Minutes of VIAA Meeting

Financial Report was presented by Diana. The association has $491.09 in the track account. There is $913.81 in Cross Country account. We will be ordering a third wind gauge, but it will mean a body to work the gauge. Flags were purchased last year.

BC Athletics

AGM held Jan 30/31, 2009. VIAA was poorly represented. Clubs encouraged to ensure either club representative to attend, or proxy to be completed.

Next AGM will be December 2009 due to 2010 Olympics.

15 yr old areYouth (Midget) 15, governed under the Track and Field Committee with BCA. They will do different multi-events than previously.

All time Top Ten lists have now been posted, as well as standards for Awards and Crests.

Background checks were discussed at length at the AGM. BCA team coachs will need background checks. It is highly encouraged for clubs to have background checks done on all club coachs. There is an online service mybackcheck.com that clubs can register with, $25 per check, good for length of time determined, ie every 4 years.

Long Term Athletic Development (LTAD) was a significant topic at AGM, and breakout groups worked on different aspects, which will be presented throughout the year, with further discussion at Dec/09 AGM.

Boys 14/15 steeplechase height has changed to 30", which is the same height as the girls.

Rule changes have been made to racewalk. Chief Judge can disqualify walker in last 100m without a previous warning having been given.

Zone 6

Discussion occurred regarding Zone 6 shirts for summer games. Diana continues to work on shirts, most likely white with our zone colours on front/back. Cost now estimated at $25/shirt.

Kevin Clarke is the Zone 6 JD Committee Rep.

Coaching Education

Level A (Introduction to Coaching) - April 4/5 - Port Alberni

Jumps Clinic - March 28/29 - Port Alberni. We will check into possibility of pole vault. Check the AVTC website. (Found out after meeting that it is only for Alberni athletes)

Sept 19/20 (tentative) - Level 2 (Club Coach) Throws/Jump Clinic Nanaimo - Al Johnson will work with Ron Bunting to set up.

Run, Jump, Throw clinics - check BCA website.

Track and Field

This is a World Youth qualifying year. If a WY technical standard differs from the current technical standard, then the 15 yr old can compete in both 14/15 yr old event, and the open event with the appropriate weight implement. If the implement weight or height is the same (ie high jump) they can only compete only once at the meet.

Further to the conversation regarding World Youth 15, Diana emailed us an update…

“I just checked out the World Youth Selection policy on the AC website. The qualifying period is from May 1st to June 21st. BUT... they are only taking athletes born in 1992 and 1993 this time so it looks as if 15 year olds are not going. This simplifies everything as the 16 and older athletes are already competing in an open category and can just throw the implement they need if there is a change. I checked this on the World Youth site as well and they are not taking 15 year olds this year. Diana”

So there are no scheduling concerns for World Youth 15 as they are not invited.

High school hytec scoring- when 2 separate groups at a meet, they must be run as 2 separate groups. For example combining High Schools/Series meet, score them on 2 different sheets.

Athletes who need to enter as high school are only able to compete in 3 events plus relay, and will need to compete with a number. If they choose to compete in different events as a club member, they will need to compete with a sticker, and they will not be able to use that event as a high school score, and they will not be able to do an event twice (ie hammer, school or club, not both).

Clubs holding meets were given facilities sheets to indicate markings, to be submitted for officials.

It is recommended that the standard schedule of events have days reversed every other meet, so that if athletes can only attend one specific day, they have the opportunity to do the alternate schedule of events.

It is also recommended to have a popular event first thing in the morning on each day, to encourage early attendance. Tom will send out email for consensus and discussion to VIAA clubs asap.

Comox is considering a training camp over Easter, not confirmed. BCA is doing some training camps for 16+, check out website. Island BCA training camp is March 14/15. April 11 provincial camp for Canada Games in Abbotsford.

Last year we included JD Championships as part of awards series. It was agreed that if they attend the JD Championships, the scoring would count towards the series awards. All other rules would still apply.

We still are looking for announcers at meets. Each host club should be thinking about training an announcer for their meets.

There is the Run Jump Throw equipment for the Island if clubs are interested in utilizing the training gear. Contact Tom Dingle for use.

2009 Track and Field Meet Schedule (Confirmed)

April 18/19 - George Dean Memorial - Sidney

May 2/3 - Bob Dailey Memorial/North Island High Schools Meet – Port Alberni

May 9/10 - Dogwood Meet – Victoria

June 7 - VIAA Pentathlon/Weight Pentathlon - Sidney

June 13/14 - Garriock Memorial/Zone 6 Summer Games Trials - Duncan

June 27/28 - Comox Valley Cougars Meet – Courtenay

May 23/24 - Elwood Wylie Memorial/BC Masters Championships – Nanaimo

July 18 - BC JD Pentathlon Championships - Coquitlam

July 24-26 - BCJD Track and Field Championships – South Surrey

July 10-12 - 15+ Championships - Abottsford

VIAA Series Officiating

VIAA Officials training program will continue this year. Thanks to all, the Island program is highly recognized in the province, and is being modeled now in other areas.

Each club is asked to contribute $100 this year towards officials training/shirts. Please make cheques out to VIAA, and send to Diana.

Camera/photo electronic timing has been booked for all series meets. $150/day for camera/electronic timing, which you will be billed for later in the year. Each host club is expected to provide a hotel room for the timer.

Level 2 officials clinic being held in Nanaimo , March 22^nd 11am - 4pm. You do not need a level 1 to take the level 2.

Diana willing to be at each meet as a support person. Her requirements are a cartridge for her printer, and a front body who she will support. She will do relay results for each meet regardless.

Diana has completed officiating guides, which she will post on the Vic Track website. It is recommended to download them and have them available at each event.

Meet costs $12/one day, $17/two days. $1 goes to VIAA per athlete.

BCA covers insurance for members who are transporting athletes to/from meets.

Ray Riva is willing to continue as VIAA statistician.

Duties for the VIAA series discussed. Club responsibilities for 2009 are:

· High Jump PATH/Vic Track/CVAC

· Triple Jump CRC/CRCS

· Long Jump Penn Track

· Javelin Oceanside

· Hammer CVC/Powell River Track

· Discus CVC/Powell River Track

· Shotput AVTC

· Referee/recorderBCA officials

· Finish Line Nanaimo

· Timing Vic Track/ Penn Track

Host Club - Starting, marshaling, track umpires, hurdle set up, pole vault, and race walk judges.

Dogwood is not offering hammer, or relays.

Penn Track is not offering steeplechase or pole vault.

Alberni is not offering pole vault.

Nanaimo is offering everything.

Duncan is offering everything, but possibly not having pole vault next year.

CVC is not offering pole vault or steeplechase.

New Track Business

Al Johnson from Nanaimo suggested that VIAA clubs join in efforts to co-ordinate plans to have work completed to lessen costs, ie track resurfacing. Al is volunteering to lead the VIAA facilities sub-committee. All interested clubs with programs on the go, should email Al to co-ordinate plans. allen_955@yahoo.ca

The City of Nanaimo has put in a bid for the 2014 BC Summer Games.

Cross Country

Review of 2008/09 Season

Club participation at meets are limited with the logistics and costs being a detriment. The question then arises whether to continue the series. Clubs will plan dates, and look at numbers, to be reviewed at next VIAA meeting. Tentative schedule set up for 09/10 season.

2009/10 Cross Country Schedule

Sep 27 – Alberni Valley – Sproat Lake

Oct ?? – Duncan – TBA

Oct 18 - Peninsula - Penn

Oct 31– BC Cross Country Championships – Vancouver

Feb 28– Oceanside – Qualicum Beach Civic Center

Mar 21– Victoria – Beaver Lake

Apr ??– Nanaimo – Nanaimo Track

Pacific Athletics will be contacted to review if they wanted to hold a cross country event, and if so when, possibly November.

Suggestion made to have an Island Championship versus a VIAA series. This will be reviewed in Sept as well.

Date of Next Meeting

Sept 13th at the Nanaimo Track Club House

Lunch available at 11:30 am - Meeting at noon sharp.

Meeting adjourned at 2:53pm - Moved by Dave H, seconded by Jim P. Carried

Chairman: Tom Dingle

Secretary: Denise Clements