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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-10-02 - Parks and Rec Advisory Council Meeting Minutes MINUTES OF THE VILLAGE OF RYE BROOK PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COUNCIL 938 KING STREET, RYE BROOK, NEW YORK 10573 October 2, 2007 CONVENE MEETING: Chairman Steve Schoen called the meeting to order at 8:1Opm The following members of the Council were present: Advisory Council Members: Chairman Steve Schoen, Cliff Shaw, Richard Gutner, Steve Epstein Kenneth Finder, and Jeffrey Kornblum Absent Council Members: Debra Tempesta Recreation Department Members Present: Robert Bertolacci,Parks and Recreation Superintendent Carmella Swick, Sr. Office Assistant John Swick,Recreation Leader Janice Kunicki,Recreation Leader Village Of Rye Brook Trustee,Paul Rosenberg Village Residents: Jim Striar, Gary Meglino,John DiCanio,Bill Golden L Superintendent's Report Little League Update Superintendent stated that John DiCanio, Little League Committee Member, made a motion of what actions to take when a player quits a travel team. The motion is: As a result of a player quitting the travel team without reasonable justification, (reasonable justification left open) player will not be permitted to tryout for the next travel team season. The motion was seconded by Committee Member Rich Gutner, and all were in favor of the motion. The first two issues of players quitting were Nick Palmieri and George Musho. The Little League Committee suggested that the Parks and Recreation Advisory Council write a letter to the Mushos' notifying him that he is not eligible for summer travel baseball 2008. Regarding Nick Palmieri, the Little League Committee decided that there was reasonable justification for Nick to drop off the team. Committee Member Gutner stated that it wasn't just Nick's fault but also there was a coach issue, so why penalize Nick. Nick was also placed on a team he didn't tryout for. Committee Member Gutner stated that the George Musho incident was already voted on and the Little League Committee wanted to just bring the issue before the Recreation Advisory Council for a vote. Committee Member Finder asked what George Musho did on the travel team. Committee Member Gutner stated that George Musho made the team and quit. The coach called a practice and the coach contacted the Mushos'to find out if George was playing before the Mushos' contacted anyone about him quitting the team. Superintendent stated that other players were contacted by George,with the support of his parents, for those players to quit the team that he was on. Committee Member Gutner made a motion to send a letter to George Musho telling him because of him quitting the 2007 Fall Travel Baseball team; he will be ineligible to tryout for the 2008 Summer Travel Baseball team. Committee 1 Member Shaw suggested that the letter be addressed to the Parents . The motion was amended for the letter to be addressed to the Parents and to send it certified,return receipt requested. Committee Member Finder seconded the motion: Chainnan Schoen Yes Committee Member Gutner Yes Committee Member Shaw Yes Committee Member Finder Yes Committee Member Kornblum Yes Committee Member Epstein Absent for this Committee Member Tempesta Absent vote. Superintendent stated that he would draft the letter and e-mail to the Council members for review before sending the letter out. If the Mushos' wish to appeal the Rye Brook Parks and Recreation Advisory Council decision,they can. Superintendent stated that the Little League Committee wants to increase the sponsorship fee from $350.00 to $600.00 per team and that sponsor would get a banner on the fence for the baseball season. Committee Member Shaw made a motion to increase the fees for sponsorship to $600.00. Committee Member Gutner seconded the motion and all present approved. Committee Member Gutner asked Superintendent if the questions asked by Mr. Occhicone have been answered. Mr. Occhicone attended the last meeting and had questions about the fall travel baseball selection process. Superintendent stated that he has a letter written to send to Mr. Occhicone but wants feedback from this committee before sending it out. We haven't come to closure on some of his issues. IL Public Forum on Basketball/Basketball Committee Chairman Schoen welcomed the residents at tonight's meeting. Before the start of the Open Forum Meeting, The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board and Recreation staff introduced themselves to the residents. Chairman Schoen stated that back in June there was an Open Forum meeting for baseball and about 30 residents attended. The council thought it was a good idea to have an Open Forum meeting on basketball to get ideas, people's input on the program, and how to improve things for the upcoming season. Over the summer at one of our rec meetings, we created a basketball committee. The committee consists of Superintendent Bertolacci, Brian Grodin, Jeff Kornblum Bill Golden and myself. Because of the growth of the program the basketball committee will focus on space, or the lack of, and review the basketball rules which will be updated at this meeting. We have been successful with Belle Fair and will have one half of the gym space for 4 hours on Saturdays. A letter of understanding for the use of the gym will be sent to the Belle Fair Home Owners Assoc. Chairman Schoen also stated that we will emphasize to the coaches involved in the basketball program to make sure they are communicating to the parents to follow the rules stipulated in using the Belle Fair gym. There is sufficient parking at Belle Fair in the back behind the gym. Chairman Schoen stated that Superintendent contacted the Port Chester School District's Athletic Director and was able to get gym time at the high school. The younger players could use Belle Fair gym, Ridge Street School new and old gym because there are lower baskets there. The other locations will be used for the older players. Mr. Striar, Rye Brook resident and basketball coach, stated he came to listen and learn because this is his first year coaching basketball. Chairman Schoen stated that at the last recreation meeting a parent came to talk about the lack of a 2nd grade girls' basketball league. She was able to sign her 2nd grade son but not her daughter who is also in 2nd grade. Chairman Schoen stated that her daughter would be able to play in a league whether it's a girls league or if there isn't enough girls, she could play on the boys league. In the past there hasn't been a demand for a 2nd grade girls league. Janice runs a skills program for 2nd grade girls in January. The recreation department did a mailing to all 2nd grade girls to see if there was an interest in forming a 2 2nd grade girls basketball league. Superintendent reported that 18 girls have responded and signed up for the league. Superintendent stated that it would take 25 to 28 girls to make 4 teams. We are prepared to offer the girls to play with the boys division if we have only a small amount of girls interested. Superintendent stated that in the future the girls division will run the same as the boys division; 2"d/3rd grade, 4th/5d' grade, and 6th/7d' grade. This year we will have a strictly 2nd grade girls league. Superintendent stated that we are going to try and get back the '/2 hour practice for the 2nd and 3rd grade boys. They don't have any practice time during the week like the older divisions have. Chairman Schoen stated that with the younger kids, we want to emphasize that winning is not the objective but to gain experience through practice and use what they learned in a game situation. When a team is ahead by a few baskets they tend to stall the ball and we want to discourage them from doing so. Chairman Schoen stated that Committee Member Shaw suggested we keep standings for the older kids in the program. We could have someone from the Wetmore News come to the games and take pictures and report the standings every week. At the end of the basketball season we have playoffs with a round robin for the older divisions and this may keep them interested enough to finish the season. Chairman Schoen stated that Superintendent will talk to Manny Martinez who runs our basketball clinics for the older kids if he would run a clinic for the younger kids coaches in the program. We would like to make it a practice where the kids can learn the same things on all the teams. Chairman Schoen said there are rules about zone defense or man to man defense. We would like the younger kids to play zone defense and as they get older and more experienced, they will be given a chance to play other defenses. Superintendent reiterated that the 4`h & 5d' boys' division and 5`h & 6d' girls' division would play zone until January 1st and then zone first half and man to man the 2nd half of the game. Committee Member Gutner asked what to do if a parent wants to coach and doesn't know anything about coaching basketball. Chairman Schoen said we could create some practice program for all coaches to follow. Superintendent stated that Manny Martinez will hold a clinic for coaches on November 7th Janice suggested that we talk to Manny about having the clinic from 7:00pm to 8:00pm for beginner coaches and 8:00pm to 9:00pm for the rest of the coaches. Committee Member Finder asked what is going to happen to the weaker kid when he has to go in the game and it's a close game and the kids don't give him the ball because he will mess up. Chairman Schoen said each kid has to play '/z of the game. Committee Member Finder stated that the emphasis on standings will make it worse. Committee Member Epstein said he worries about a team running up a high score. Committee Member Gumer said there are times we turn off the scoreboard so the losing team doesn't feel bad. Superintendent stated that at the beginning of the season all coaches will have ways to deal with that situation. Superintendent said the letter to the coaches' will deal with the Belle Fair situation and how to keep it clean. Superintendent stated that there will be a lot of info going out to the parents, coaches and players. The older division starts November 17th and the younger division starts on December Is'. Superintendent Bertolacci stated that Manny Martinez, Varsity Girls Basketball Coach, will have a coaches clinic on November 7th starting at 7:00pm. Manny will hand out an outline to the coaches at the clinic on how to organize a practice. Chairman Schoen stated that each coach will have a schedule of skills to practice so the coaches are teaching the players all the same skills. Bill Golden said to structure the practice where the coach can spend the full practice working on offense which is very constructive if you want to get the ball in the right spot. Mr. Golden said the 41' and 5d' grade boys should be able to shoot with one hand, and know why and how to do it. If the 2nd and 3rd grade boys get their practice time back, that time should be dedicated to learning the basic skills. Committee Member Epstein said he coached last year and the first 3 practices were dedicated to teaching the kids where to stand. By the time those players are in the 5`h 6th and 7`h grade, they should know all the 3 basics. Chairman Schoen said as they get older they learn the offense and defense but you have to have the skills to dribble, shoot and pass the ball. Mr. Golden asked if there have been any issues with parent involvement in the games. Superintendent Bertolacci stated that if an issue arises, we try to deal with it on a case by case situation. If there is an issue that arises and you as a coach feel you want us to deal with it,bring it to Janice's attention or to my attention and we will have our sub-committee talk to that individual and deal with it that way. Superintendent stated that we have a Code of Conduct that every parent is required to sign before those kids play their first game. One of the rules in the Code of Conduct is the 24 hour rule where a parent cannot contact a coach until after 24 hours. Janice asked Committee Member Kornblum where is the room for the parents to stand when there is a game at the Belle Fair gym. Committee Member Komblum said there is a little room on the side and under the basket and the parents would have to stand. Superintendent Bertolacci said he would meet with Paul at Belle Fair and go over the setup at the gym with Janice and other rec staff.. Chairman Schoen said the basketball committee met and reviewed the basketball rules. A copy of the rules was distributed to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee for their review. Rules of Play: RSS Old Gym: Once the offensive team passes half court, the new backcourt line is the defensive blue line. Belle Fair Gym: Once the offensive team passes half court,the new backcourt line is the defensive side of the full court"paint"area. RSS New Gym & Port Chester Gym: Once the offensive team passes half court, the half court line will serve as the backcourt line. Rule Changes: 1. 2nd& 3rd Grade Boys: There will be 2 coach's time outs per game. This program is designed to have the children gain experience through practice. No pressing in zone defense for the younger kids. Committee Member Gutner asked about the rule for 10 points per player. Superintendent stated that the 10 point rule was taken out of the rules last year. 2. 4`" & 5" Grade Boys/5t" & 6r" Grade Girls: There were no changes to the rules except pressing is allowed only in the final 2 minutes of the game. 3. Janice suggested that we allow the players to wear sweat pants to the game. The Council agreed. 5d' & 6`l' Grade Girls/6`l' & 7d' Grade Boys: No overtime during the regular season just during the playoffs. 4. Oldest league on each side will have playoffs. 5. 8"' & 9t'' Grade Boys: This league will run as before with no changes. Committee Member Epstein made a motion to accept the revised basketball rules as hereby amended. Committee Member Gutner seconded the motion and : Chairman Schoen Yes Committee Member Gutner Yes Committee Member Epstein Yes Committee Member Shaw Yes Committee Member Kornblum Yes Committee Member Finder No Committee Member Tempesta Absent Committee Member Epstein suggested that we have something put in the rules regarding shortage of players on the basketball team. Superintendent Bertolacci said if a team has 5 players to play a game, the man to man defense can be waived with a discussion between the 2 coaches and the recreation supervisor. Committee Member Epstein stated that even with 6 players it is hard for the kids to play full court man to man. Committee Member Epstein made a motion that at the coaches discretion, the coach has the option to waive the mandatory man to man defense requirement for their own team. Committee Member Kornblum seconded the motion and all were in favor. 4 Chairman Schoen asked when communication to the basketball coaches would go out. Janice said as soon as she coordinates coaches with the amount teams per division. Committee Member Gutner suggested that a different member of the Recreation Council attend the basketball games like we do for the travel baseball games. Chairman Schoen would like to give a special thanks to Committee Member Jeff Kornblum for his diligent work in getting us time on Saturday at the Belle Fair gym. Committee Member Gutner asked if there are any past issues with coaches pending from last year that shouldn't be coaching. Janice stated that she didn't think there were any outstanding issues but she would check her records and let the committee know. Superintendent reported on the number of registrations for each basketball division: 2°a& 3rd grade boys: 77 registered 4th& 5th grade boys: 72 registered 6'&7'grade boys: 60 registered 2°a grade girls 18 registered 3rd &0'grade girls: 54 registered 5'& 6th grade girls: 55 registered III. Minutes Committee Member Finder made a motion to accept the September 2007 Minutes. Committee Member Gutner seconded the motion and all approved. Committee Member Finder made a motion to accept the August 2007 Minutes. Committee Member Epstein seconded the motion and all approved. IV. Adjournment Committee Member Epstein made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Committee Member Kornblum seconded the motion and all approved. The meeting adjourned at 9:50pm. The next Parks and Recreation Advisory Council meeting is on November 14, 2007 at 8:00pm,Village Hall. Minutes prepared by Carmella Swick 5