Meeting notes from the Club Chairman’s Group
CCA Offices, 23a Iversen Terrace
12 December 2005
Meeting opened at 5.30pm
Present
Michael Devine (Ricc),
Richard Niederer (OBC),
Bill Duncan (ECS),
Peter Crowhen (LPW),
Alan Jamieson (STA),
Brian Hastings (BWU),
Brian Adams (CCA President),
Richard Reid (CCA CE),
Doug McSweeney (CCA),
Trevor Luke (CCA Director),
Michael Pearcy (Syd) – arrived at 5.40pm,
John Durning (Mar) – arrived 5.50pm
Roger Georgieff (CSCA)
Apologies.
Cran Bull (CCA Director),
David Shackleton (CCA Chairman),
Mike Satterthwaite (CCA Director),
Peter Dow (ECS),
Brian Spear (OBC),
Gary Thompson (Pklnds)
1.0 Welcome
RR welcomed all in attendance. Richard advised that the meeting agenda had been previously circulated, and for those present without a copy additional copies have been provided. RR advised that food and beverage would be provided shortly.
2.0 Previous Meeting Notes (18/05/05)
RR moved that the meeting notes be approved as a true and accurate record.
Moved PC. Seconded AJ.
3.0 Matters Arising From Previous Meeting Notes (18/05/05)
RR asked if there were any matters arising, aside from those that will be covered under the agenda tonight, from the last meeting held on 18 April 2005.
Nil matters arising.
4.0 CCA Finance
I am pleased to report that we have been successful with our applications to various gaming machine trusts and are running in excess of the budgeted figure for 05/06. We are now at a stage where we do not have to put any further applications in for this financial year, except for capital items.
The debtors are very clean and all creditors are being paid on time.
We are now focused on achieving the budgeted marketing activities dollar amount.
We have changed the status of the loan from NZC (of $75,000) to that of a revolving credit line, which has been “re-paid”, we are hopeful that we will not have to draw on this during the season.
Trudy Anderson has been instrumental in achieving this turnaround thru her tireless efficiency in mastering the complexities of the gaming machine rules & regulations.
· RR advised the group that the CCA has done well out of gaming machine trusts over the first part of the financial year. Trudy Anderson has done an outstanding job in securing this funding.
· Likely breakeven position this financial year.
· Debtors current 5.8K (one debtor is 5K of this total). All current to 1 month.
· Creditors – all current, with 44K payable as at 1 December.
· NZC Loan of 75K. Has been repaid, and now exists as a revolving credit line.
5.0 Cricket Review 2006
As outlined in the CCA’s Strategic Plan we will be embarking on a significant review of club cricket.
The CSCA will be conducting their own internal review of the combined competitions, early in the New Year, and will be in a position to report back to their clubs (& the CCA) in mid-March. Following this information the CCA & the CSCA will look at the status of the combined competitions for the following season(s).
At the last Board meeting an initial overview of what will be reviewed was endorsed. This will commence in Jan 06.
Please find following a “starter” list of topics to be covered;
a) Analysis of all clubs (CCA & CSCA) within Christchurch over the last 5 years
· Playing numbers
· Playing success
· Financial status
· Women’s, secondary & junior cricket
· Coaching
· Grounds
· Pavilions
· Capital expenditure plan
· Business/strategic plan
· Club administration
b) Analysis of the number of cricket grounds
· Current usage
· Future usage
· Preparation of grounds
· Optimum number
Following this analysis an options paper is produced for the Board of the CCA (& the Executive of the CSCA) which would include;
· Future structure of cricket competitions
· Potential liaisons between clubs
· Most appropriate locations for the citing of clubs
· Administrative structure for clubs
· Liaison between secondary schools and clubs
· Financial ramifications
· Timelines
Clearly this is a collaborative exercise and we will be expecting your support in achieving an options paper which will help scope the parameters for club cricket in the foreseeable future.
CSCA are undertaking a review of clubs and current cricket competitions in March. The CCA will undertake a similar review starting in January, and Brian Adams will chair this review. The review to look at the current competition, but also include broader club cricket issues facing Christchurch Club Cricket.
In April 2006 the review committee will provide an options paper for the CSCA and the board of CCA.
The review committee will comprise 7/8 people. A key member of the group would be the person responsible for analysis of club financial information. RR asked the group for endorsement of Lindsay Sierra (Current Treasurer of STA) as a non-elected member of the review committee. AJ gave a brief background of Lindsay’s history with the STA CC. The group endorsed Lindsay Sierra’s nomination.
RR advised that the CCA will call for further nominations in the few days.
6.0 JADE Access Agreement and a new venue for Canterbury Cricket
Without going into intensive detail these two subjects are closely intertwined, there cannot be progress on one without the other.
As @ this point (12/12) we have yet to sign the MOU & the License agreement with Jade, albeit we are very close.
RR commented that the agreement was essentially a memo of understanding, and the protection of NZC access to JADE stadium in the future, for what in time will essentially be for ODI matches, with an alternative venue used for the majority of Test Match cricket.
MP comments that at the CCA AGM it was advised that a decision with regard to a new venue would be forthcoming… however there has been little information provided to stakeholders. RR replied that it has been a long and somewhat difficult negotiation process, however some ground has been made with all parties in the last few months, and a decision should not be far from being advised… RR added it is difficult to put a date on when the agreement will be signed…
BH commented that a Press article indicated that the CCC would not be contributing to any large-scale sports project in the immediate future, and this places cricket in a precarious position. RR commented that the Press misreported the intention of the CCC with regards to capital projects expenditure… no decisions have been made by the CCC.
7.0 Club Twenty20 Competition
Please can you come “armed” with your clubs point of view as to;
a) How the competition has worked this season?
b) What you would like to see instituted for next season?
RR asked for general feedback from the group on the success of the competition.
Syd: MP: Enjoyable
Ricc: MD: Good, however would like the CCA to take more responsibility for arranging fixtures
OBC: RN: Some difficulty fitting in the time to play the matches – Sunday play may be the solution
LPW: PC: Time to fit matches in has been a stretch. Should CCA set fixed dates? Also there needs to be some clarity re the use of secondary school players
BD: ECS: Positive – Players have enjoyed the format. Rules needs to be clarified.
AJ: STA: Windows are good. Positive response from players
JD: MAR: Club/players have struggled with the competition
BH: BWU: Comfortable with the competition format
RR advised that the CCA would look at what approach the other Major Associations took with regards to the competition, and making refinements for next season. CCA to look at making secondary school players mandatory in each club team. The CCA to look at offering a social grade next season – for afternoon grade players.
Twenty20 Domestic Cricket
RR commented that it’s likely that at domestic level the number of Twenty20 games will be increased… NZC have indicated that 5 games will be played in the 2006/2007 season. This compares to only 2 games in 2005/2006.
8.0 Player Transfers
As most of you will be aware there had been some “confusion” around a proposed “transfer” of Andrew Ellis between ECS & OBC.
The rules of the CCA are quite clear on this matter; it can’t be done once the season has started unless there are “special circumstances”. This topic has been referred to the CCAG to get their point of view.
In short, and without wishing to pre-empt the CCAG’s recommendation I would like to gather your thoughts on the following aspects of this subject.
How it would apply to;
a) CCA contracted players
b) Club cricketers
c) Should there be a differentiation?
This matter was brought to a head with a current contracted player looking to transfer clubs mid-season, however the CCA Club Handbook states that ‘special circumstances’ must exist for a transfer to be allowed by the CCA. RR commented that he would refer this matter to the CCAG for a recommendation, however the simple solution would be that CCA contracted players would need to nominate a club at the start of each season, this will be put forward as a recommendation to the CPA during the coming round of negotiations.
JD commented…What happens in club cricket currently? Players do transfer if subs are up to date… it is difficult to keep a player at a club who doesn’t want to be there. AJ commented that the CCA could set-up a window for transfers, possibly before the start of the season, as this may resolve the problems currently encountered. The group commented that when does the season start?? Club AGM’s may be the critical point in time.
9.0 Defaults – Club Cricket
I will be interested in hearing all of your point of view as to where things stand in ALL aspects of cricket within your club.
There are, still, far too many defaults for my liking in too many grades.
We have, as a group, discussed before the needs for clubs to accurately gauge the numbers of teams they are entering in the various grades.
Is this happening? Are we being accurate enough? Are there reasons which can be shared within the group as to why this is happening?
DM gave the group a summary of defaults over the season. There have been 26 defaults from 464 games to date: 5.6%.
MD commented that although teams are defaulted each week, there are also players who are surplus to requirements at clubs each week, and these players don’t get games – Riccarton was a case in point, with 4/5 surplus players each week. There needs to be a system for players who are surplus to be put into a player pool, and then recruited for a team or game each week. The pool could be managed by the listings on the CCA website.
The group requested that the CCA look at the implications of a player pool, and also the options of pool players being posted on the CCA Website.
10. Coaching Appointment – Dave Nosworthy
Most of you will now have met Dave, the new STATE Canterbury Wizards Coach.
I have been impressed with Dave’s commitment and work ethic. He has made an immediate impact on the Wizards squad.
Dave has been charged with, initially, two things to sort out during the 3-season term that he has been appointed to;
a) When the Black Caps are available, get the best out of them. In short, when they play if they play well, Canterbury will win something.
b) Identify those players who will make up the “next” team.
He is a good communicator and does not seem to be at all fazed in telling players where they stand, what is acceptable and what isn’t!
He has watched a lot of club cricket, been very approachable, has been well received and is enjoying himself.
Obviously how the Wizards play will be the acid test but their preparation can’t be faulted.
11. Trustees
This has been delayed for a couple of months however nominations will be sought, early in the New Year, for trustees.
12. Secondary School Review
BA gave the group an overview of the Secondary School Review recently undertaken. BA added that the review document had been ratified by the CCA Board pre-season, and the recommendation made were being implemented by the Youth Cricket Advisory Group and the CCA Management team.
13.0 CCA’s reply to NZC
Please find attached the CCA’s reply to a document sent out by NZC encouraging some “free thinking” around the state of the game in NZ.
This document was sent to all Major & Minor Associations.
As you can see there are seven areas that we have commented upon;
· The format of provincial cricket
· The development of elite players
· Increasing player numbers, with particular reference to secondary schools
· Club administration
· Finance, ensuring we maximise resources
· A more centralised marketing approach
· District Associations, where to from here?
One of the key recommendations, of the CCA Board, is the one titled; Secondary Schools…this will DIRECTLY impact on clubs.
At this stage I do not want to get bogged down in the detail of how this may work but I am very keen to get your initial thoughts.
As I state in the document it cannot simply be added to a list of “stuff” that clubs already do, something needs to “disappear” to allow this to happen.
As mentioned earlier this must be part of the review that will be undertaken in the first half of 2006.
14. General Business
14.1 Canterbury Women’s Team Tour to the UK – Richard Reid
RR gave the group an update of the planned tour of the Canterbury Women’s Team to the UK. He commented that the team has set about fundraising $75,000, and RR added that Trudy Anderson was coordinating the tour and the fundraising activities. RR added that a tour bank account has been established, and all fundraising will be separate to any CCA financial activities.
14.2 Sunday Play – Bill Duncan
Bill Duncan commented that the amount of Sunday play was putting a great deal of pressure on Clubs like East Christchurch Shirley, who are trying to put 5 morning grade teams on the park. It is getting more and more difficult to get players to commit to play every normal weekend Saturday, and even more difficult to get players to commit to Sunday play. Bill added that he makes these comments for the CCA’s consideration.
14.3 Umpires – Bill Duncan
Bill also made comment of the lack of umpires at club level. Again, Bill added that he makes this comment for the CCA’s consideration.