The December 12, 2007, meeting of the Potomac Valley AAU (PVAAU) was held at Falls Church High School in Falls Church, Virginia. Andy Stadnik called the meeting to order at 7:35pm, and asked all in attendance to sign-in and pick up several handouts at the table.
The following clubs were represented at the meeting:
Arlington Matrix
Cardinal of Virginia
Fairfax Stars
Maryland Beltway Lady Cougars (MBLC)
Maryland Flames
PV Classics
Team Select
Team Sol
The following six clubs were certified as being eligible to vote at the meeting: Arlington Matrix (Jim Butler); Cardinal (Stan King); Classics (Andy Stadnik); MBLC (Cornell Barnes); Maryland Flames (Mike Baker); and Team Sol (Joe Dunston).
Mr. Stadnik asked the group to review the minutes from the October 10, 2007, PVAAU meeting. Mike Baker of the Maryland Flames asked whether any additional comments regarding the new ADD were forwarded to the PVAAU committee. Mr. Stadnik advised that no additional comments were provided since the last meeting. Mr. Baker offered a motion to approve the minutes of the October 10, 2007, provided that a copy of the minutes would be sent to the national AAU girls basketball office. Jim Butler of the Arlington Matrix seconded the motion. The motion to approve the minutes was passed by a vote of 6 to 0. A copy of the minutes will be sent to the national AAU girls basketball office.
Next, Mr. Stadnik asked the group if there were any outstanding issues with the new ADD, or issues related to implementation of the new ADD. Cornell Barnes of the MBLC asked whether grade-based AAU tournaments would be different from AAU Nationals. Mr. Stadnik advised that the grade-based AAU events were separate from the AAU Nationals, and the rules for entering these tournaments would be different.
Mr. Stadnik then asked the group to review a handout which listed existing AAU individual members. Mr. Stadnik requested that everyone check the ID numbers, make sure there are no errors, and e-mail Johnnie Mae with any changes.
Mr. Stadnik then turned the floor over to Jim Butler of the Arlington Matrix, for a presentation on the status of the PVAAU website. Mr. Butler reviewed the types of website he had looked at, the target market for the PVAAU website, and recommended a Demosphere website would be the best choice because it functions as a typical information website while also having the ability to serve as the central website for PVAAU DQTs and SRTs. Mr. Butler then discussed the cost of initiating such a website, and presented a draft version of the website’s content that he prepared. Joe Dunston of Team Sol expressed support for creating a PVAAU website, but recommended having one point of contact for everyone during the first year of the website. Mr. Butler agreed to serve as the main point of contact during the first year.
Mr. Butler then put forth a motion asking the PVAAU committee to approve and fund the proposed PVAAU website via Demosphere. The motion read:
“The Potomac Valley AAU Girls’ Basketball Committee will fund the resources necessary for the creation of a Potomac Valley AAU Girls’ Basketball website and tournament management website that will be hosted by Demosphere International and that will be managed and maintained by Arlington Matrix AAU for the 2008 AAU season.”
Mr. Dunston seconded the motion. Mike Baker of the Maryland Flames asked how the website would be funded in the first year. During the course of the discussion, Mr. Stadnik indicated that funds for the first year of the website were available in the existing PVAAU committee account.
Mr. Butler explained that the website contract would only be for one year; in future years, the website could be funded through sponsors or other sources. Mr. Butler then modified his motion to read as follows:
“The Potomac Valley AAU Girls’ Basketball Committee will fund the resources necessary, out of the existing PVAAU committee funds, for the creation of a Potomac Valley AAU Girls’ Basketball website and tournament management website that will be hosted by Demosphere International and that will be managed and maintained by Arlington Matrix AAU for the 2008 AAU season.” (changes underlined)
The motion, as modified, passed 6 to 0.
Mr. Butler then offered a motion that:
“The Potomac Valley AAU Girls’ Basketball Committee will require all Clubs hosting a 2008 DQT to use the Tournament website for all scheduling, standings, recording of game scores, administrative and other matters.”
Mr. Dunston seconded the motion, but modified it to include SRTs in addition to DQTs. The amended motion states:
“The Potomac Valley AAU Girls’ Basketball Committee will require all Clubs hosting a 2008 DQT or SRT to use the Tournament website for all scheduling, standings, recording of game scores, administrative and other matters.” (changes underlined)
The motion, as modified, passed 6 to 0.
Next, Mr. Stadnik led a discussion regarding a variety of 2008 DQT issues. Mr. Stadnik stated that Wednesday, April 9, 2008, would be the tentative draw date. The DQT window would run from April 18 until May 19. Some questions were raised about the $450/team entry fee for DQTs. Mike Baker of the Maryland Flames moved to raise the fee to $475/team for the 2008 DQTs. Joe Dunston of Team Sol seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 to 0, with one abstention. This issue may still be revisited at the next PVAAU meeting in January.
The group then discussed different ideas related to the draw date and the due date for completed DQT packets. Mr. Baker suggested having one week between the packet due date and the draw date. This discussion was tabled until the January meeting.
Mr. Stadnik then asked the group to consider ideas related to officiating for DQTs. For example, the PVAAU could pass certification standards for referees who work DQTs. Stan King of the Cardinal expressed his concern that many officials are well-qualified, but are not always advised of the AAU rules or tournament-specific rules during the AAU season. Mr. Stadnik raised the issue that there may not be enough certified referees available to meet a stringent standard for DQTs. This discussion was tabled until the January meeting, but Mr. Stadnik asked the group to think of ideas that might address this issue.
Next, Mr. Stadnik led a brief discussion regarding DQT competition days and times. Mr. Stadnik stated that the group could, for example, vote to have no Friday evening games for DQTs. This issue was also tabled until the January meeting.
No new business was brought before the committee.
Finally, Mr. Stadnik asked the group to review the handout regarding new rules interpretations, and to be on the lookout for these new interpretations to be enforced this AAU season.
The next PVAAU meeting was scheduled for Wednesday, January 9, 2008. The meeting was adjourned at 9:10pm.
