A Rare Act of Good Sportsmanship

On December the Third spectators at Eltham College witnessed a rare act of good sportsmanship when the coach of the Eltham Under 8 E4 girls team was in a contest with the Doncaster 1 team.

This was a B Grade competition and the Eltham team comprised girls aged six and seven.

Julia Temos is the coach of the Eltham team and at thirteen years of age is just embarking on her basketball career.  Last VJBL season she suited up for Eltham but this year is playing for Bulleen. To her credit she has stayed loyal to Eltham and coaches on Saturdays with the above mentioned team.

For some reason both Eltham and Doncaster players were late arriving for the game requiring both teams to start with only four players each.  Although Eltham’s fifth and sixth players arrived within a minute or two of the start of the game Doncaster’s did not and they were forced to play with only four players for the first fifteen minutes of the game. Without prompting or consulting with parents, and despite Eltham players being ready to play, Julia chose to play only four girls at a time until the rest of the Doncat’s players arrived.  For most of this fifteen minutes Doncaster was leading.  Ultimately Eltham ran out winners fifteen to twelve.  

I must say that Julia’s rare act of sportsmanship deserves recognition and therefore have made this the lead story in this week’s Weekly Update.  You would have to ask yourself how you would act in this circumstance bearing in mind that points were on offer for the victors.

There is a great deal of evidence to show that children of the age of the  Eltham and Doncaster teams play for the love of the game and the sharing of positive social experiences with friends and Julia has demonstrated through her actions a positive example for us all to follow.

Julia is to be congratulated and stands as an example of how we would like everyone acting in an official capacity in the EDJBA to approach their duties.

Well done Julia and good luck for the summer season, you deserve success.

Stories

The above story came to my attention through Jack Hunter, the parent of one of the players. His forwarding the story to me was in response to my requesting that similar stories be sent to me for publication.

I feel the need to bring stories like Julia’s to the notice of all participants in the EDJBA.  Please send any story you think might be worth publishing to me at roncarlton@optusnet.com.au

Constitution

The Constitution sub-committee met last night for the last time to finalise the draft constitution before it is presented to the clubs at a Special General Meeting in February.

The principles enunciated by the clubs have been addressed and the document has now encapsulated them.  It now requires a person with legal experience to read and translate the sub-committees efforts into the correct format to meet the Incorporations Act requirements. 

If there is a lawyer within the ranks of the EDJBA who would be willing to donate some of their valuable time to do this for us we would be very appreciative.

Please contact me at roncarlton@optusnet.com.au if you or someone you know can help.

Weekly Update – Christmas Break

Next Monday the Executive Committee meets for the last time for 2011.  Following the meeting the committee is entertaining a number of Life Members.  This will be an excellent opportunity to meet with people who have made significant contributions to the EDJBA and laid the ground work to enable the association to be as strong as it is.

The meeting will be a short but important one giving committee members a chance to be updated on the constitution deliberations, the applications for the Business Office Manager, the setting of dates for the Special General meeting and the Grading Forum along with the many operational issues that are ongoing.

On that basis next week will be the last of the Weekly Updates for 2011.  I therefore remind you if you have any stories you would like me to publish get them to me before next Friday.  

Happy Hoops

Ron Carlton

President