LKA competitions meeting – 10/1/15

Apologies: Bromley, Woking

Absent: Trojans

Present: Lol More (Chair of meeting, LKA/Nomads), Karen Palfreyman (LKA), Sally More (LKA/Nomads), Darryl Light (LKA/Highbury), Mark Paxton (LKA/Supernova),Rich Hayward (Highbury), Swaraj Thancanamootoo (Bec), Eiti Stein (Supernova), Liam Clarke (Mitcham), Kitman Wong (Mitcham),Steve Wright (Croydon), Ben Walsh (Croydon/Swans)

  1. Minutes
  • Minutes from the previous meeting agreed
  1. Fixtures so far in senior indoor leagues for 2014/15
  • LC - the fixtures are complicated to put together so some gaps had arisen for teams but altogether good
  • LM - unfortunate that Nomads 6 had to withdraw from the league
  • RH – Highbury 4 struggled to get involved last season but now fully integrated into the league with regular players
  • Croydon – All matches played?
  • SM – All fixtures have been played (no cancellations) but some games in LKA 3 have been development games
  • SM – Promo league feedback?
  • RH – Good – Stepping stone to national league with tougher teams and more stringent rules
  • Croydon – Same
  • LM – How are Swans / Bec Youth getting along?
  • ST/Croydon – Fine so far
  • RH – How does registration work?
  • LM – Cannot move between teams in one week (treated as part of Bec / Croydon, but as “club within club” )
  • DL – LKA 2/3 split league structure has seen less big margin wins than previous years. New format making level of competition stronger.
  • SM – Good feedback from players on LKA 2 format
  • ST – LKA 3 play off this year?
  • SM – confirmed this will take place on 29th March
  1. Referees issues including assigning referees in LRL,qualifications of referees, refereeing in lower divisions and discipline
  • LM – ES has recently been assessed and passed. Luke James of Croydon has missed two commitments (Croydon not aware and will look into).
  • LP – Dwindling pool of referees and not enough new blood stepping up
  • (LIST OF REFEREES HANDED OUT)
  • LM – The key is moving Qualified to Regional. This is easier at RR/Epsom as likely to be assessors around.
  • LC – Need referees and need to encourage people to referee. Need to sell the benefits and make people aware how/why
  • LM – People need to be aware of assessors at games
  • DL – Not many female referees on the list.
  • DL – Discipline seems to have improved after emails about respect etc.
  • RH – Good and new players seeing the respect given to refs
  1. Proposal from KKA regarding regional league
  • LM – Kent want to join LRL
  • LC – Could restructure LRL to admit Kent teams
  • DL – Promo leagues already do this (Mix LRL and SERL teams)
  • LC – For Highbury and Croydon. Supernova/Mitcham don’t have this. Maybe another competition?
  • Croydon –Kent previously wanted to be in London but also Norwich and Cambridge too
  • ES – Travel issues to venues and difficulty for lower teams if higher team away (coaches/refs etc.)
  • Voted against KKA joining LRL
  1. Junior competitions 2014/15
  • LM – Anna Jeanes running – One issue with double booking at a hall
  • MP – Issues with fixtures not widely known. More publicity around junior competitions required (Twitter/FB etc.)
  1. National Youth Day – 28/6/15 –Club Langley
  • LM – Clubs need to help with equipment/referees/admin
  • LC – Did the LKA clubs agree to help with day?
  • ST – Remembers discussion but no formal vote
  • LC – Hard to ask for volunteers without agreement of clubs
  • SM – Most EKA events done in same location for 2 years as logistics already arranged
  • Meeting agreed to help and try to provide volunteers
  • ST – Good publicity for LKA and helps with development
  • RH – Highbury didn’t help much last year as away in Portugal – Not as invested as no youth team
  • KP – LKA need all clubs to help. Good opportunity to get refs assessed too
  • Swans – Clubs need to muck in and help each other in order to boost recruitment
  • Croydon – Good way to introduce people to refereeing in low pressure environment
  • SM – NYD 2016 unlikely to be LKA
  1. Inter areas
  • KP – Doing senior (ST coaching) and junior (all age groups). Issue with finding training time.
  • 22/2/15 – Senior inter area in Bristol
  • LC – Good to foster LKA spirit
  • SM - Inter areas will likely be after the regular season next year.
  • LKA need to provide referees for Junior Inter-Area
  1. Balham
  • LC – Booked again. Similar format to last year. Also Clapham Common again – Either similar format or mini tournaments
  • ES – Companies tournament unlikely to occur this year (Cannot find sponsors)
  1. LKA endorsement for National League teams (Premier and Promo Divisions)
  • SM –Endorsement of LKA teams fine (LIST OF REQUIRED COMMITTEE POSITIONS)
  • RH – Roles on committee limited – Enough for each club?
  • MP – Could create publicity role. Happy for more help on LKA
  • KP – Plenty of positions available (discuss at LKA AGM – 9/5/15 after next competition meeting on same date)
  1. LKA competition principles
  • LC – Outlined the document provided
  • ES – Difficult to organise league over summer
  • LP – Could organise a casual summer league
  • JC – Arranging fixtures difficult as clubs book only the hall time they require (no flexibility)
  • KP – Halls are expensive (some players are put off by costs)
  • ES – may be useful to borrow other clubs players (for lower teams)
  • LC – Difficulties in organising league (long period) maybe reduce season length next year (not from Oct – Apr) and utilise more central venues?
  • Croydon – Clubs like home games – Atmosphere and support
  • RH – Midweek games are done in other leagues (some can arrange their fixtures)
  • Swans – A central venue would be great but we like the home support
  • ES – Keep leagues the same and utilise MGV for new players
  • KP – Maybe Highbury and Mitcham could work together to organise additional fixtures given lack of post Xmas fixtures
  • LC – Bec 3 had to be relegated last season despite wanting to stay in LRL
  • SM – Done to ensure fixtures reasonable (too many otherwise)
  1. AOB
  • Croydon – Steve Wright volunteered to accredit shot clock operators for away teams when they visit Royal Russell
  • ST – Bec 3 looking for a coach
  • 12. Date of next meeting was agreed to be 9th May 2015, prior to the LKA AGM on the same date.