World Croquet Federation
WCF Council Meeting held at the Fendalton Park Croquet Club Christchurch NZ 6th February 2008

Present

David Openshaw President WCF

Charles Jones WCF Management Committee
Max Murray WCF Management Committee

Sue Piper President CNZ
Gordon Smith CNZ
Tony Hall Australia
Kevin Beard Australia
Stephen Mulliner England
Colin Irwin England
Kevin Wells IOM
Chris Williams Wales
Liz Williams Wales
Jim Bast USA
Bruno Hess Germany
Juan Ojeda Spain
Mrs Juan Ojeda Spain
Reg Bamford South Africa
Jonathan Kirby Scotland
Samir Patel England

1. Minutes of previous Meeting

The minutes were accepted with the change that Charles Jones (NZ and WCF) was added to the list of those present.

2. Report of the WCF Management Committee

David Openshaw opened the report by thanking Brian Storey WCF Secretary General for his work on behalf of the WCF and said that Brian’s outstanding commitment had made a really big difference to the progress the WCF had made over the last five years. This was endorsed by the Meeting.

David also advised the meeting of the major contribution that Amir Ramsis President Egyptian Croquet Federation and member of the WCF Management Committee had made to supporting International Golf Croquet. Without his support many of the advances made around the world in Golf Croquet would not have been possible.

A written document entitled The WCF Management Committee Report 2005-2007 had been circulated to all members

David Openshaw summarised the main points.

The WCF Regulations had been further developed and updated.

Successful events had been held as follows:
Women’s GC Cairo 2005 and Dublin 2007
World GC Championship Hawkes Bay NZ 2006
The 1st European Team Championship (AC and GC) Cheltenham England 2007
The Forward Schedule for events was
May 2009 World AC Championship Florida USA
Women’s GC preferred bidder Australia 2009/2010
World AC Championship preferred bidder Australia 2012
World GC 2010 has no preferred bidder.
The financial formula for hosting WCF events had proved very successful in all recent championships. Host countries had obtained considerable benefits.
A Development Programme had been put in place and grant aid had been given in 11 cases.
A WCF Hall of Fame had been introduced
The Website had been expanded and developed and is fast approaching 1000 pages
The Golf Croquet laws had been considerably revised.
The Financial position of the WCF remains strong and it is intended to increase the level of support for development programmes.

3. Statements of Accounts

The audited 2006 accounts were approved

4. Applications for Membership

The Czech Republic was formally admitted to membership. The membership of Guernsey was terminated because there was no longer any croquet played there.

5. Revisions of Association Status

The Meeting Agreed the following changes of status
Admitted to membership since the last WCF Council Meeting
Czech Republic CA

The following Observer Associations have been admitted to Associate status:-
Austria CA
Isle of Man CA
Switzerland CA
Spain CA

The following Observer Member Association has been terminated:
Guernsey CA

6. Applications for Championships to be recognised

None

7. To consider resolutions for which due notice has been received

7.1 To consider the adoption or otherwise of the World Anti-Doping Agency Code on anti-doping.
The WCF MC (Management Committee) had been asked at the previous council meeting to propose actions relating to WADA. A paper was prepared for this meeting. But the WCF MC did not propose particular actions. The President explained that the very different and diverse views of the MC had not enabled them to agree a consensus or majority approach.
The President further explained that whilst for national Associations there was usually no cost of joining WADA, for the WCF the costs would be a one off cost of 5000USD and an annual cost of 2000USD.

Stephen Mulliner said that cost should not normally be a reason for rejecting action which was otherwise considered beneficial.

The adoption of the World Anti-Doping Agency Code by the WCF was strongly supported by both CNZ and ACA.

The following points were made by other delegates
Since the WCF was at present and for the foreseeable future not able to participate in the World Games or Commonwealth Games then this was not a reason for the WCF to join WADA. (Colin Irwin)
The potential costs of litigation resulting from testing should be seriously considered. (Jim Bast)
The administration cost to smaller associations particularly in terms of human resources was not worth any benefits received (Jonathan Kirby)
Some of the WADA drug policy seemed to be at odds with what was legal in certain countries eg Holland (Reg Bamford)
Beta Blockers appeared to be performance enhancing in croquet therefore within a WCF WADA policy there was clearly a case for banning their use. (Kevin Wells)

Sue Piper proposed that the WCF should evaluate the obstacles to the WCF adopting the WADA code and to propose the measures necessary to overcome these obstacles. This was agreed.

7.2 Golf Croquet Rules Committee
Proposed by the Australian Croquet Association

Current Rule:-

"(106.3) The WCF Golf Croquet Rules Committee (GCRC) shall comprise six members who will elect their own chairman. The (English) Croquet Association, Croquet Australia, Egyptian Croquet Federation, the New Zealand Croquet Council and the United States Croquet Association will each appoint one member. The remaining Full Member Associations will elect a sixth member. Procedures for the election of this committee will be determined by the Management Committee”.

The following amendment was proposed:-

It is moved that Rule 106.3 of the WCF Constitution is amended to read:
"(106.3) The WCF Golf Croquet Rules Committee (GCRC) shall comprise five members who will elect their own chairman. Members will be elected for terms to be determined by the Management Committee using procedures to be determined by the Management Committee."

This motion was defeated. A majority wished to retain the nominated places on the committee for specific National Associations.

7.3 Association Croquet Laws Committee

Proposed by the Australian Croquet Association

It is moved that the following is inserted in Rule 106 of the WCF Constitution:-
"(106.5) The WCF Association Croquet Laws Committee (ACLC) shall comprise five members who will elect their own chairman. Members will be elected for terms to be determined by the Management Committee using procedures to be determined by the Management Committee."

This motion was defeated. A majority wished to retain the current IRLC Laws Committee.

7.4 Notice of Resolutions

A change to the Notice of Resolutions was proposed by the WCF Management Committee

The Current Rule states:-

109. NOTICE OF RESOLUTIONS
(109.1) Resolutions may be proposed only by an Association or by the Committee.

(109.2) Written notice of a resolution to be proposed by an Association, and any supporting documentation, may be sent to the Secretary-General at any time. The Secretary-General shall arrange for such resolutions to be considered at the next General Meeting to be held that will allow him to give each Association notice of the proposed motion at least 60 days before the "end date", defined in Rule 108.2.
(109.3) If no General Meeting is scheduled at an appropriate time, the Committee may instruct the Secretary-General to give notice to each Association at least 60 days before the "end date" that the resolution will be put to a postal vote.

(109.4) If notice of a resolution has been given by an Association under Rule 109 or Rule 207, or the Committee intends to propose a resolution, the Secretary-General shall give notice of
the details of the resolution and any supporting documentation provided by the proposer to each Association at least 60 days before the "end date" defined under Rule 108.2.

(109.5) Any documents outlining arguments for or against the resolution shall reach the Secretary-General at least 40 days before the "end date". The Secretary-General shall give notice of these documents, together with a voting paper, to each Association at least 30 days before the "end date". In the case of a General Meeting, the Secretary-General shall include in this notice details of all the business to be transacted at the Meeting.

(109.6) A resolution of which due notice has not been given may be discussed at an Ordinary General Meeting as a matter of urgency if a motion to that effect is carried by a two-thirds majority of the votes recorded in respect thereof. If it is so decided, it shall be deemed that due notice of the resolution has been given.

(109.7) No resolution may be proposed by an Association which would have the effect of reversing a resolution adopted at the immediately preceding General Meeting unless a motion to that effect is carried by a two-thirds majority of the votes recorded in respect thereof.
-end-

The proposed amendments are shown below in red italics

109.5) Any documents outlining arguments for or against the resolution, or any proposed amendment to the proposed resolution, shall reach the Secretary-General at least 40 days before the "end date". The Secretary-General shall give notice of these documents, together with a voting paper, to each Association at least 30 days before the "end date". In the case of a General Meeting, the Secretary-General shall include in this notice details of all the business to be transacted at the Meeting.

(109.6) A resolution, and any proposed amendment, of which due notice has not been given may be discussed at an Ordinary General Meeting as a matter of urgency if a motion to that effect is carried by a two-thirds majority of the votes recorded in respect thereof. If it is so decided, it shall be deemed that due notice of the resolution, and any proposed amendment, has been given.

(109.7) No resolution, or any proposed amendment, may be proposed by an Association which would have the effect of reversing a resolution adopted at the immediately preceding General Meeting unless a motion to that effect is carried by a two-thirds majority of the votes recorded in respect thereof.

Rationale for the above amendments

At the last WCF Council meeting and later, in a postal vote, a decision was made by the voting membership to significantly shorten the time taken in the proposal and voting processes for resolutions and elections.

Despite WCF best efforts, one thing not considered was to possibly allow amendments to resolutions to be made prior to a vote, particularly in a postal vote.

These amendments were passed.

7.5 Nationality and Eligibility

The following changes were proposed by the WCF Management Committee

7.5a) Qualification to represent a country.

Rationale

The WCF Nationality eligibility statute needs some changes. They describe limitations only for International 26 point games, which by inference applies only to AC events. No mention is made of GC events at all. Note:- WCF policy is to interpret the statute as also applying to GC events even though there is no mention of them in the text.

In addition, the 36 month limitation for changing a nationality was long thought by some to be onerous and did not easily reflect today’s more transient society. As a consequence, a WCF working party was set up to examine the Statute and this reported back in late 2006.

1.The Current WCF Statute read as follows

303. Qualification of player to represent a country

(303.1) A player is qualified to represent a country in a croquet event if:

(303.1.1) he was born in the country; or
(303.1.2) either of his natural or adoptive parents was born in the country; or
(303.1.3) he is a citizen of the country, is entitled to hold a passport issued by the country and has lived there for thirty-six consecutive months at some time; or
(303.1.4) he has been a permanent resident of the country for a period of twenty-four Months immediately prior to the event.

(303.3) A player who has represented a country in a 26 point International Association croquet event controlled by the WCF or by the participating Governing Bodies may not represent another country for which he is qualified unless a period of 36 consecutive months has elapsed since his last appearance for his former country.

-end-

The proposed WCF amendment was as follows:-
303 Qualification of player to represent a country
(303.1) A player is qualified to represent a country in a croquet event if:

(303.2) In (303.1.3) and (303.1.4) above:
(303.2.1) residence solely for the purpose of education at a school, technical college or university shall not be included; and
(303.2.2) if a player lives in two countries he must nominate one country as his home country. A player must live there for a minimum of four months per year.
(303.3) A player who has represented a country in an International croquet event controlled by the WCF or by one or more of the participating National Governing Bodies may not represent another country for which he is qualified unless a period of 12 consecutive months has elapsed since his last appearance for his former country.
(303.4)Where, in the opinion of the World Croquet Federation, unusual circumstances exist regarding a players nationality and/or residence position, or where a player qualifies only for a non member country or association, the World Croquet Federation Management Committee shall determine that persons eligibility and qualification for one or more member associations, and/or their suitability for participating in any International croquet event controlled by the WCF or by one or more of the participating National Governing Bodies.
-end-

The proposed amendments to 303.1.4, 303.2.2 and 303.4 were agreed. The change proposed to 303.3 was agreed with a further amendment that twelve months should be replaced by thirteen months.

Regarding 303.3 the President explained that at the MacRobertson Shield Meeting held on 4 Feb 2008 (two days earlier) a similar eligibility regulation had been agreed for that competition except that the twelve months had been changed to thirteen months. This was to cover situations where an annual event happened to be played with an interval of slightly more than twelve months. The president proposed an amendment to the motion on 303.3. There was a question from the floor as to how a motion could be amended at short notice. The president replied that if the meeting considered the change urgent by a 2/3 majority then an amendment could be put. He explained that he considered the change urgent so that the WCF regulations on eligibility were the same as those for the MacRobertson Shield. The meeting agreed that this amendment should be put by the necessary 2/3rds majority. It was then agreed to change the twelve months in the proposed 303.3 to thirteen months and the amended motion was then carried.

7.5b) The extent to which WCF statutes are binding on members in relation to eligibility criteria.

Rationale

In 2007, a discussion arose about Nationality eligibility and the applicability of the statute in relation to the WCF European Team Championship and the UK “Home Internationals”. Effectively, a WCF member association requested advice on how a change of nationality within 2 months of last playing for another country would affect their future WCF status.

What was proposed

It was proposed that the WCF Council consider a number of proposals and alternatives that would clarify the extent to which the WCF nationality statutes is binding on its members.

Proposed Text of the Amendments

Amendment 1

(303.5) 303.1, 303.2, 303.3 and 303.4 above, applies to all International croquet events played under the authority of a member association or the World Croquet Federation.

This amendment was agreed. Alternative amendments therefore were not put.

7.5c) The meeting then moved on to consider how to deal with multi association-team events.

The following motion was put.

(303.6) Where a team or teams in an International croquet event is comprised of players from more than one World Croquet Federation member association, the players must declare which constituent member association they are representing prior to participation within it, be bound by any previous relevant eligibility status and acknowledge that any lawful change of eligibility will affect their status pursuant to 303.1, 303.2, 303.3, 303.4 and 303.5 above.

This was agreed.

7.5d) The meeting then considered how to deal with transgressions of eligibility or qualification.

Rationale

There must be a sanction of players, teams or member associations should it be discovered that a player is ineligible to play in an International or WCF event.

The following proposal was put.

303.7 Discipline

Where a player is found to transgress 303.1 to 303.6 above:-

303.7.1 Before an event.

Upon discovery the relevant member association may substitute another eligible player. In addition, the relevant player is not disqualified from participation in any other International croquet event for a member association for whom they are eligible.

303.7.2 During an event

All matches played by the relevant player in a singles event, or by the team in a team event, which included the active participation of the relevant player, shall be declared, at the discretion of the organising body, lost to the relevant opponent(s), by the maximum score allowed under the Laws or Rules of the Game or nullified completely.

The relevant player is disqualified from further participation in any International croquet event for two years.

In a team event, the member association may continue to play in the event provided they do not use the relevant player.

303.7.3 After an event has finished

The relevant player is disqualified from further participation in any International croquet event for two years.

This proposal was agreed.

7.5e) the meeting considered how to adjust International croquet event results to reflect the punishments.

Rationale

Following the proposed 303.7 above, if discovery is made during or immediately after the completion of a group or similar round-robin stage, an ineligible player will become disqualified and their results become nullified, thereby allowing another player to potentially take the place of the offending player in a knock out stage.

If it is discovered after a knock out stage has commenced, the offending player would be disqualified and their place in any subsequent round taken by their current or next opponent.

Due to time constraints, it may not be possible to re-adjust a group after the knock out stage commences or replay some rounds and hence adjustment can only be accomplished after discovery of the ineligibility.
This will normally be dealt with by a Tournament Manager or if the rules of the event allow, an Appeals Committee.

The following proposal was put.

303.8 Adjustment of results of competitions

Where a relevant player has been adjudged to have been ineligible during an International croquet event or after it has finished, the relevant governing body of the event shall decide whether to:-

1. allow the overall results of the event to stand; or

2.adjust the results of the event or part of it, having regard to the stage of the event when discovery of the ineligibility was made and overall fairness to other players in the event.

This proposal was agreed

7.5f) A separate proposal by the Australian Croquet Association on qualification to represent a country mirrored the one proposed by the WCFMC and passed by the meeting. This proposal was therefore withdrawn.

8. Confirm, Revise or Remove penalties imposed under Rule 31 or 32.

None

9. To elect auditors as appropriate

The current auditors, David Tomlin were reappointed.

10. Transact any other business of the Federation

There was no other business

The meeting was declared closed

Detailed Voting on Motions at the WCF Council Meeting 6th Feb 2008
Voting Scrutineers Chris Williams, Kevin Wells

Motion Number		AUS	ENG	NZL	USA	RSA	SCO	JAP	Total	Result
		3	3	3	3	1	1	1
1	For							1	1	No Vote
	Against							0	0
2	For	3						1	4
	Against		3	3	3	1	1		11	Failed
3	For							1	1	No seconder
	Against								0
4	For	3	3	3	3	1	1	1	15	Carried
	Against								0
5ai	For	3	3	3	3			1	13	Carried
	Against					A	1		1
5aii	For	3	3	3	3				12	Carried
	Against					A	1	1	2
5aiii	For	3	3	3	3			1	13	Carried
	Against					A	1		1
5aiv	For	3	3	3	3	1	1	1	15	Carried
	Against								0
5b	For	3	3	3		1	1	1	12	Carried
	Against				3				3
5c	For	3	3	3		1	1	1	12	Carried
	Against				3				3
5d	For	3	3	3		1	1	1	12	Carried
	Against				3				3
5e	For	3	3	3	3	1	1	1	15	Carried
	Against								0

5f	For							1	1	No seconder
	Against								0

Ther remaining FULL members did not attend or vote:- Canada, Egypt, Ireland, Italy.

Non Java Links

Present

1. Minutes of previous Meeting

3. Statements of Accounts

9. To elect auditors as appropriate