Over the last two weeks two ladies have spent significant hours of their life fixturing and preparing material for the final’s series.  Alison Romas and Sue Scott have worked up to six hours a day learning and unravelling the intricacies of the fixture process to try and create a fair and equitable situation for all.

They have been given guidelines developed over many years by previous committees extending back to the origins of the association.

Inevitably people and teams will feel aggrieved if their perceptions of a fair deal are not met.

This has been a trying period for the girls who effectively have had to learn on the job.

The EDJBA over many years has tried to be an association that acts on behalf of all to ensure the best outcomes for small and big clubs is realised.

When fixtures are done many factors are taken into account.

The factors set out below are some that are taken into account when allocating games to stadiums but there are others as well.

It is important that A Grade referees are scheduled on to A Grade games and this means that a run of games at this standard are held at a venue to ensure these referees have games consecutively rather than being rostered on at different times and places.

It has been a philosophical viewpoint that over the finals series each club gets as near as possible the same number of games to ensure the financial benefits is spread across the whole of the association.  This means that one week may see an excess of games at a club’s stadium/s with a lesser number of games the following week.

One of the aspects of EDJBA operations is the concept of compatibilities.  Coaches who have two or more teams can request that their games do not clash.  This creates a difficult fixturing situation but previous EDJBA executive committees have held up this philosophy as one worth continuing.

There are also special requests taken into account including weddings and other significant celebrations.

Sue and Alison have taken on a monumental task and I for one am glad they did because I do not think I could cope with the complexity of the work involved and the time commitment needed to put the program together. 

Should the member clubs see fit to change the system then over the next few months we will have time to address the issues raised by some.

It was decided at the AGM just held that the Executive would report back to clubs in a forum to be held in February 2012.  Primarily this forum will address constitutional change and the delivery of a financial update and budget.  However other topics can be added to the agenda if it is the clubs’ wishes.

My feeling is that at present we have a “caring” association that tries very hard to ensure the maximum number of players and coaches can play and a system where the financial outcomes are spread for the good of basketball across the wider community.

I trust that you agree with this philosophy.

Big V

Just when I thought I had covered all the Big V exploits for our member clubs Brian Kennedy, Nunawading Vikings President, wrote to me to advise me that their affiliated association, Blackburn Vikings, had their Division Two men’s team win their first VBL championship. Our congratulations go to all involved in this significant victory for the club.

In addition their girls were runners up in Division Two. Party time out Blackburn way!

I apologise to Brian and all at Nunawading/Blackburn for my omission.

Communication

If you have had anything to do with writing newsletters you will appreciate that feeling of sitting down in front of a computer and wondering where the inspiration will come from.

Brian made me think how valuable feedback like his is and therefore I invite you to send me any news about your club for publication.

Please send it to roncarlton@optusnet.com.au