A description of the meeting, who was there, action items and the next meeting date.

Note: all minutes are marked “Draft” until official approved by the next committee meeting.

VPA ACTIVITY STANDARDS COMMITTEE
January 24 & 25, 2008
Middlebury Inn

Members Present: Bill Lawson, Frank Pecora, Cynthia Hinrichsen, D.G. Weaver, Shaun Pickett, Pam Arnold, Dan Marlow, Kathi Bierwirth, Bob Davis, Chris Hodsden, Bob Johnson

Also Present: Mike O’Day, Rob Black, Mary Stetson, Peter Evans, Lian McSweeny Ed McSweeny, Chris Keller, Suzanna Keller, Gary Marmer, Nate Isham

Minutes:

- motion by Dan, second by D.G., to accept minutes of 11/2/07. Vote – approved unanimously.

- discussion on school’s who have teams, but disband due to low numbers. What happens to the students who are left? Possible waiver/appeal to get on another team. Issue relates to declining enrollments in Vermont. Possible issues of recruitment if we allow students to join another team. What happens if this occurs after a season has started. There is nothing in writing giving any direction on this issue. Frank and Pam agreed to sit down with Bob J. to discuss the issue further.

- update on Bellows Falls Coach. Comments made after a semi-final field hockey game were inappropriate. Investigation conducted with recommended sanctions. Bellows Falls accept the report so no further action is needed.

- meeting with committee chairs Mike O’Day (football), Mary Stetson (field hockey) and Rob Black (softball) concerning how they approach divisional alignments. Each sport explained their procedures and criteria. No issues presented.

- update given on decisions by Appeals Committee. Discussion on the need for formalized training by Michael Marks for both ASC and Appeals Committee. Bob will talk with Michael about this. No further action.

- discussion on the issue of students being able to complete 4 consecutive years of eligibility in a 5 year period of time. This issue has been brought to the AD’s and they will have a formal response in April. We currently have a system that is working so do we want to change it. There is a balance between students/parents who may try to manipulate the system and those who wouldn’t. There is also the issue of decreasing enrollment vs. the needs of a student. AD information to be presented at next meeting.

- meeting with two Montpelier HS students to discuss making cross-country running purely a team sport so that it would be eligible for consideration under the Member to Member Program. Two students competed as Independents last year and would like to be a part of U-32’s team if possible. Discussion on the Member to Member Program and its criteria. Issues such as displacement, 20% rule and the program being available at the lowest level need to be considered. Issue was tabled until March 12th meeting. Bob J. is to go back and survey AD’s about their feelings and whether all teams sports that have an individual component should be included in the discussion.

- discussion on 2008-2009 proposed calendar. Winter dates have been moved back a week, however basketball will stay with the same time frame. Motion by Dan, second by Bob D., to accept 2008-2009 calendar as presented. Vote – approved unanimously.

- Bob J. gave an update on web casting plans for winter championships. VPA has entered an agreement with Northeast Sports Net to provide web casting services for various championship events. Possible idea is to invite Eric Berry to VSADA meeting to discuss possibilities.

- Bob J. gave an update that we will experiment with a link provided by League Minder that will connect to a schools homepage. Only downside is that a school must be using League Minder for this to work. Approx. 25 school currently use League Minder. The link would be on the VPA web page.

- presentation by Gary Marmer and Nate Isham concerning girl’s hockey in VT. Discussion on some of the issues. One concern is allowing girl’s to participate in two showcase events (Thanksgiving and Christmas). These events are where the majority of college recruiters go. VPA does allow students to go to showcase events in other sports (soccer and lacrosse). Other issue is allowing girl’s to be on two rosters at the same time. Hockey is the only sport that runs a non-school program during the hockey season. Could we consider a loyalty clause like the one in Mass.. Further discussion.

Motion by D.G., second by Chris, to allow girl’s to participate in two showcase events (Thanksgiving and Christmas) under a two year experimental program that would be evaluated every year. Vote – approved unanimously. Bob J. is to develop the proposal and to make sure the language includes experimental basis, reasons, objectives, evaluation component and scheduling conflict issues. This document would then be forwarded to the VHL for their April meeting and to the Executive Council for final approval.

Motion by Chris, second by Dan, to approve the formation of a VPA/US Hockey Committee to explore the issues currently facing girl’s hockey. Vote – approved unanimously. Committee will report back to ASC in Spring.

- ASC would like to meet with Michael Marks in the near future to discuss issues with Hardship request. Would like Michael to review written materials before the meeting to provide comment. Bob J. will talk with Michael about this.

- next meeting, March 12, 2008 2:30 p.m. @ Sheraton in South Burlington.