There are a number of voting matters to be put before members at the Camanachd Association Annual General Meeting which takes place at the West End Hotel, Fort William on Friday 25 November 2016.
A Special Resolution put forward by Newtonmore requests a relaxation in the rules surrounding pitchside technical areas for televised semi-final and final matches. At present, substitutes, support staff and coaches must stay within this area for the duration of the game unless authorised to leave by the referee or fourth official. The only exception is for substitutes who are allowed to move out-with the designated area to warm up.
Newtonmore argue that whilst this arrangement is the norm for sports such as football, shinty is played on a considerably bigger pitch, making communication with players more difficult. They say that team managers are used to being able to issue instructions and sometimes calm players down by being on the touch line during non-televised matches so they propose that, for all televised games, the manager is allowed out of the technical area from time to time to communicate with their players but they must return after a reasonable time or as requested by the fourth official / referee.
Members will also be asked to vote on an Ordinary Resolution proposed by the Camanachd Referees Association which suggests the introduction of a new Byelaw for Youth Competitions. This Byelaw is intended to help increase the number and standard of referees available to officiate youth shinty matches. It is proposed that, as a condition of entry, every club with a senior team is required to identify at least two club members who are either qualified as Foundation referees or enrolled to attend a Foundation referee course and who will commit to refereeing youth games for their home club or any other youth games as required. These referees will be separate and distinct from the referees currently officiating at senior level.
Glenurquhart Shinty Club recognise the benefits of increasing the refereeing numbers but feel that the Camanachd Referees Association proposal is overly demanding so they have put forward an amendment restricting the requirement to clubs having to identify just one new official to assume this role.
The Camanachd Association will ask members to increase adult membership fees from £15 to £20 and youth membership fees from £5 to £6. The game’s governing body has explained that these increases are to offset increased costs through the compulsory introduction of company pensions, anticipated additional VAT payments due to changes in the Association’s trading position and a current reduction in commercial revenue following a year in which the Camanachd Cup was without a sponsor. Club and Affiliate fees and Competition fees are to remain unchanged.
The Association has also put forward the case to raise the player transfer fee from £12 to the same as the adult membership fee as well as a minor increase to Public Liability cover.
The AGM is expected to formally elect Willie MacDonald from Fort William and Steven MacKenzie from Beauly as Company Directors. Willie MacDonald would continue in the post of Youth Director with Steven MacKenzie having special responsibility for Communications.
As well as hearing Camanachd Association President Jim Barr’s 2016 Annual Report, there will also be a presentation on the 2015 annual accounts from Finance Director Daniel Palombo.
Registration begins at 7pm and the meeting starts at 7.30pm.