CT Chapter of US Lacrosse Meeting Minutes – Monday, December 1st, 6:30 PM

Cheshire HS, 525 South Main St, Cheshire, CT

Officer’s Reports –

• No officer’s reports were given. Information was covered in Committee Reports

President & Treasurer’s Report – Rich Heritage

Secretary’s Report - OPEN

VP Women’s Report – Phil Schneider

VP Men’s Report – OPEN

Committee Reports –

Training and Education – Rich Heritage 

      USL CEP Level I Clinics

Suffield, CT – Boys/Girls, Saturday, Feb 21^st – contact Will Morris

Trumbull, CT – Boys/Girls, Sunday, Mar 1st  - contact Ted Chase

Other tentative location, New Canaan (?)  - contact Mary Cuoco

• Suffield CEP is cancelled because a location could not be found
• Trumbull and New Canaan are still being scheduled
• Finding locations for CEP trainings, still continues to be an issue
• Looking for other locations for Spring 2015
• Deadline for submitting Hosting Application is December 1^st but can be extended
• CT Chapter will subsidize costs for registration and will pay any facility fee
• RHAM Middle School (Hebron) hosted a Level 2 on November 16 – 30 Women’s Coaches and 17 Men’s coaches attended.

            Connecticut Coaches Clinic – Early March 2015

• Clinic is tentatively scheduled for Sunday March 8^th at Albertus Magnus
• More information was discussed in Break Out session

Hall of Fame Update – Saturday, January 31^st – report by Rob Hoynes

• Information is posted on CT Chapter website (www.ctlacrosse.org)
• Aldario’s Restaurant, Milford – 5:00-10:00pm
• $60/person - $500/table of 10
• Inductees: David Curry, Lisa Lindley, Deb Martin, Paul McNulty, Matt Russell, Katie Woods, Lee Zink
• HOF Committee is looking for new members and is looking for former players who can be honored by the committee
• Nominations for Class of 2015 deadline is in June

Super Junior Reports – Phil (Girls) & Rich (Boys) – Status moving forward – No report given

New Business – breakout sessions to discuss topics below. Participants were asked to choose a topic below to discuss what had been done in the past and ways to improve going forward

Official recruitment, training and retention – Rich Heritage

• Realize that this has been an ongoing issue in the Chapter
• Communication about training opportunities has been a problem
• Chapter can advertise/post training opportunities on website for WCLOA, CLOA and CWLOA
• Consistency in rules and expectations for umpires was also identified as a problem
• Different leagues are using variations of the rules provided by USL
• Chapter can assist by hosting rules interpretation meetings between LOAs and Leagues
• Recruitment:
• Discussion about scheduling Winter classroom training sessions for college students
• Identified problem with contacting potential umpires about training because there is no reliable database and most college students are not USL members
• Potential umpires from coaching parents whose children are no longer playing at youth or high school level but still want to be involved in sport
• Discussion about on-line training for umpires who cannot attend a classroom session
• Discussion about incentives for umpires who recruit a new umpire who makes it through their first year.
• Also grants for new umpires to make the initial costs less prohibitive.

Chapter and community involvement – Phil Schneider

• Three main areas were identified to assist with better Chapter visibility and awareness
• CT Chapter Charity Tournament/Festival
• Potential tournaments could support umpire training, scholarships, coaches’ education
• Make tournament a fun event for participants will other activities available
• Committee will be formed to discuss this further
• Social Media and email blasts
• Chapter should utilize social media (Facebook and Twitter) to promote chapter events
• Will look into establishing accounts and what platforms are already available through USL
• Email blasts are an effective way to reach membership and are provided through USL
• Presence at established tournaments/events
• Identify three tournaments/events to attend (Spring, Summer, Fall/Winter)
• Purchase tents and table skirts with Chapter Logo
• Create and distribute promotional items with Chapter logo and website
• Create pamphlets with Chapter and USL information and benefits

Youth Coaches Clinic – Phil Schneider

• Format for previous clinic was discussed
• Several members who attended last year’s clinic spoke highly of event and suggested to leave it the same
• Some concerns that future clinics may outgrow the facility at Albertus Magnus
• Suggestions to add a more fundamental/beginner’s track to the schedule or include a basic introduction to lacrosse as a beginning session for new coaches
• Suggested to film sessions
• Committee will be formed to identify potential presenters for this year’s clinic and work on putting together the clinic

Fundraising – No breakout session was held

Other - No other items were discussed

Meeting adjourned at 8:35pm

Next Meeting – Monday, January 5^th, 6:30 pm, TBD

CT Chapter Board Elections for 2015 will be held at this meeting