Committee Meeting

Monday 3rd March, 19:00 Kingswood School

Minutes

Present: Tim Graham (TG), Dudley Bartlett (DB), Pat Ost (PO), Sean Sutton (SS), Shelley Pike (SP), Mark Blackham (MB), Gordon Opie, (GO), Yeng Ping-Ng (YPN), Tim Sparkes (TS), Michelle Hares (MHa), Freddie Van Gerwen (FVG), Penny Bromley (PB).

Apologies: Phil Edmonds (PE), Alanna Rice (AR), Melanie Carosi (MC), Grant Sable (GS), Jon Kirby (JK), John Lippiat (JL)

1. Introduction From Chairman

The Chairman opened the meeting at 19:00.

2. Minutes Of Last Meeting

The minutes of the meeting on 13/1/03 were accepted as a true record

3. Matters arising

The Chairman informed the committee about the horrific injury sustained by Mike Horton in the previous weekends fixture. The committee voiced their support and well wishes to Mike and Kelly.

GO mentioned that the first aid kit at the fixture at which Mike was injured was inadequate. GO suggested that the kits should include instant ice packs, absorbent bandages and stick on stitches.

First aid courses are to be funded through the council using a successful grant application by MB. The finance was still to be realised and this was preventing the booking of courses. GO informed the committee that he knew of some courses that were value for money and shorter than those suggested by the council. GO to supply details to MB. <ACTION GO>

4. Team Reports

Men's 1st XI - GO - The teams form had been disappointing in the second half of the season due mainly to the loss of key players and availability problems following Christmas. This is always the case when the team uses so many students and a way to avoid needs to be investigated in the future.

Men's 2nd XI -DB - The seconds had lost the first game of the second half of the season but since then were undefeated. Although the team had lost key players to the 1st XI the team had managed to creep up to 5th in the league and could move into 4th place if they won their remaining. GO entered into the conversation to mention that the spirit, dedication and hard work shown by the 2nd team was almost entirely down to PE and that credit should be given to his efforts. PE's good influence had given the club a strong, successful and dependable Captain.

Men's 3rd XI - TG - The 3rd XI required only one point to secure promotion. The team are playing great hockey under Captain Matt Keeling.

Men's 4th XI - SS - Of their last 6 games since Christmas the team had managed not to win any although they are playing good hockey. Most defeats were to a single goal.

Men's 5th XI - TS - Relegation of the team is now out of their hands. Even with a win in the final match the team are relying on others losing. The team suffers from having too many junior players but the spirit and teamwork is good. This is a good level to blood younger players.

Ladies 1st XI - SP - The team are 6 points clear at the top of the league with 3 games remaining and with a far superior goal difference.

Ladies 2nd XI - MHa - The team have a +40 goal difference over all other teams. If they win this week against Mendip they will be promoted as league winners.

Ladies 3rd XI - PB - The team are in a comfortable mid table position which is good considering the number of juniors making up the ranks. The great spirit in the team was atributed to PB's leadership. PB informed the committee that she did not believe that there were currently enough players to make up a Ladies 4th XI.

Mixed XI - YPN - The team had won only 2 games this season due mainly to a lack of players. The team are to tour Worthing during the May Bank holiday.

5. Finance

TG standing in for FVG informed the committee that the Twinning Association had granted the Club £250 towards the forthcoming tour of Alkmaar, following a letter to them by MB.

TG brought to the attention of the committee that a great number of annual subscriptions were still outstanding, although following recent reminders to Captains this was being rectified.

MB told GO and the committee that the mens 2nd XI and indeed other male members of the Club had realised that the 1st XI players had for the second season, in the majority, not paid their annual subscriptions. Since the 1st XI had their own training sessions this year, whilst the majority of the Club were crammed into half a pitch on Tuesday evening, most club members were not happy with subsidising this. It was also noted that members that were thinking of leaving could be barred from playing in the local league until their debts had been cleared with the Club and MB would ensure that this rule is upheld. GO agreed that this sent out a bad message to the Club and assured the committee that he would speak to JL to ensure that all 1st XI players paid before the end of the season. <ACTION GO and JL>

TG took the floor and told the committee of his idea for a new form of payment of subscriptions. TG handed out a document outlining the scheme that would see annual subscriptions, weekly match fees, training fees and Club days paid for in one fee. This fee could be paid immediately or over instalments and would offer regular players a large discount over the current scheme. The new scheme would however require a great deal of work from MB and FVG in August to implement the system.

Members of the committee were asked to look through the document and note their thoughts for the next meeting. All agreed that the idea is good in principle. <ACTION ALL>

6. Umpiring

TG told the committee that the umpiring was working well. TS informed the Chairman that he had a large number of new younger players that may be interested in becoming an umpire. TG to ask TP for course dates to give to Captains. <ACTION TG AND TP>

It was suggested that junior matches would serve as a perfect training environment for new umpires.

7. Coaching

GO suggested that a coaching evening should be held to discuss the direction coaching should take in the Club. MB said that the recently advertised level 2 coaching course was initially met with much interest from 4 of the Club's coaches but the location and timing on the course meant that none could attend. GO suggested that he could run a bridging course for these coaches at KWD.

MB was asked by GO to write another letter to KWD, Jane Vine, in order to push for the early installation of the training lights. <ACTION MB>

8. Social Events

In the enforced absence of MH, MB gave the current Social Events situation. It was planned to arrange a summer party on the 21st June. The event would follow a barn dance theme with a band, barbecue and dance. The event would be the forum for a grand draw to raise funds for the Club.

MB has written to various companies asking for prizes. Tickets for the draw and the event would be available soon to ensure maximum publicity.

The next event is the Club Quiz to be held on Saturday 15th March. TG would be the quizmaster.

Club day would now be held on 5th April. MH and Kelly Nolan would not be available on the day so Glen Wright and YPN are stepping in to support MB and FVG.

9. Development

MB reiterated that the forthcoming grand draw was being organised by the development committee with the assistance of Kelly Nolan.

The first set of junior goalkeeping equipment has been purchased and given to Pat Ost but the council are still to make good their promise of financial support. The second set of goalkeeper's equipment has been ordered from John Moore Sports via the kit manager.

MB has been in contact with Bob Carlton-Porter of KWD. The school were hopeful of gaining their licence for the upper fields clubhouse and a small party would be held at the site for the founding organisations including City of Bath HC.

10. Summer League

The Bristol league AGM is to be held on the 24th March. The Chairman asked for a volunteer to attend the meeting in Almondsbury.

TS suggested that it would be possible to field 4 men's teams this year and agreed to investigate. Again the ladies would field 3 teams. <ACTION TS>

11. AGM

A tentative date set for the AGM will be Wednesday 14th May at the Sulis Club, but will be set at the next monthly meeting. Officer's positions will be discussed at this meeting but Captains were asked to ask for interested members in the next couple of weeks. <ACTION CAPTAINS>

SS indicated that he definitely would not stand for 4th team Captain this year.

12.Any Other Business

DB asked about the possibility of re-forming the 6th XI as a development squad. TS would speak to his team for a possible Captain. <ACTION TS>

13. Next Meeting

The next meeting will be held on 7th April at KWD.

The meeting was closed at 20:00