Present Board Members:
Steve Scrier, President
Denise Collins, Vice President
Ann Thiede, Treasurer
Patricia Schmitz, Secretary
Carol Sprague, Ways and Means
Steve Bettinger, Rules Committee
Karl Borst, Rules Committee
Theresa Barton, Publicity
Paul Barton, Safety
1. General welcome
2. Budget Report
- Budget report as of December 31, 2009 presented (Ann Thiede)
- Current balance remains near but below allowable limits for nonprofit organization.
- Discussion of ways to reduce costs focused on reducing the number of printed copies of the handbook (limited to 12-15 hard copies per team for pool representative, judges, referee(s), coaches, with a few additional hard copies) and provide handbook as a .pdf file on the MCDL website. There was general agreement among the board to decrease the number of printed copies for a one year trial period. A proposal for providing dual meet sheets only on the website, rather than as hard copy and on website, was discussed. The decision was to make no changes in dual meet sheet distribution and continue with the current approach for now.
3. Ways and Means Update - Carol Sprague
The same ribbons will be purchased as for last year's season. T-shirt sales are planned for Divisionals and All-Stars; no plans for general t-shirt sales. There was also discussion of the possibility of
funding a banner for the Robin Hood meet. This led to additional discussions regarding the role of the meet, whether MCDL should continue to sponsor the meet. The consensus of the board was that
the meet had value but should be run to the same standards as dual meets. The potential for allowing coaches to judge was also discussed; there was general consensus that this was acceptable provided
the coaches took this responsibility seriously.
4. Safety Update - Paul Barton
Pool equipment will undergo self-certification this year. Discussion of ways to ensure 100% compliance with submission of self-certification forms, with a proposal to initiate fines for late submissions
of forms. This proposal was not adopted.
5. Coach Clinics Update - Denise Collins
- Kevin Burke and Krista Irish have agreed to conduct the coaches’ clinic this year, using same materials (provided in binders) as last year’s course. They have also agreed to incorporate a section
on the MCDL rules. Feedback from last year’s clinics was very positive. Two specific requests for an advanced coaches’ class and for more pool time were discussed during the board meeting.
- Coaches stated that a clinic for teaching more advanced divers was needed. Kevin and Krista are willing to conduct an advanced class. A proposal to conduct 2 clinics (1 beginner and 1 advanced)
vs. 3 (2 beginner and 1 advanced) clinics will be discussed with Kevin and Krista. This led into a discussion of the number of coaches attending the clinics and maximum number of attendees per clinic.
Last year there were approximately 20 coaches per class and no one was turned away. Although a discussion of limiting attendance to paid staff was mentioned, there was no adoption of this proposal.
Final number of clinics and dates will be finalized at a future date.
- Additional feedback on last year’s clinics included requests for longer clinics with more pool time; it was noted that the amount of pool time was limited by MLK. A discussion of other venues for
the clinic were discussed in which more pool time might be available; possibilities included Georgetown Prep HS and Wilson HS but not Olney or MAC as pool time would be limited there as with MLK.
This proposal will be investigated further.
6. Website Re-Design Proposal - Theresa Barton/Steve Schrier
A proposal for the web-site redesign was investigated and a specific cost proposal from Wide Sky Designs (WSD) was presented. The requirements for the new website (attachment) provided to WSD
in order to develop the proposal is attached. WSD planned to conduct the design in three stages. The bases of the costs cited were unclear; some appeared high for the proposed scope of work and
others lower than expected. There were questions raised as to whether the developer fully understood our needs and has costed appropriately. Additional issues needing clarification include who “controls”
the webpage and whether there would be additional costs for webpage changes and if such changes could be performed by MCDL or would need to go through WSD. Specific issues to be explored
were whether there would be an annual charge for maintenance of the site, what is the process and costs for significant changes that would affect reporting of results and team standing calculations,
such as the change from 5 Divisions to 4 Divisions.
In addition, there were discussions as to whether we are committed to the current webhost (Earthlink) for which we have paid through August 2010. The issue of whether another contractor who
works with Earthlink host could conduct this project at lower costs. This will be explored depending on the results of additional discussions with WSD and whether costs can be clarified or lowered.
There were also questions of permission to use information on the current website.
There was general agreement that Phase 1 of the proposal by WSD was needed.
Action Items: Theresa and Steve will go back to WSD to ensure that the website requirements are understood and to obtain answers to the questions above regarding controls and costs.
Steve Bettinger and Theresa Barton will contact Karl Borst regarding changing hosts.
7. 2010 Season Overview – Denise Collins
- The current proposal for the 2010 season remains unchanged from the October meeting. The calendar was distributed.
- Steve Schrier will continue to run the referee and judges clinics.
- The possibility of acquiring tapes for judges training was discussed, such as the “Scores Please” series used by MCPS for high school diving. No decision was made to proceed with this proposal.
- A proposal for a two-way or three-way meet (CMDL/MCDL/CCL All Star Meet) is being explored. CMDL is interested in such a meet and there was general support for such a meet although
timing of the meet at the end of the MCDL season may be challenging due to other meets and commitments by divers. Denise will continue to explore this with CMDL. There was less enthusiasm for
a CCL meet, noting that their rules are very different from MCDL rules for meets.
8. 2010 Proposed Rule changes - Steve Bettinger and Steve Schrier
- All Star Rules
- MCDL Handbook
Insurance and MCDL roster
Current rule "No diver may participate in NCDL team practice or competitions without registering" (para 2, pg 5)
The decision was not to alter this rule for "walk-on's" who complete forms and pay insurance fee but are not registered on the website. The insurance coverage is limited to
individuals on the website. Since there is no liability coverage for the coach individually, he or she need only be listed on the roster if he/she is competing. Therefore
this rule cannot be changed.
Trial rule for 2009 "Divers who are 13 and up may change their sheets up until the end of the BREAK or half-way point at the discretion of the Meet Referee." (page 7)
The concern was raised that the "break" time be established as instances of purposeful delays in the resumption of the meet, in order to allow changes to the dive sheets,
were noted by one member. Setting a specific time for breaks would be problematic as it is likely dependent on the size and age distribution of the two teams.
The general consensus was that this is not an issue for all teams and should be dealt with on an individual basis.
Date & Time Changes: The handbook is inconsistent regarding whom to notify of such changes (1.d.1 and 1.d.1.c. are in conflict as are 10.a.9 and 10.a.10).
The handbook will be revised to require reporting to RULES, not to both Rules and Records.
Qualifying for Divisional Meets:
"Diver must have entered into at least two (2) dual meets"
The proposed clarification to be added to the rule in 1.2 paragraph 1 and 10.a.c. (that if the diver is entered and is available for a dual meet and if the meet is
cancelled and not continued before the diver's event occurs, the diver will be credited with having been in the meet) was accepted. In addition, the rules should be
clarified to note that neither the Ashton Rookie Invitational nor the Robin Hood meets are considered dual meets as discussed in this rule.
Rosters at Dual Meets: Rosters, downloaded from the website must be filled out at each dual meet along with Dual Meet Participations Sheets. (Rule 2.c.4, paragraph 4 and rule 8.a.6.).
There was agreement that there is no need to use participant forms and that scores should be written directly on the rosters, which should be as current as possible (no less than
3 hours before the meet). Three copies of each team's rosters should be available at the meet for meet secretary to review and each team representative to sign. In addition, each
team representative is responsible for the accuracy and completeness of his/her teams rosters. These issues need to be discussed and clarified at the next board meeting with the
team reps.
Ribbons for all participants in dual meets: the proposal to add to rule 10.a.7. "Participation ribbons will be awarded for 5th place, 6th place, etc. to all participants" was
accepted.
Conduct of Divisional Meets: The following issues were raised
- Designation of the Division Coordinator and of roles of the various pools at Divisional meets
The importance of the role of Division Coordinator in ensuring that the meet was run efficiently and smoothly was deemed critical. The initial proposal of assigning the host
pool as the division coordinator was not accepted; counterproposal to identify the 6th pool as the Division Coordinator was accepted. There was agreement that the handbook
should be updated with descriptions of each of the roles (Host, Wild Card Coordinator, All Star Table Coordinator, Volunteer Coordinator, Table Coordinator, and Divisional
Coordinator).
- Identification of a second referee at Divisional meets - The proposal to discuss this further at the next MCDL meeting was accepted; acknowledgment that identification of even one referee per event can be challenging at Divisionals.
- Division order at Divisional Meet and/or All Star Meet: Rule 10.b.8. states that dive order is determined by draw. While this traditionally means the divers draw their order,
the proposal was made to allow the meet coordinator to draw to reduce the chaos and speed up the meet(s). This proposal was to have someone other than the divers draw was not
accepted. Suggestions for improvement included moving the divers away from the table could reduce chaos and also requiring the divers to draw two events prior to their own,
so it does not interfere with warm-ups were generally accepted.
- Change in the number of qualifiers: The proposal to modify rule 10.b.9. to address a clerical error and to state that the highest four scores in each event are eligible
for All Stars was accepted.
Wild-Cards for All Stars: Proposal to add a subsection f to Rule 10.b.9 (a-e), stating that a pool cannot nominate a third All-Star diver from the same pool to the same event
was not accepted.
Conduct of All-Star Meet:
Modification to replace the wording "last place" with "tenth place" in current Rule 10.c.4 "...ribbons presented to all participants (4th place down to last place)" with the
proposal to use participation ribbons for those below tenth place was proposed since there are not enough colors available to provide different ribbons beyond ten places was
accepted.
The question was raised as to whether rule 10.c.5. should be modified as there is uncertainty that the All-Stars meet is still conducted under the Potomac Valley league.
No decision made.
The proposal was raised to allow a diver can change either the dive for an optional dive or modify the position for any dive on the board during the All-Star meet because
there are no team points involved and it is non-sanctioned event (as are the Ashton Invitational and Robin Hood meets).
The proposal was not accepted but a counterproposal to allow sheets to be turned in 30 minutes prior to the start of the event, which allows divers to warm-up and confirm their
dive list, was accepted, as this limits the confusion with sheet modifications in the middle of an event and allows divers sufficient time to make a decision on their list at
the All-Star facility.
Respectfully submitted,
Patricia Schmitz
MCDL Secretary