Middle School Sports Post-season Meeting Minutes

May 5, 2011

1. Attendees
   Brad Walls, Kathyrn
   Bruce Kaufman, WG Murdoch
   Chris Lowe, Muriel Clayton
   Craig Churchill, Banded Peak
   Darryl Zimmer, Prince of Peace
   Deb Clarke, Springbank
   Jacquie Mirtle, RVS
   Jamie Angus, Bearspaw
   Jason Nail, Meadowbrook
   Jeff Shaw, Ralph McCall
   Jordan Flower, Ralph McCall
   Judy O'Gorman, Westbrook
   Lawrence Lee, Mitford
   Lynn Ross, Chestermere Lake
   Marc Barber, Ecole Airdrie
   Michelle Byma, Langdon
   Mike MacMIllan, Manachaban
   Murray Besenski, RVS
   Pam Goll, Indus
   
   
2. Commissioners
   Track & Field - Marc Barber, Ecole Airdrie
   Volleyball - Lawrence Lee, Mitford
   Basketball - Jordan Flower, Ralph McCall
   Badminton - Lawrence Lee, Mitford
   Thank you!
   
   
3. Plug in Fees
   Action: JM to invoice schools immediately following the grade 6 soccer tournament. Action: Host schools are to check they've submitted all of their Host Reimbursement Claim forms.
   
   
4. Sports Supervisors
   Supervisors in most areas of the division are working out well. Mitford still has difficulty with coverage. Action: JM to consult with HR, and will also email schools newsletter ads in the fall.
   
   
5. 2010-11 Review by Sport
   Track and Field
   Holding our track meet at East Lake Athletic Park presents challenges, mostly due to the lack of equipment at the site. A moving company was hired to transport two sets of high jump equipment, tents were rented for information and results areas, and we had to bring out a generator to run a computer and printer. Also regarding equipment, the new timing system failed to live up to expectations. Action: JM to see if we can return the system. Some coaches further expressed concern over the safety of high jump equipment in general. While equipment saftey is a school issue, we could talk about it at the Parameters meeting.
   
   Other feedback regarding the meet:
   -3000m took too long
   -too many people on the infield
   -having to cut the 100m final was a disappointment
   -PA system is terrible
   -doing results outside is very difficult with computers and printers working against the elements
   
   Volleyball
   The Jr. A seeding tournament held on five courts at Genesis Place was generally well-received. Some thought the games were not long enough. Comments were made that "ping pong" volleyball is still a problem in our Jr. A league. Three hits should be the standard to which all teams hold themselves. The group brainstormed different five-team play-off draws and concluded that this year's draws were correct. All agreed that the ranking process needs to be refined.
   
   The Triple Ball format worked well for the first Jr. B tournament but game time slots need to be lengthened in order to accommodate triple ball.
   
   Basketball
   Commissioner Jordan Flower commented favourably on the seeding tournament at Genesis Place. In general it was well-received by coaches. The group brainstormed different five-team play-off draws and concluded that this year's draws were correct. All agreed that the ranking process needs to be refined.
   
   As for Jr. B, Jacquie is very grateful to Lynn Ross and Jordan for stepping up and scheduling all three tournaments in her absence, as well as for booking officials.
   
   Badminton
   No comments on badminton but we did review the seeding process and how we make up pools.
   
   Grade 6 Sports
   Coaches agreed that the Triple Ball format worked very well for Gr. 6 volleyball. Basketball tournaments were a success and there were no comments on Gr. 6 soccer.
   
   
6. 2011-12 Season
   Reviewed proposed MS Sports Calendar, made changes, and determined venues. Click here to view. The volleyball and basketball seeding tournament venues still need to be determined. Action: JM to look into booking the Volleydome and also whether or not we can use Bert Church again for basketball.
   
   Regarding seeding for Jr. A Volleyball and Basketball, ranking committees - consisting of coaches from each gender within 1A, 2A, 3A - will be struck at the pre-season meeting. We will also develop criteria for the ranking committee at the pre-season meeting.
   
   Lawrence Lee, Mitford, moved that, at the Jr. A Volleyball seeding tournament, we play two games to fifteen, with the highest total points winning the match. Marc Barber, Ecole Airdrie, seconded the motion. Rationale: Using total points to determine a winner is much fairer than using games won and lost given that the match length in the seeding tournament is limited to half an hour. Vote: 15 in favor, 1 against. Motion carried.
   
   Marc Barber moved that Jr. A Boys, henceforth and hereafter, play with a size 7 ball. Shane Hansen, Beiseker, seconded the motion. Rationale: At the 2005-06 season coaches voted in the following: "for the 2007 season, we increase the ball size of Jr. A boys to size 7. Jr. B boys, Jr. A girls and Jr. B girls would stay at size 6". The motion should not have contained 2007 as buying new balls for just one season is not practical. Using a size 7 ball for boys also brings our league in line with Calgary Minor Basketball. Vote: 9 in favour, 6 opposed, 1 abstained. Motion carried.
   
   Michelle Byma, Langdon, moved that we schedule the middle school divisional track and field meet to the spring. Rationale: Holding our meet in the spring would align with the standard track season. Lynn Ross, Chestermere Lake, seconded the motion. Vote: 3 in favour, 11 against, 1 abstained, 1 absent. Motion defeated.
   
   
7. Parameters
   June 7
   8:30 am
   Use the same sub code: 1-230-300-000-47. It is imperative that an administrator is at the meeting or your school doesn't get a vote.