varsity all-star volleyball game so we have updated the schedules to accommodate this change.
   
   Procedure for rescheduling games: Coaches negotiate a new date - please don't cc me on this. All four teams in the double header must agree to the change. Coaches then inform their administrators. Principals then contact me with the final agreed upon date and I try to reschedule officials. I will confirm with coaches and principals when I'm able to reschedule the game.
   
   
5. Divisional Championships
   Divisional schedules are online. JV quarter final and semi finals games are played at the higher seed. Varsity quarter finals are played at the higher seed and semi finals are all played at Bow Valley. Bronze (junior) and gold medal games will be at Bow Valley.
   
   
6. Zone and Provincial Championships
   Zone and provincial championship schedules are online.
   
   
7. League Fees
   Fees were adjusted to reflect changes in schedules:
   Junior teams - $700*
   Senior teams - $630
   *Fees may be adjusted because Beisker is entering only a girls team. We will probably be paying more officials so I'm going to leave it as is for now.
   
   
8. Team Rosters
   ASAA registration deadline is Dec. 15. Deadline to add students is Feb. 15. Action: Coaches are to send rosters to Mike Sera and Jacquie Mirtle by November 30.
   
   
9. Scoring and Results
   Distributed ASAA score sheets.
   Action: Coaches (home and visiting) are to fax scoresheets to Mike Sera (948-7496) no later than 9:00 the next morning. Please also email the score to Jacquie so that the website can be updated in a timely manner.
   
   
10. Code of Conduct
    Action: Athletes, parents and coaches must sign Code of Conduct forms before the first league game or they are not eligible to participate. Principals are to send their declarations to the sports coordinator prior to the first league game.
    
    Reminder: Coaches and athletic directors are to ensure the following is communicated to all teacher and community coaches at their school. Coaches also discussed possibly mandating a mercy rule (i.e. no full-court press when there is a 40-point difference) but decided thatWhile we don't have a specific rule, in the spirit of sportsmanship it is up to individuals to make appropriate coaching decisions (i.e. pulling starters, not pressing) when their team is up by 40 points.
    
    
11. Awards
    Coaches have agreed to the following process (same as last year):
    a. Teams are to identify their Most Valuable Player. One player from each team will recieve a Team MVP Award.
    b. Those players are then put on a ballot, from which the league MVP is selected.
    c. Varsity teams will choose a girl and a boy for league Rookies of Year.
    b. Each team chooses one recipient for the Heart Award.
    c. Ten league all-stars will be chosen by coaches at the post-season meeting. There is no formula for how All-Star Awards are distributed throughout the league. It is possible (probable) that a Team MVP Award recipient will also be named an All-Star. It is also possible that a team will not have an all-star. The goal is to recognize the 10 best players in the league.
    
    It is the head coach's responsibility to be informed about the league, keep up with what is happening during the season, attend the post season meeting, and make an informed decision for all-stars and major award winners.
    
    Action: JM and Mike Sera to work on awards guidelines for the post-season meeting.
    
    
12. Banquet
    The banquet is scheduled for Tuesday, March 31 at Bow Valley.
    
    
13. Athletic Travel Form
    This is a new form and can be accessed by clicking on this link.
    
    
14. RVSA Coaching Resource Library
    Circulated new titles available in the RVSA Coaching Resources Library (click here to view).
    
    
15. Post-Season Meeting
    The post-season meeting is Tuesday, March 17 at 4:30.
    
    
16. Other
    JV teams are reminded that, for the first half of the season, they are required to play man-to-man defence. A half-court zone trap is permitted.