Minutes of a meeting of the Committee of the Bury and District Table Tennis League

 

Date: Monday 4 February 2008 Place: Seedfield Methodist Church Hall

 

Present: Keith Warrington, Frank Sheldon, Rodney Hall, Keith Butler, Andrew Webster, Ian McKenzie David Ternent

Apologies: Phil Herd, Graham Jeffries

In attendance: Joe Walk

 

1 Chairman

FS took the chair.

 

2 Matters Arising

a) Action: Has DT booked the Hilton Centre for the Championships? Yes

b) Action: Await reply from GJ about giving contact details to the L&CTTL. Assume done

c) Action: KB to develop the site on the new host. Next season

d) Action: KB, PH and KW to sort out changes to bank signatories. PH to action

e) Action: KW will circulate clubs and ask their views about end of season event.

Three replies received, all negative. Committee agreed not to proceed further.

f) Action: KW to notify Carlton about use of a reserve in the cup. Done

g) Action: KW to notify clubs about the qualifying date re cups. Done

h) Action: KW to chase final ETTA registration forms. Done (258 forms)

i) Action: PH to chase outstanding club fees and to levy fines. PH to action

j) Action: KB to talk to J Walk about Development role on committee. Done

 

3 Tournament Secretary – Championships

DT reported that the Hilton Centre was booked and he would arrange the draw etc with KW. He would sort out any remaining details such as buying more balls. He would also welcome help on the day.

Possible guests of honour for Finals Night were discussed.

Action: DT to issue an invitation

 

4 Match Secretary’s report

KW was interested in trying a different handicap method for next season. The current method was deemed to be potentially unfair as it took no account of the actual players, only the team. It was agreed that KW and KB would submit alternative proposals to the next meeting. One of these would be put to the AGM as a basis for the Macdonald and Poytress Cups. It was noted that the committee wished to retain these competitions in their current format, i.e. each includes more than one division.

Action: KB and KW to formulate a proposal

Andy Kaye had changed clubs.

The Cup finals would be held at St Philip’s and/or Seedfield if these were available, depending on the teams involved. Maccabi was also offered as a possibility.

Action: KW to arrange

 

5 Secretary’s report

Nothing to report

 

6 Treasurer’s report

Nothing to report in PH’s absence.

KB noted that payment for most of the handbook adverts had been received.

Action: KB to chase remaining ones

 

7 Bury Table Tennis Club developments

JW reported that he was awaiting the decision from Awards from All.

He also noted that he hoped to enter a school team into the League next season. Because of the age of the players and time restrictions at the venue he would prefer to play all matches at home and on two tables. The committee was agreeable to this in order to encourage younger players.

 

8 Possible changes to the season timetable and cup competitions etc.

See earlier item concerning cup competitions.

Points noted for consideration next season were: a one week later start and more teams in Division 5.

Action: KW to bear in mind

 

8 Sam Hilton bequest.

There were still no firm ideas for the use of this bequest. It was agreed that it must be separately identified in the Accounts so that it does not get absorbed into general funds.

Action: PH to do this when preparing the accounts

 

9 Rule and handbook changes

KB is maintaining a list. So far the possibilities were: formally adopt the ITTF list of allowable rubbers, require (or encourage) clubs to provide refreshments at all matches, handbook to emphasise that services must comply with ETTA rules.

Action: KB to maintain a list

There was discussion about the difficulty in enforcing correct services. It was recognised that some players regularly served illegally and gained an advantage from doing so. Their team mates had a responsibility to influence them to modify their action.

There is a potential for problems when clubs wish to use two tables in order to finish a match that is running late. The general view was that this possibility should be discussed at the start of a match and visitors should comply with this request whenever possible in order to avoid awarded games. Some objections might be overcome by allowing the away team to decide the order of play in these circumstances.

 

10 Liaison with other Leagues

There was no enthusiasm for a formal arrangement to be set up. Committee members would continue to liaise informally on an ad hoc basis.

 

11 Other business

KW will prepare a draft timetable for the period covering the end of this season to the start of the new.

 

11 Next meeting

Week beginning 17 March 2008. Action: KB to choose a date after consultation.