Referees Sub-committee

At last Monday’s Executive meeting the proposal to form a referees’ sub-committee was debated.  It was determined that a committee be formed comprising eight people to be made up of five referees or people representing referees, one coach, one Executive member and Jo Chu as the convenor.

This is the first step in the formation of various committees whose role it will be to advise the Executive on actions required to improve the operation of the EDJBA. 

It is important to note that the sub-committee will not have the power to implement decisions seen as the responsibility of the Executive but rather to recommend lines of action to improve the standard of officiating across the association.

The formation of the sub-committee is another important step in creating opportunities for people outside the Executive to have a say in the operation of the association.

Big Fixture Day

Sue Scott is to be congratulated for organising her second big fixture day.  When you consider the complexity of the EDJBA fixture and the myriad tasks required to make the day run smoothly it is a credit to her and the support she gets from Alison Romas, David Bacon, John Morkham and all of the club’s volunteers. Jenni James and Genni Werninghaus did a sterling job typing up the fixtures.  This allowed fixtures for rounds nine to sixteen to be sent to clubs on Friday 8^th June.

One problem we encountered was the fact that more people attended than was anticipated.  Some clubs had more helpers than was invited which placed stress on the caterer Julie Spencer.  However this was a pleasant problem to have as it represents a willingness on the part of club volunteers to help out on the day making the task easier for everyone.

I would like to thank John Morkham who stepped in in my absence to represent the Executive.  His gesture was very much appreciated as was his help on the night before setting up with Sue and Alison.

Fines

John Matthews has been working diligently on a paper addressing an assessment of the fines in place in the EDJBA.  He has done a superb job in developing this paper which has had two airings at Executive level.

There are a number of infringements in the operation of the EDJBA where fines are handed down and John has been addressing these in his paper. 

The areas discussed have been:

1. Scoresheet infringements
• Coaches names not completed/illegible.
• One or more players’ names not completed or illegible.
• Team filled out under the wrong name.
   
2. Walkover fines

• Home team walkovers
• Away team walkovers 

3. Results and Scoresheet fines

• Failure to ensure results are faxed, emailed or uploaded by 11.00am Sunday.
• Failure to ensure that scoresheets are received at the EDJBA office or designated address by Tuesday (mailed or delivered). 

4. Administration forms

• Registration forms
• Venue availability forms
• Compat cards
• Team lists
• General administration forms. 

Fines are a punitive action to make miscreants comply to ensure the smooth running of what has become the biggest junior basketball association in Australia.  Nobody wants fines to be enacted but they have become a necessity to ensure all rules are complied with. 

John’s paper is a serious attempt to address the fining of clubs both from a point of view to making it fairer but also ensuring that fines do not become a serious financial burden for clubs.  Fines are not a major factor in the income of the EDJBA but are in place to ensure that rules are complied with.  John has already put in place a system in which the EDJBA collects the fines owing to clubs from walkovers and in effect acts as the bank to ensure fines are paid.

John is undertaking further work on his paper for presentation at a future Executive meeting.  We will keep you informed on the outcome of the discussion paper in future updates.

Until next week,

Happy Hoops

Ron Carlton

President