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HomeMy Public PortalAboutP&RAC Minutes 1994 03/03RECREATION TASK FORCE MINUTES MARCH 3, 1994 L ROLL CALL AND CALL TO ORDER Chair Ware called the meeting to order at 7:10pm. Committee members Bixby, Thackery, Knowles, Elliot, Sprauge, and Bowker answered the roll call. Chair declared a quorum present. Also attending was Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee Chair Grote, and Director Baker. Grote thanked everyone for attending and stated that the youth of McCall are very important to the park board. Grote handed out a outline of suggested taskforce topics(attached), the original taskforce proposal/mission statement(attached), and a list of 1994 Recreation Program user fees(attachment). Grote informed the task force that she would like them to examine current problems, recommend actions to solve problems and recommendations on how to pay for any thing that needs funding. Ware introduced himself and stated that he has been in McCall since 1985 and has been involved with youth baseball and adult softball. Next Ware asked each taskforce member to state their name and any interests or involvement they have had with the recreation program. Ron Bowker informed taskforce that he has been involved with and has coached baseball, basketball, and soccer. Lolla Elliot stated she has coached soccer in the past, but is more interested in upper teen and adult recreation programs at this time. Bob Thackery informed committee that he is the high school varsity basketball coach and is interested in the sports progression from elementary to high school. Teresa Bixby said she has coached youth softball, and soccer in the past. Cheryle Knowles informed committee that she is the high school P.E. instructor and is concerned mainly with older teen recreation. Doug Sprague informed committee he has been involved with the youth basketball program and would just like to see the Recreation Program be all it can be. Ware explained that he had tried to get a blend or mix of people on the task force so all areas of the Recreation Program could be covered sufficiently. ILNEW BUSINESS 1. Youth Basketball Taskforce started out discussing the youth basketball program. Thackery informed committee that Wendel has a very successful Saturday morning elementary program which utilizes high-school students to do the coaching which gives the youth someone to look up to. Director informed taskforce that the gym is used on most Saturdays, in fact when he was doing a lease agreement for the just started fifth and sixth grade basketball program only two Saturdays were available during February, and March. Director informed committee Sundays were available. Members agreed Sunday is a bad day and the Recreation Program should not schedule activities on that day. Ware asked members if they felt sign-ups were being distributed soon enough prior to up coming programs. Director informed committee that in past years information/sign-up forms were distributed in the school two weeks prior to the start of a program Students would return the slips to the elementary office or to city hall. Next youngsters would attend two or three days of clinics, then be placed on team. Director informed committee that he felt this system was no longer working due to overcrowded clinics. Starting with the 1993 Fall Soccer season, Director started using a new format where announcements go out on a Wednesday, Sign-up day is held the following Monday from 3-6pm, a coaches meeting is held on Tuesday evening and basketball practice starts on the following Monday. At the first practice coaches are given balls and season schedules. Director however, informed committee that he felt this method was also not working because only about 50 out of 80 youths were being enrolled on sign-up day causing approximately 30 late registrations. Late registrations have resulted in overcrowded teams, and general confusion as to who is on what team during the first week of practice. Members discussed other possible methods of sign-ups and times and all agreed the following format should be tried. 1. Sign-ups are distributed. 2. A mandatory coaches meeting/clinic is held one week later. 3. Sign up day is conducted during a week day evening(5:30pm to 8:30pm). 4. Coaches receive their teams and schedules the following week. NOTE: First team rosters developed should be small, therefore late sign-ups could be moved onto teams without overcrowding them. Next members discussed thc policy of every player playing one half of each basketball game. Members felt the scorekeeper should try and keep track of how long each player is in thc game and remind coaches when youngsters are not getting enough play time during quarter or half time breaks. 2. Coaches Meetings/Clinics. Members discussed the fact that many volunteer coaches are not qualified to be coaching and that there is a need for coaches clinics. Members felt that once a year, a general coaches clinic should be held to certify volunteers. In addition, a sport specific clinic should be held just prior to each season covering drills, rules, and coaches accountability. Members felt that coaches should be required to sign a statement saying what the Recreation Program expects from its coaches, for example, they will not drink alcohol prior to games or practices, they will not swear, and a sportsman like attitude will be portrayed at all times. Ware asked director to draft a statement to be considered at the next meeting. Bob Thackery stated that he is certified to run coaches clinics, and would be willing to conduct one prior to the start of the summer sports season. Members felt all coaches, scorekeepers, concessions stand people, and people from communities we compete with should attend. At this point the topic of who should monitor umpires, coaches, and parents came up. Members felt the director should not have to attend all games and practices, but someone need to monitor the activities. Sprague felt there should be a funded or volunteer city representative that monitors games. 3. Spring Soccer. Doug Sprauge felt safety was a big concern with indoor soccer, and felt all participants should be required to wear shine guards. Members discussed who should supply shin guards and all agreed youngsters should supply their own, but the Recreation Program should have some on hand for when they are forgotten or families cannot afford to purchase them. Chair directed staff to place, fees and requirements for people who cannot afford to participate on another meeting agenda. After discussion members all felt that no real problems exist with the Indoor Soccer season, so it does not need to be fixed. 4. Youth BasebalUSoftball Committee discussed the new formatting proposed by director(attached) and felt it would be a lot better than waiting for McCall ball fields to dry out and be playable, but would rather wait till the week after spring break to distribute sign-ups and hold coaches clinics. After discussion members felt sign- ups should be distributed April 4, 1994 with a coaches meeting/clinic being held on April 11 & 12, 1994 and sign-up day should be held April 18, 1994. Director agreed to follow these dates. Director also stated he would contact Mr. Don Atkinson, McCall's Amateur Softball Association District Commissioner to see if he could help conduct the meeting or set another date to hold a umpires/coaches/scorekeepers clinic separate from the coaches meeting/clinic. 111. NEXT MEETING Next regular Recreation Taskforce meeting set for Thursday, March 10, 1994 - 7:00pm in the McCall City Hall upstairs conference room. Sincerely, Jim Ware Chair.