Hi everyone
I'm attaching the
agenda for next Tuesday's meeting. In the meantime, you might like to know
that provisional fixtures have now been published on the Association's LMS
pages ECF League
Management System (ecflms.org.uk). The fixture dates won't be perfect
for everyone but I've tried to work to everyone's requirements. (Note that
some clubs still haven't returned their information sheets which means that
I haven't been able to take their wishes into account.) Note that there
are weeks set aside for the cup competitions (w/c 16th October, 13th
November, 8th January, 12th February and 11th March). Clubs are not
supposed to arrange matches in those weeks until they have been knocked out
of the cups. I have, however, already 'parked' a handful of fixtures in
finals week. I have found that it's harder to fit all the fixtures in when
we have full divisions of 8 teams rather than having 7 teams in a couple of
divisions for the last few seasons, especially when a good number of teams
play home matches on a Monday.
Another issue has
been created by SASCA D (a team of mainly primary school kids) wanting to
play home matches only for double points rather than play two games on a
home and away basis. Whilst their request for this was noted at the AGM, it
still has to be agreed by their opponents, so their away fixtures are still
in the list but may create space once agreements on double points matches
are sorted.
Sheffield
University have given me a comprehensive list of their semester dates along
with exam weeks and reading weeks. Their fixtures are therefore squeezed
into a much-reduced calendar and in one instance their B team has two
matches in one week at the moment. I have avoided giving them a fixture in
the first week of the season as they are only expected back to the
university a couple of days beforehand.
Any club, or team,
looking to rearrange any of the fixtures should note that the season
finishes on 30th April 2024. Only in exceptional circumstances, e.g.
serious inclement weather, may the season be extended to allow matches to
be played up to 15th May 2024 - Rule 16 (b).
If you can check
through these prior to the meeting then you might be able to make any
necessary rearrangements with your opponents there and then.
At the AGM, I
promised to send out some suggested new wording re guidance on mobile
phones and other electronic devices in the playing area at matches. For
various reasons, I still haven't finished that. I'll aim to finish it in
time to email it out to clubs prior to the meeting.
Best wishes
Geoff Brown
General Secretary,
S&DCA
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