October 10, 2008   -   8:30 AM

Captain's Galley, Old Orchard Beach

I.        Roll Call – Attendance

The meeting was called to order at 8:45 a.m.

·        The minutes from September 12 will be brought for approval in November. Thank you to Chris Hughes for filling in during Ken Levinsky's absence.

·        Ken Levinsky distributed a spreadsheet detailing balances of $11,918.96 in the checking account and $29,706.65 in the savings account. The sheet also showed school assessments collected to date. Twelve of the seventeen schools have sent payment.

·        Motion Freeport/Grey/New Gloucester to receive the treasurer's report passes unanimously.

·        Paul True: golf

·        Sue Robbins: field hockey

·        Ross Burdick: tennis

·        Mike Roberge: soccer

·        Don King: basketball

·        Todd Livingston: football

·        Jeff Thorek: volleyball

·        Craig Sickels: incoming second vice president

·        Jeff Thorek: B West representative

·        Sue Robbins: nonvoting LTC coordinator

·        Conference meet today.

·        Future agenda item: discuss participation of, and fee structure for Non-conference schools. (these include Merriconeag, A.R. Gould, Seacoast Christian, and Richmond). No charge currently for Cross Country and Nordic skiing. Concerns include administrative time and last minute registration.

·        Coaches meeting on Monday October 20 at 6 pm at Old Orchard Beach High.

·        Waynflete concerned about having enough participants to field a team next year. Eleven players are on board for next year with hopes to have 13 or 14.

·        Gray/NG considering playing a C schedule next year. Other alternatives include crossovers, scrimmages or a JV schedule (no problem with MPA if varsity schedule not submitted.)

·        Eight teams (more than the 2/3 formula) go to the Class C tournament to maintain interest.

·        Qualifiers went well. York, Falmouth and Yarmouth were team qualifiers. Paul True will resend results.

·        One day girls qualifier was very successful. 12 of the 18 girls qualified by shooting under 110.

·        It was very helpful to have Keith Weatherbie run the show.

·        Postseason coaches meeting Thursday November 6 at Greely at 6 pm. Paul will send a confirming email to forward to coaches.

·        Upper: A/Strong B

·        Middle: B/C

·        Lower: B/other C

May borrow from the basketball premise:

·        The eleven A/B schools play each other once.

·        The six C schools play each other twice.

·        Preferred opponents fill out the schedule.

Possible new Soccer premise:

·        The eleven A/B schools play each other once (ten games)

·        The six C schools play each other twice (ten games)

·        4 preferred opponents for A/Bs

·        4 crossovers for Cs. Good idea to keep Buckfield and Richmond in the mix for competitive reasons. However, there is a concern that these nonconference schools may cancel games. Suggestion to invite their ADs to discuss scheduling commitments for the current and next year.

·        Sue Robbins will tell Ken to bill those schools needing to reimburse him for paying officials.

·        From here on, officials should contact schools for payment per their contract.

·        Schools must call officials if a game is cancelled, before the official leaves for the game or pay ½ fee and mileage. Schools are then to notify Ken Roberts to reschedule. (Ken does not tell officials about cancellations, just new assignments)

·        Schools should check to see if Schedule Star is up to date. Enter Western Maine Conference or opposing schools to double check.

·        JV tournament at Falmouth on October 18.

·        Postseason coaches meeting on Monday, October 27 at 6 pm at Greely.

·        Jeff Sturgis (MPA) informed Sue Robbins that some Downeast schools are unhappy with matching up with larger schools from the South. They would like to have two classes. There are currently 21 schools in one statewide class divided into East/West. If a second class is added, Sue would like to see the cutoff at 600.

·        Varsity, JV and Middle School schedules must be input into Arbiter beginning of next week. Lee Hixon's secretary is a good resource.

·        Preseason WMC coaches meeting November 12 at 5 pm at Gorham Middle School, followed at 6 pm by the MPA mandatory meeting.

·        WMC coaches dessert buffet/awards evening on Monday, March 9. The fee is $5 per person. There has been a deficit of $200+ for the past two years as not all coaches sent payment. In 2007, Lake Region covered the deficit. In 2008, SMCC was sent less than billed amount, but has yet to ask for the difference. Suggest sending invoice to AD to forward to coaches.

·        March 10 Coaches all star game.

·        Officials board member, Wes Sirois, wanted to meet with Craig, Steve Merrill and Larry LaRochelle. Craig concerned that as all assignments are made in November, there is no flexibility for changes during the last week of season. (Ken Roberts has the flexibility to make late season officials assignment changes in soccer and lacrosse.) Larry would like flexibility to do this. Board is against it, officials want to know when and where they are going to be because of problems in the past. Craig will let officials know that we want to discuss this for next year.

·        Informational: Larry LaRochelle has given triple C middle school work to Dick Goan. Dick uses Larry's number.

·        Melanie led date by date review of Frosh and JV schedule.

·        Mandatory meeting October 19 at Scarborough High. Training will be offered there ($75 per person plus $25 certification fee) from 7:30 am until 5 pm. The certification, required for 2009, is good for four years.

·        Conference championship January 10 at Wells. Teams should arrive at 10 AM. Drawing of numbers next meeting. Nine teams will be participating.

·        B Boys scheduling meeting held last month.

·        Girls scheduling meeting held last week.

·        MPA mandatory meeting at Waterville High October 12 at 10 am

·        Girls have one class of 18 teams divided into East/West. Federation rules apply.

·        Girls will be charged JV fee (one hour game, higher than last year plus transportation) Next year 1 ½ hours.

·        Girls regional finals at Portland Ice Arena.

·        Girls programs with JV teams are York, NYA, Greely, Falmouth and Cape.

·        Boys programs with J.V teams are St Doms, NYA, Falmouth, Greely and Cape

·        Updated schedule distributed.

·        Relay optional, does not count toward conference championship.

·        Ski boosters help offset cost of room and board for state championship. Students pay $100 balance or make own arrangements.

·        Second draft of schedule emailed this morning.

·        November 6 USM 6 pm coaches meeting

·        Bowdoin invitational now December 20 at 11 AM.

·        B States returning to Bates for the second consecutive year

·        Schedule distributed

·        Open dates may be used for crossovers.

·        AD meeting 9 am on October 17 at Westbrook Regional Vocational Center to confirm pool times and dates

·        MPA swim coaches meeting on October 25 in Waterville at 10 am

·        Local coaches meeting being set up by Todd Livingston and Todd Sampson

·        Westbrook, Windham and Cape swapping groups for travel purposes.

·        Southwesterns will be the same as previous years. Run by officials.

·        MPA weight management training (3 year certification) on October 16

·        Coaches meeting Wednesday, November 5 at Grazianos in Lisbon.

·        Traip dropping its schedule, as it has only 3 to 5 participants. Looking to pick up individual matches.

·        Rich Buzzell looking for crossovers. WMC looking for conformity.

·        Boys schedule done year to year.

·        St Doms is starting a girls club team and is looking for JV games

·        Jeff Thorek continuing to look at a tiered schedule for girls, as was instituted for boys in 2007-08.

·        Distributed schedule, second of two year with sites flip flopped.

·        League doubles tournament date on May 23, rain or shine. Waynflete holding consolation rounds.

·        Participation in New England doubles tournament needs to be decided by MPA sports committee.