The newly-elected BSF Executive held a face-to-face meeting immediately following the 2013 BSF AGM in Watford on Saturday, February 23. Below are the highlights of discussions and decisions.
Attendance
Present: Stella Ackrell (President), Vicky Hall (Administrator), Mike Jennings (Treasurer), Lesley Morisetti (outgoing National Tournaments Officer/Logistics), Fiona Thorley (incoming National Tournaments Officer/Logistics), Beth Perkins (National Teams Officer), Mark Wigington (Marketing and Communications Officer), Chris Moon (BASU Representative).
Apologies: Alan MacFarlane (London Liaison Officer).
Guest: Bob Fromer (BSUK).
Follow-ups from the AGM
The Executive addressed a number of matters arising from the just-concluded AGM.
Mark Munnery from the Cardiff Softball League, who had contacted the Executive to offer his services, was co-opted as a General Officer.
BSF Treasurer Mike Jennings will talk to newly-elected London Liaison Officer Alan MacFarlane about what the BSF expects from this role and to what extent Alan will need to attend Executive meetings.
One post that was not filled at the AGM was the new role of Welfare Officer, which the Executive regards as essential. A decision was made to advertise the post on the BSF website.
In the absence of a Membership Officer, another new position for which no nominations were received, BSF Tournaments Officer/Statistics & Administration Liz Graham will take on the role for now while the Executive explores other options.
Slowpitch coaching tour
Following discussions at the recent ESF Congress between BSF Treasurer Mike Jennings and officials from the American Amateur Softball Association (ASA), it is now likely that two high-level coaches with slowpitch expertise will tour Britain for a 10 to 14-day period between mid-June and mid-August.
The tour will take in softball leagues around the country, probably starting in Scotland. The visiting coaches will concentrate on working with league coaches and also hope to work with members of the GB Slowpitch Team coaching staff. The BSF hopes to conclude arrangements for the tour, and set up an itinerary, over the next few weeks.
Coaching initiative for B and C-grade teams
Coaches have been allocated by the GB Slowpitch Team management to the eight B and C-grade teams that have signed up for a coaching initiative to enhance performance and game awareness in slowpitch softball, supported by the BSF. Teams will receive a clinic and support during early-season competition from GB Slowpitch Team coaches and/or players, and the initiative will help to raise money for the GB Team.
However, responses from the teams with regard to finalising arrangements for these clinics have been slow, and BSF Treasurer Mike Jennings will contact the teams involved to speed up the process.
Nationals Working Group
Even though the AGM had made a decision to keep the Premier Nationals and the other Co-ed Slowpitch Nationals apart for one more season, a number of other issues concerning National Championships had come out of a poll that the BSF conducted in November.
The Executive has decided to appoint a time-limited working group to look at these issues, made up of Executive members and Nationals participants, and BSF President Stella Ackrell told the meeting that the group has now been formed – though others may still be added.
At the moment, the group consists of:
Liz Graham (BSF Tournaments Officer)
Lesley Morisetti (outgoing BSF Tournaments Officer)
Fiona Thorley (incoming BSF Tournaments Officer)
Chris Moon (BSF BASU Representative)
Dave Dean (Manchester Softball League)
Bryan Barry (Solent Softball League)
Gordy Morris (Premier Nationals player)
Jenny Fromer (Platinum/Gold Nationals player)
Stella Ackrell will draw up a list of topics and questions for the group to consider, and a first meeting by teleconference will be held in March.
Meanwhile, following the presentation at the AGM by Bruce Saunders on a proposal for enhancing Co-ed Slowpitch National Championships, BSF Treasurer Mike Jennings will meet with Bruce to identify costings for various elements of his proposal.
National Softball League
Progress has been made by the BSF towards confirming how the National Softball League (NSL) will operate in 2013.
Eleven teams have signed up for the competition, and NSL play will take place at all three Diamond Series tournaments in 2013, plus the Pioneers and British Airways Tournaments. Additional tournaments may still come on board as the BSF attempts to increase the number of tournament opportunities for A-grade teams.
The top eight teams in the NSL standings at the end of the season will qualify for the Premier Nationals.
Development Grant
The BSF Executive approved a Development Grant of £240 to the Leeds Softball League to help run a two-day BASU Qualifying Course this spring.
The full grant will be dependent on at least 10 people attending the course.
Budget for 2013
The BSF budget for 2013 was approved by the AGM, but with the proviso that the Executive will trim £7,000 from a total of £52,000 currently allocated across the BSF's three main areas of discretionary spending: marketing and events, development and support for GB national teams.
BSF Treasurer Mike Jennings will review the budget and make recommendations for cuts to the Executive.
Some cuts will now be easier because a motion submitted by the BSF to the ESF Congress to reduce the charges for failing to provide umpires was passed, and because it looks likely that the ASA will cover some significant cost elements of the proposed slowpitch coaching tour (see above).
ESF Congress offers
A report on the ESF Congress, held from February 14-16 in Slovenia, is currently on the BSF website.
However, Mike Jennings told the meeting about two opportunities for British fastpitch players and coaching that came out of discussions and presentations at the Congress.
Our twinning arrangement with the ASA involves not only the possibility of American coaches coming to Britain, but the chance for British coaches to go America. In this case, we may be able to send one or more of our fastpitch coaches for an autumn “masterclass” at a top American softball university, working alongside and learning from the school's coaching staff.
Another opportunity is European-based. A European Softball Camp for young players will be run this summer, and we are being invited to send a coach along with four players, with possible discounts available on accommodation.
BSF meeting reports
Meetings of the BSF Executive are generally reported in news articles on the BSF website. From now on, these articles will be archived in a new section to be created in the “About BSF” section on the website, and will be regarded as official reports of meetings.
Next BSF Executive meeting
The BSF Executive holds monthly teleconference meetings, and these will now be held on the second Thursday evening of each month.
The next meeting will be on Thursday, March 14, and anyone with an item to submit for consideration should contact BSF Administrator Vicky Hall.