ENGLISH LACROSSE ASSOCIATION LTD

MEN'S PLAYING COMMITTEE

Minutes of a Men's Playing Committee meeting held on Tuesday 18th September 2012 at the ELA Head Office, National Cycling Centre, Stuart Street, Manchester M11 4DQ

Present:Eddie Owen – Chair

R. Balls, G. Caplin, P. Davidson, D. Elwood, E. Hodgson, A. Holdsworth, R. Gartside, J. Sharples,

D. Shuttleworth

1)Confirm Agenda

Confirmed

2)Apologies for Absence

Apologies for Absence had been received from C. Dale, K. Haves and M. Nugent

3)Minutes of last Meeting (22nd May 2012)

Approved subject to addition of Karen Robinson's name as representative for Cheshire in the absence of John Sharples

and correction to John Adshead's surname.

4)Matters Arising, not covered by Agenda Items

None

5)Committee Chair Appointments/Confirmation of Representatives

Appointments and confirmation of Representatives were as follows:

Eddie OwenChair (elected at ELA AGM)

Ron BallsHon. Sec./Finance (elected at MPC AGM)

Liz HodgsonHon. Minutes Sec. (elected at MPC AGM)

Committee Chairs to be confirmed.

National Squads:Greg Caplin (Appointed by MPC and confirmed)

Referees and Rules:Peter Davidson (Appointed by MPC and confirmed)

Special Events:Ken Haves Appointed by MPC and confirmed)

Junior and Schools:Rick Summers had resigned as Chair and no nominee at moment.

League Representatives – Appointed and elected by LN

League North:Matthew Nugent (confirmed)

League South:Sam Spurrell (subsequently advised)

Territorial Representatives – Appointed and elected by Territory

Cheshire:John Sharples - to continue until decision on proposed new North West Region

Lancashire:Richard Gartside – to continue until decision on proposed new North West Region

South of England: Sam Spurrell (subsequently advised)

Yorkshire:Chris Dale (Confirmed)

Universities:No appointment made at this time.

Ex-Officio

David Shuttleworth, Dave Coldwell, Dave Elwood, Alan Holdsworth

A discussion took place on the role of Junior and Schools and it was suggested that at national level it become a sub -committee of the Strategy Implementation and Development Committee (S&I)

At regional level, Youth Lacrosse in the North be placed under NEMLA, after discussion the following proposals were made:

a) MPC nominate Doug Martin as Chair of Junior & Schools Committee.

b) Junior & Schools Committee be under NEMLA responsibilities.

All in agreement.

6)National Squads

European Championships 2012:

Reports from Senior Head Coach and Manager and Dave Elwood are in hand.

Interviews with players, staff and all involved included.

Accounts are also in hand.

2014 Denver – Meeting asked to endorse Matthew Nugent as Manager of Senior Squad for next World Series.

All agreed

Matthew Bagley had been appointed as Head Coach up to 2012. The position of Head Coach to be

advertised and selection procedures to be carried out. Matt had expressed interest in continuing if selected.

Elite Performance committee has change of Chair to Hamish McGuiness.

Necessary to have a men and women development strategy for Sport England funding to 2017. Bid made and awaiting outcome, probably December.

Academy continuing as before in the meantime.

Dave Elwood reported that Academy teams had competed during the summer, Under 17 3 games Under 19 2 games

Under 15 had played against the Metro touring team.

Academy to start again in October.

Overall positive activity but the high rate of penalties in for England in the Europeans need addressing.

The meeting offered their congratulations to the success of all teams.

7)Report back from FIL/ELF Meetings

Ron Balls gave his report which is attached to these Minutes

8)European Club Championship (Ken Galluccio Cup)

It was felt that this event was badly organised and that the costs were too high.

Suggestions included:

Competition could possibly be every 2 years.

England to have one team competing and if organising committee wanted another team , they could fund it.

England to send No1 team, winner of the Wilkinson Sword.

Bids should be in a transparent and timely manner.

9)Proposed Rule Changes

Peter Davidson reported that Referees and Rules had reviewed the rules changes from the FIL General Assembly

and has made recommendation to this Committee regarding the adoption of these rules by ELA.

The question of compulsory use of mouth guards was discussed. National Squads will have to used them.

Once a date for implementations of rules decided referees and officials to be retrained.

BUCS already use FIL Rules

MPC to put to membership for recommendation

Recommended mandatory by 1st September 2015 for all players.

10)Geographic Structure/Representation

Discussion on the proposed combining of CCLA and LCLA into a North West Lacrosse Association.

Richard Gartside reported that Lancashire had made this suggestion and were to write to the Cheshire Clubs for their input and to arrange a meeting for these clubs.

Lancashire were concerned to know what the role of the NW Region would be.

These concerns to be taken to the Forum meeting on 11th October 2012.

11)Junior Programme

Proposals on this from Junior & Schools, and National Youth Committee and professional staff to be prepared.

12)MPC Finance

Ron Balls distributed the Finance Report and explained that there would be more details at the next meeting when the accounts had been presented from the U19 and European Championships, also reports from the Managers.

13)Whole Sports Plan 2013-2017

David Shuttleworth gave a brief update on the funding position and plan for next 4 years.

Review and Assessment successful.

Have to produce 12 month delivery plan.

14)Committee Reports

Referees & Rules:Peter Davidson had circulated his report prior to the meeting. Apart from the FIL Rule Changes the report included the new committee members and their roles. He also recorded

his thanks to Graham Lester and Paul Chatterton for their work as they were stepping down.

He also thanked the referees who officiated in Amsterdam and Turku.

Ron congratulated Peter on officiating the Gold Medal Game.

Discussion on the home and away referee situation, there were a lot of unanswered questions as to how this was to be implemented by R & R. What is the definition of a competent/qualified referee. Letter from NEMLA unconstitutional, these issues to be clarified.

Other reports were unable to be presented due to time constraints.

Meeting closed with a vote of thanks to the chair at 10.10pm

Next meeting: Tuesday 13th November 2012 at 7.00pm