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Minutes from the Fall Softcourt meeting Women’s Softcourt Tennis League Fall 2008 Meeting Riverchase Country Club August 20, 2008 The following clubs had representatives at the meeting: Altadena Valley Country Club Aniston Country Club Birmingham Country Club Brook Highland Racquet Club Greystone Country Club Greystone YMCA Heatherwood Country Club Highland Park Racquet Club Hoover Country Club Inverness Country Club Mountain Brook Club Mountain Brook YMCA Old Overton Club Pelham Racquet Club Trussville Racquet Club Trussville YMCA Pine Tree Country Club Riverchase Country Club The meeting was called to order by Women’s Softcourt League president, Susan Filippini at 9:45am. She introduced the officers and level coordinators. Secretary, Christine Denniston, called roll and handed out Softcourt directories. She asked that club representatives correct information for players at their clubs and return them to her by October 15, 2008. Email addresses may be added. Vice-president, Lacy Sparks made a motion to accept the minutes from the spring meeting and Tricia Golden seconded the motion. The minutes from the last meeting were approved as written. Kristen Adams from LETT (Learning Excellence Through Tennis) explained their program and distributed written information. Treasurer, Jeannine Williams reviewed the treasury report and announced prizes. First place team members will receive a small bag that may be used to cool beverages and second place team members will receive a bright green luggage spotter tag. She announced winners and runner-up teams from each level and division. Lacy Sparks encouraged everyone to wait until Sunday to print schedules due to changes that may occur. Birmingham Country Club is constructing a new facility at their lower courts and some of their Tuesday teams will need to be “traveling” teams at times. The Susan Briggs Memorial Tournament will be held the week of October 6th and we will have a week long bye. Lacy explained that teams may play that week if all are in agreement in order to shorten their season. Susan Filippini then moved on to other business. She discussed teams who have consecutive team wins in first and second place for the third season in a row. Most teams are changing members, moving up from their current level, or changing doubles partners. She announced that she will work with club pros to make club schedules work when entire teams are moving up to a new level and changing play days. The discussion about statistics counting with doubles players as teams vs. doubles players as individuals followed. It was suggested that consecutive team wins is actually more of a problem. Susan discussed the need to identify players and teams who have too many consecutive wins as soon as possible so that issues could actually be resolved prior to teams forming for the next season. She indicated that this is very time consuming as it involves many teams and players. Denise Oliver suggested appointing a person to look at statistics. Jeannine remarked that she already looks at that since she awards prizes. The executive committee will look at team and individual statistics. Susan then directed everyone’s attention to the move-up lists in our packets. The discussion turned to “Option #3” which is a player’s choice to change partners after the first season that statistics are made. Bernadine Faulkner announced that this option is not listed in the handbook. Most in attendance knew of this rule. The board members agreed to look back in meeting minutes to find the rule so that it can be included in the softcourt handbook. Club Representatives were reminded that all players must be listed in the singles and doubles portions of the strength roster. Bernadine Faulkner, 2.5 Coordinator, passed out copies of the exemption of rule#5 on P. 16 of the softcourt handbook. This exemption allows 2.5 teams to pull subs from the other team at their club by starting at the bottom of the other team’s strength roster. The coordinator must be notified in this situation. Christine Denniston asked that club representatives tear out the pages of the directories for their club and mail them to her after their correction are made. She corrected her address as 3541 Lenox Road, 35213. Anne Marie Wilson, 5.3 coordinator, had looked into the 5.0 USTA players who are currently playing at the 5.3 level. There are 8-10 of these players in all. Discussion followed about developing a level above the 5.3 level to accommodate these players. Several people mentioned that the variation of skill level of players on the 5.3 level is too great. Also, players from the 5.3 level could move up to the “open” level as they make their stats. This would eliminate “sitting out” and limiting play in other ways to avoid problems with certain teams and consecutive wins and player statistics. Susan Filippini suggested that the “open” division could truly be open to all players and that players other than the 5.0 USTA players would even be allowed to play on another division as well. This would help the “open” division get started. A motion was made and seconded and the group voted to not allow 5.0 USTA players to play at the 5.3 level beginning this spring when the “open” division will begin. Jeanine Williams awarded several door prizes. The meeting was adjourned at 11:15am. |