WC Meetings in Durban

Several meetings were held associated with the WC in Durban.

Firstly, the Rules Meeting was held just prior to the championships. There were not many changes nor any of major major import:

1) free subbing after goal and/or penalty shot is offically legla
2) corner rule - now only 2 'holders' not 3
3) attempts to improve glove color rule and swim suit color rule
4) reduction in age of juniors to 'cannot be 18'
5) preferred month for WC is July
6) changes in 'legal' materials for composition of stick

As usual, there was a referees meeting and captains meeting.

Mid tournament the WAA meeting was held. Organizing document was approved, and I will make it public just as soon as I can confirm it is accurate. I want/need to run it by all reps present to make sure I have what was agreed.

Elections of WAA officers:
President Graham Henderson - Oz
VP Neil Dixson - GB
Sec/Trea Carol Rose - USA
Rules Simon Talbot - Oz
Referees Pizazz - SA

Reps present at meetings:
USA - Doug (Duck) Roth
Canada Margaret Francis (had to leave early - written proxy to C Rose)
SA Piet Joubert
NZ Ray Dolman/Tristan
Argentina Gully
Colombia Natalia
Holland Erwin Post
France Ulysse Munoz
Australia Simon Talbot
GB Neil Dixson
Spain and Namibia did not attend meetings

WC 2010 was set for Colombia. Euros 2009 discussed without final decision.

Minutes of Rules meeting available on request. Minutes of WAA meeting will be public in week or so.

Carol Rose, Secretary WAA

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Carol Rose

It was also decided that a rule would be added that says something to the effect of:

Which ever team scores the most goals wins the game.

Finally we can have a winner. Ah, progress.

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Just in case you weren't sure, it's official -- CMAS sucks.
Oh yeah, and now they're broke.

Was anything discussed/finalised concerning:

- Eligibility to play for a country ie. if you move countries when can you play for your new one
- The players committee that I had heard something about previous to the tournament
- Anything else I may find interesting but do not know about at this time

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Faster than a speeding puck...

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Elgibility: rule(s) 1.4.1 changed to read (proposed by Australia, Simon Talbot, Chief Ref)
1.4.1 Federation Eligibility for Tournaments
1.4.1.1 Only Nations that have their Federations properly registered with WAA may compete ina WAA tournament.
1.4.2 All athletes of a Fedration team must:
1.4.2.1 hold citizenships of that country
OR
1.4.2.2 Submit proof that the athlete has been a resident in that countrty for a minimum of 12 months in the 18 month period prior to the competition in which they wish to play for their 'new' country
OR
1.4.2.3 have played for that country in the previous World Champioships (even if currently living out of the country).
1.4.3 Athletes holding dual citizenship must choose to compete for only one of the Federations. This choice obliges the athlete to remain with that Federation until the requirements of either 1.4.2.1 or 1.4.2.2 above ar met.

This rule change was voted unamimously excepting that France abstained from all voting in rules meeting.


You will have to be more specific of what 'you may find interesting but do not know about'

As soon as Simon, new rules director, agrees, the minutes of the meeting will be published on the WAA site.

hmmmm players committee? In the new WAA organizing document, there is the ACC - Athletes Advisory Committee. Each country has 1 man and 1 woman rep; appointed for 2 year term (I am running this from memory); has an internally elected chair who sits a voting member on WAA BOD. Reps appointed, in writing, by federation exec or fed uw hockey exec. Meets annually (?) - not face to face required - more likely electronic. [CRose]

Again, as soon as I get confirmation of WAA documents, they will be published on WAA site.

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Carol Rose

I think there must be a problem with the wording of that rule.

1.4.2.1 says they must "hold citizenships of that country". If they have Dual Citizenship, they already hold citizenship.... or am I missing something?!

WAA Meeting/Congress 29 April 2008 Durban SA

1.0 Welcome of Delegates
1.1 Chair, Graham Henderson; acting secretary, Carol Rose
1.2 Delegates Carol Rose, USA
1.3 Margaret Francis, Canada - Proxy to Carol Rose
1.4 Neil Dixon, GB
1.5 Natalie, Colombia
1.6 Pizazz and Piet Joubert, S Africa
1.7 Erwin Post, Holland
1.8 Tristan Reynard, NZ
1.9 Simon Talbot, Australia
1.10 Ulysse Munoz, France
1.11 Sebastian, Argentina

3.0 Opening Address – organizing documents sent out
no problems with CMAS as an organization; the problem is its leadership which is leading it away from being a democratic organization, and hockey is very poorly represented
if changes occur, in regulations and control issues, WAA would look at any proposal put forward, but the WAA but would have to be semi autonomous.

3.1 propose to accept and then discuss points in questions
general discussion voting rights – exec com vote in addition to country vote
consensus – no ex com vote – only delegates – president vote in case of tie - agreed
concern quorum of 25% too few – 51% decided/agreed
where organization HQ and legal entity?? Need to decide here today- Australia selected

3.2 general agreement draft 3/12 is working document
M to accept as working document USA/S – GB
6 in favor France will abstain from all voting at request of their federation

3.3 changes needed
3.3.1 name 1.0 name general discussion with explanations pro and con
keep focus on uw hockey
agree to call IF WAA but refer to sport as uw hockey

3.4 keep organizing documents simple without need to change frequently

3.5 agree to option #1 1.1.3.1
3.6 change zone reps – not appointed by BOD but by their region
3.7 change biannual to biennial; change GA to Congress
3.8 where to base document?
Need to write in that disputes will be held in country of origin?
Need to get recognition from IOC?
Need to be member of AGFIS too
Set up in Australia- initially
M/S PU with France abstaining

Fees suggest 500 E or 250 E?
Could be pro Rota? No proof – 2 tiers? Above and below 500 players
How funds to be used?
Fund referee training? Send trainers and bring refs to events
Teach to organize events/tournaments
Work on development – strategic plans needed/goals
Funding ?? besides dues
Licensing fees? As income/funding
Focus: start up, then development, set up working group
Costs: website, incorporation, etc
Base fees on teams entered in last WC?
M/NZ country fee below 499 players is 250E and above 500+ players is 500 E S/SA
Passed with France abstaining – dues due 1 January starting 2009

5.0 Adoption draft rules/bylaw – refer to rule changes passed at Rules meeting earlier
5.1 auto change of age and eligibility
5.2 taking those sections out of rules of play – becomes a technical doc
5.3 put in bylaws M/ S/GB PU with France abstaining
5.4 code of conduct – color of suits – country choose color including cap add to bylaws – dark blue and white not useable - - accepted
5.5 need to add drinking restrictions by country to conduct code
5.6 Pizazz, Rob and Arnout – committee for new materials
5.7 Medals – design and cost concerns – by WAA or host? Standard medals – need to research
5.8 Calendar – need to get info to website asap even if info incomplete
5.9 Referee system – Pizazz needs to fix – log games onto WAA website – needs to be standardized by level – level 1 is set; need levels 2,3. Policy needs to be written and on WAA website

Bylaws accepted as modified – lunch break

6.0 Elections
6.1 President – Graham nominated unopposed
6.2 Vice President -
6.3 Sec – Carol nominated - unopposed
6.4 Treas – needs nominee?
6.5 Rules – nominations – Woody Lee – Simon Talbot – Simon elected
6.6 Referee – nominations – Pizazz-unopposed
6.7 WTD – nominated Graham – unapposed
6.8 Grievances – nominated Erwin, Neil, Natalia - unapposed

Alternating – president 1; sec 2; vp – 2; treas - 2
Ref -1; rules – 2; WTD – 1; Grievance – 2

Develop and send status report forms to all members

7.0 Report of Committee Decisions - accepted

10. Report Refs Meeting - accepted

11. Venue 2009 Euros – Holland – has new venue

12. Venue 2010 WC - USA vs Colombia
NZ – cost of van/internal transport, cost of entry, what entry includes, accommodation costs/provide, - decide 6 pm on 2 May

13. Implications CMAS/WAA -

14. General Business

15. Closing GA until Friday 2 May – closed 3:42 pm

Friday 2 May 2008: 9pm

Re open the meeting – Graham Henderson, Chair
Several topics of discussion: Trophies, fairplay award, honor Erwin, CMAS Games participation, 2010 WC and needed officers.

1. Trophies – all trophies are on site excepting Fairplay – given to Japan in 2006 and not returned. Question of status, replacement, ownership, titles, etc. General discussion: Erwin gave some history; there are many options, and all trophies need repair. Of course, new trophies would be costly, and these are ‘our’ history. M/Australia S/GB to keep current trophies – vote in favor excepting France against. Passed

2. Fairplay trophy will be replaced and given as new trophy each WC – a keeper rather than perpetual. USOA sponsors and will support.

3. Erwin Post, referee from Holland with 25 years of service - he was also president of world hockey in 1980s, is retiring. He was honored with a current ref shirt signed by attending referees, much applause and our deep gratitude.

4. CMAS Games Participation – issue raised by S Africa. Any participation by WAA members creates perception of division in WAA. A boycott of the Games, should they actually re occur, was suggested – a suggestion only. SA appeals to other members to not participate. It was recognized that some countries benefit from CMAS membership in funding. Several members declared they would not participate in any CMAS Games, others could not speak for their parent federations decision/influence, others were open to participation in any international event to which they were invited.

5. WC 2010 – after discussion and vote, Colombia was selected by vote of members present: NZ, SA, USA, Canada (by written proxy), Argentina, Australia, France, Holland, Spain, Colombia, Great Britain.

6. Officers needed: vice president and treasurer – Neil Dixon was approved, unopposed as Vice President. No person available currently for treasurer, so secretary will be dual position. Grievance Committee re selected as Neil now vp: Erwin Post, Sebastian and Natalia.

The meeting was adjourned.
Carol Rose, secretary WAA

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Carol Rose

Hmm... correct me if I am wrong Carol, but as I read that rule I am eligible to play for either NZ or the Netherlands at the next Worlds/tournament since I am a citizen of both countries.
Here's a thought - is there actually any rule to stop me being registered to play for both countries at the next Worlds.... as I read that rule it is allowed, perhaps there is another that would prohibit it.

The ACC is what I meant, yes. Each country? Is that each country in the world, or each country registered with the WAA? An electronic meeting/ conference call with so many participants would be nightmare..... why not one member per country?

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Faster than a speeding puck...

You're right Jols, you would be eligable to play for both countries.
and the way I interprete it, is that you can even play for any other country you might possibly live in for 12 months between now and the next worlds.
So take your pick! If you're geographically flexible and want to play for Japan, you just have to convince Inge for a periodic move and buy your tickets...

I think I will... I am thinking about getting on the team list for both countries for next worlds and seeing which one does better before deciding which country I will play for in the finals.

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Faster than a speeding puck...

Or you could read it that if you only have citizenship for a country and have established residency in your "new" country (as written in the rule) that you are picking your new country as your country of choice. Otherwise you have no need to provide proof of residency and would be sticking to your citizenship country.

As a dual citizenship player you must select only one country. So, no, you can't play for multiple countries.

__________________
Just in case you weren't sure, it's official -- CMAS sucks.
Oh yeah, and now they're broke.