Dear Member,

There has been a lot of misrepresentation of the 2014 Game Fee Structure, vs Player Entry fee.  This is to be expected with change as people react with fear rather then fact.

Last years Player entry fee for Seniors was $12.50 and if as many as suggesting only five players play, it will now cost them each $20.  However, if 7 x athletes play, it will only cost them each $13.50.

So in fact, based upon average team numbers from 2013, there is only a $1 increase to each athlete, and balancing this is no spectator fee.

One of the biggest complaints about the Game Fee has been that teams struggle to get enough players to play.  I've witnessed this regularly, however, when I look at the amount of players who play week in week, plus those that turn up some times and not others, each team would in fact have over 8 - 10 players on their books.

It is not my place to tell clubs how they go about paying the game fee but one suggestion that has been put forward is that they see an opportunity to have each player wanting to play in Seniors to pay their game fee's up front, over instalments.

The benefit is that they will divide the game fee evenly and then if the player doesn't turn up or pulls out, they, the clubs, don't miss out.  In fact this option is favourable to some clubs as by having the fee paid in advance they can pay the game fee and if no one turns up the club doesn't end up getting a fine (if the club has paid the game fee then there will be no fine for not playing).  This clubs believes this options protects them better and takes away the need to be chasing up players last minute to avoid a fine.

However, these are the options available to the clubs, for the Association this decision was made to try and mainstream operations and to manage overheads more effectively.  We are not saying it isn't without risk but to do nothing would be negligent on the Management Committee's behalf, to act at least try's to find better ways to do things.

We want to trial it and see how it works, and if it doesn't then we will re-evaluate the situation and find more effective ways to manage the Associations affairs.

All we are asking is for the Clubs to recognise an opportunity and to assist us to the best of their ability to continue finding more effective and efficient ways to manage TBI.

Gil Napper
TBI President.