Women’s Meeting
The meeting was held Friday, December 13, 2002

In attendance: Daniel Sharadin, Commissioner; Tom Tracey, Director of Officials; Mike McDowell, Director of Communication; Jason Ricker, Team Liaison/Event Management Intern; Erin Graybill, Marketing Intern; Scott Reed, George Washington; Jim Floerchinger, Harvard; Matt Anderson, Michigan; Megan Thomson, Hartwick; Mike Maroney, Hartwick; Chandra Bierwirth, Marist; Barry King, Indiana; Dave Fritz, Grove City; Keith Bullion, Salem International; Luis Nicolao, Princeton; Michael Cross, Princeton; Bob Filander, Washington & Jefferson; Jim Yeamans, Slippery Rock; Josh Heynes, Penn State Behrend; Don Sherman, Gannon; Todd Clapper, Brown; John Zeigler, Bucknell; Carl Quigley, St. Francis; Curtis Robinette, Mercyhurst; Ken Hackett, Siena; Alan Huckins, Florida Atlantic; Allyson Gillespie, Villanova; John Benedick, MIT; Brian Kelly, Iona; guest: Scott Russell, Purdue;

The meeting began with a discussion of the various proposals. A complete description of each proposal can be found by clicking on the link below.

Women’s Varsity Proposal 1
John Zeigler made a motion that would limit teams' ability to pull games from a weekend schedule with the following conditions: the result is an equal number of games played by all competing teams in the Friday, Saturday or Sunday of the specific league weekend, or all teams in the competing league agree that specific games will be pulled from the schedule. Scott Reed seconded.

An amendment was proposed by Todd Clapper that would change the proposal to state that no team shall be required to play their third game of the day against another team playing their first contest of the day at the time that they compete. The Commissioner noted that this might require some teams to play on Friday which will increase costs and playing dates. Amendment seconded. Amendment passed.

Amended motion passes.

Women’s Varsity Proposal 2
Todd Clapper made a motion that would increase the minimum rest between games for CWPA League Competition to four hours from the start of one game to the start of the next game. Jim Floerchinger seconded.

Todd Clapper proposed an amendment to the proposal that would make the "recommended" minimum rest between games for CWPA League Competition to four hours from the start of one game to the start of the next game. The amendment would give the commissioner the discretion to apply the recommendation when possible. Mike Maroney seconded. Motion to amend failed.

Motion failed.

Women’s Varsity Proposal 3
Mike Maroney made a motion that all championships with schedules that have game start times less than 90 minutes apart, be held only in facilities that can provide adequate warm-up areas. Todd Clapper seconded. A clarification was made that "adequate" be defined as three lanes of water per team, with goals for shooting. Motion failed.

Women’s Varsity Proposal 4
Barry King made a motion to change the format of Eastern Championships from the current bracket play to a format that provides a first round bye for the top four seeds. Matt Anderson seconded. Motion passed by a 75% margin and will therefore take effect immediately.

Women’s Varsity Proposal 5
Todd Clapper made a motion to establish a 10-team women's Eastern Championship. The motion was not seconded.

Women’s Varsity Proposal 6
Addressed in the General Meeting

Women’s Varsity Proposal 8
Addressed in the General Meeting

Women’s Varsity Proposal 9
Luis Nicolao made a motion requiring that the value (equivalency) of financial aid awards that an institution may provide in any academic year be limited to two counters in the sport of women's water polo. NCAA Bylaw 15 shall be used in all cases to determine whether this limit has been reached. Allyson Gillespie seconded. Motion failed.

Women’s Varsity Proposal 10
Allyson Gillespie made a motion that no women's championships be held in states outside of MA, RI, NY, NJ, PA, CT, WV, DC. Luis Nicolao seconded.

Barry King proposed an amendment that the proposal would only affect Northern and Southern Championships. Chandra Bierwirth seconded. Amendment passed.

Amended motion passed by 75% and will therefore take effect immediately.

Women’s Varsity Proposal 11
Luis Nicolao made a motion that would limit the number of eligible team members who may travel with a team and dress for the Southern Championships, Northern Championships, and Eastern Championships to 18. Home teams would not be limited to the number of individuals who may dress. Allyson Gillespie seconded.

Allyson Gillespie made an amendment that there be no distinction made between home and away team and that a roster is declared on the evening before competition. Mike Maroney seconded. The amendment passed 10-9.

Amended motion passed 10-8.

Women’s Varsity Proposal 12
Mike Maroney made a motion that would allow Championship rotations to be open to institutions that want to utilize off campus facilities. Josh Heynes seconded. Motion was then tabled for discussion after Women's Varsity Proposal 13.

When revisited, the motion was withdrawn because the essence of the proposal already exists in the current format.

Women’s Varsity Proposal 13
Mike Maroney made a motion that would dissolve the current championship rotation in favor of an open bid format. Chandra Bierwirth seconded. Motion failed.

Women’s Varsity Proposal 14
Keith Bullion made a motion that would establish a Division II Eastern Championship. Don Sherman seconded. Motion passed.

Men’s Meeting

The meeting was held Friday, December 13, 2002

In attendance: Daniel Sharadin, Commissioner; Tom Tracey, Director of Officials; Mike McDowell, Director of Communication; Jason Ricker, Team Liaison/Event Management Intern; Erin Graybill, Marketing Intern; Scott Reed, George Washington; Jim Floerchinger, Harvard; Keith Bullion, Salem International; Dave Fritz, Grove City; Brian Kelly, Iona; Luis Nicolao, Princeton; Jim Yeamans, Slippery Rock; Josh Heynes, Penn State Behrend; Don Sherman, Gannon; Todd Clapper, Brown; John Zeigler, Bucknell; Carl Quigley, St. Francis; John Benedick, MIT; Chandra Bierwirth, Marist; Curtis Robinette, Mercyhurst; Jim Kelley, Wagner; Mike Schofield, Navy; Carl Salyer, Navy; Bob Filander, Washington & Jefferson; guest: Scott Russell, Purdue

John Zeigler made a motion that no team be required to play their third game of the day against another team playing their first contest of the day at the time that they compete. The Commissioner reminded coaches that this might require some teams to play on Friday which will increase costs and playing dates. Todd Clapper seconded. Motion passed.

Men’s Varsity Proposal 2
Todd Clapper withdrew this proposal.

Men’s Varsity Proposal 3
Jim Floerchinger made a motion to schedule the men's ECAC Championship as the first weekend possible for all teams. It will include 16 teams (8 North, 8 South) with open bids awarded to divisions as necessary. This will require that it be held in Boston (Harvard/MIT) or at Navy. Ranking would be based on Divisional Championships the previous year, allowing teams to budget and plan accordingly. Todd Clapper seconded.

Jim Floerchinger moved to amend the proposal to state the championship would be a 10-team format and take place on the first available weekend of competition for Ivy League schools. Site rotation would remain the same. Changes would take place immediately. John Zeigler seconded the amendment. Amendment passed.

An amendment was proposed to the proposal that would make the date of the Annual Meeting the deadline for committing to the championship. Amendment failed.

Luis Nicolao proposed an amendment that would make May 1 the deadline for committing to the championship. John Zeigler seconded. Amendment passed.

Amended motion passed.

Men’s Varsity Proposal 4
Jeff Ma made a motion to move the Division III Eastern Championship to the weekend before the Varsity Divisional Championships. Josh Heynes seconded. Motion passed.

Men’s Varsity Proposal 5
The CWPA Office proposed that a self-funded Division III National Championship be established, beginning in 2003. The first championship would be held out west. All costs of running the event must be borne by the host institution and the maximum entry allowable will depend on the format selected. The entry fee would cover only the cost of games and official's transportation. Two teams from the east and two teams from the west would qualify. A Championship Committee would need to be established to award bids and determine championship guidelines.

The CWPA Office amended the proposal to state that the championship would first be held in the east. Josh Heynes seconded. Amendment passed.

Amended motion passed with 75% of the vote and will take place immediately.

Men’s Varsity Proposal 6
Jeff Ma made a motion that if the Division III Eastern Championship becomes a qualifier for the Division III National Championship, the Division III Eastern Championship must be held in an all-deep facility. Josh Heynes seconded.

An amendment was accepted by MIT that institutions would have the ability to find off-campus facilities in order to host. Josh Heynes seconded. Amendment passed.

Amended motion passed.

Men’s Varsity Proposal 7
Todd Clapper made a motion to create an at-large system for determining who qualifies for Eastern Championships. The selection for Easterns would be three from each division based upon their finish at Divisional Championships and two at-large teams that would be selected by committee. Brian Kelly seconded. Motion failed.

Men’s Varsity Proposal 8
Keith Bullion made a motion that would establish a Division II Eastern Championship. Don Sherman seconded. Motion passed with more than 75% of the vote and will go into effect immediately.

Men’s Varsity Proposal 9
Todd Clapper made a motion that all Eastern Championship hosts should have an automatic bid to the Championship. Tournament format would adjust to the next largest approved format in the event that a host does not qualify. Motion failed.

Men’s Varsity Proposal 10
Jim Yeamans made a motion to create a new CWPA West division. Division would include Gannon, Grove City, Mercyhurst, Penn State Behrend, Salem, SRU and W & J. Mike Schofield seconded. Tabled for three months or until new information brought to light regarding Slippery Rock's situation, whichever occurs first.

New Business
Discussion was held concerning the selection process of officials for the championship game. A letter by Loren Bertocci, a CWPA official, was circulated and members debated the issue of whether newer officials had opportunities to referee both at the championship game and at championship events under the current system. Accordingly, two motions were made to provide better opportunities for newer officials.

Motion made by the Commissioner stating that no referee may officiate more than three consecutive Eastern Championships. In addition, the referee may not serve as non-officiating head referee at the event he/she is mandated to miss. Carl Quigley seconded. Motion passed by more than 75% and will take effect immediately. (Motion was modified in General Meeting).

Motion made by the Commissioner that the referees selected to work the Eastern Championship game will be the official selected by the NCAA tournament committee and an official selected by the non-officiating head referee, with non-binding input from the coaches of the teams in the championship game. Luis Nicolao seconded. Motion passed.

General Meeting

The meeting was held Friday, December 13, 2002

In attendance: Daniel Sharadin, Commissioner; Tom Tracey, Director of Officials; Mike McDowell, Director of Communication; Jason Ricker, Team Liaison/Event Management Intern; Erin Graybill, Marketing Intern; Scott Reed, George Washington; Jim Floerchinger, Harvard; Matt Anderson, Michigan; Megan Thomson, Hartwick; Mike Maroney, Hartwick; Chandra Bierwirth, Marist; Jim Kelley, Wagner; Barry King, Indiana; Keith Bullion, Salem International; Dave Fritz, Grove City; Luis Nicolao, Princeton; Jim Yeamans, Slippery Rock; Josh Heynes, Penn State Behrend; Don Sherman, Gannon; Todd Clapper, Brown; John Zeigler, Bucknell; Carl Quigley, St. Francis; Allyson Gillespie, Villanova; John Benedick, MIT; Mike Schofield, Navy; Carl Salyer, Navy; Ken Hackett, Siena; Curtis Robinette, Mercyhurst; Alan Huckins, Florida Atlantic; Bob Filander, Washington & Jefferson; guest: Scott Russell, Purdue

The membership considered the following proposals (a complete description of each proposal can be found by clicking on the link below). The result of voting on these proposals included the online ballots submitted earlier to the office.

General Proposals

General Membership Proposal 1
The CWPA Office made a motion to set a list of minimum requirements necessary for an institution to host the National Collegiate Club Championship, Division III National Collegiate Club Championship and the Eastern Championship. Allyson Gillespie seconded. Motion passed.

General Membership Proposal 2
The CWPA Office made a motion to establish a consistent policy regarding admission to CWPA events. All students, staff and faculty would receive free admission to regular season events held at their institution with a current school ID. This policy would not apply to any National Championship sponsored by the CWPA or NCAA. National Championship events would charge all spectators. However, faculty, staff and students from the host institution would pay a reduced rate. Mike Maroney seconded.

Due to a discrepancy in the mail ballots received, the vote is under review.

General Membership Proposal 3
The CWPA Office made a motion to provide a travel stipend of $25 for referees traveling over 30 miles each way to officiate a single game. Jim Floerchinger seconded. Motion passed.

General Membership Proposal 4
The CWPA Office made a motion to increase the varsity game fees for single games. John Zeigler seconded. Motion passed.

General Membership Proposal 5
The CWPA Office made a motion to revise the five-team tournament format so that each team would play three games. Jim Floerchinger seconded. Motion passed.

General Membership Proposal 6
The CWPA Office made a motion to revise the eight-team tournament format to a schedule that would begin and end the games at more reasonable hours. Mike Schofield seconded. Motion passed.

General Membership Proposal 7
The CWPA Office made a motion to revise the eleven-team championship format to a schedule that would provide more time between the semifinal and championship game to ensure adequate rest and eliminate Friday night games. Mike Schofield seconded.

The CWPA Office accepted the amendment that the motion would apply to the Northern Division only. Todd Clapper seconded the amendment. Amendment passed.

Amended motion defeated. Varsity teams will continue to use the current eleven-team format.

Annual Report
The Commissioner gave a presentation outlining the annual report for the organization. The report included an update on the league's three-year strategic plan. The Commissioner noted that the total funds received will be slightly less than the total of the league’s expenses this season due to a number of factors explained in the report. However, since we are a non-profit organization and as such are not in business to earn a profit, this does not present a problem. As an organization, we are charged with ensuring that the funds received are used for services and benefits to the membership.

New Business
The CWPA Office made a motion that Florida Atlantic University be accepted into league membership, with the stipulation that FAU will not host any league events until enough teams in its region exist to allow regional competition. Allyson Gillespie seconded. Motion passed.

Todd Clapper made a motion that Florida Atlantic be placed in the New England region of the women's Northern Division for the purpose of competition. Jim Floerchinger seconded. Motion passed.

Keith Bullion made a motion giving the Board of Directors the authority to increase membership dues as necessary to offset any loss of services from the Collegiate Office of USWP. Allyson Gillespie seconded. Motion passed.

Elections were held for the Board of Review. Jim Floerchinger, Allyson Gillespie, John Benedick, and Loren Bertocci were named, with one referee still to be appointed by agreement from Loren Bertocci, Technical Director, and Tom Tracey, Director of Officials.

Elections for the Board of Directors were held and Mike Maroney was elected as a coach.

Elections for the Women's Championship Seeding Committee were held and Matt Anderson was elected from the Allegheny Division and Alan Huckins was elected as chairperson. The remaining committee members were re-elected, including Jim Floerchinger, New England; John Zeigler, Mid Atlantic; and Mike Maroney, New York.

Mike Maroney made a motion to reconsider Women's Varsity Proposal 10. John Zeigler seconded. The motion to reconsider failed.

Todd Clapper made a motion stating that no referee may officiate more than three consecutive women’s Eastern Championships. In addition, this individual may not serve as non-officiating head referee at the event he/she is mandated to miss. Dave Fritz seconded. Matt Anderson proposed an amendment that changed the proposal to no more than four consecutive Eastern Championships. The amendment was accepted by Todd Clapper. The amended motion passed.

Dave Fritz made a motion to reconsider the Eastern Championship referee rotation policy passed in the men's meeting. Keith Bullion seconded. The motion to reconsider passed. Dave Fritz made a motion to amend the policy to no more than four consecutive Eastern Championships. The amendment was seconded by Carl Quigley. The amendment passed.

Mike Schofield made a motion to include a "Rookie of the Year" award to be selected during the all-Conference balloting. Jim Floerchinger seconded. Motion passed.

The CWPA Office made a motion to name the men’s Eastern Championship Coach of the Year award the "Dick Russell Award" and name the award for the women’s Eastern Championship Coach of the Year the "Doc Hunkler Award.” Todd Clapper seconded. Motion passed.

Todd Clapper made a motion stating that the referees selected to work the women’s Eastern Championship game will be the official selected by the NCAA tournament committee and an official selected by the non-officiating head referee, with non-binding input from the coaches of the teams in the championship game. Dave Fritz seconded. Motion passed with 75% of the vote and will take effect immediately.

Women’s Varsity Proposal 6
Keith Bullion withdrew the first portion of his initial proposal and presented only the second portion. He made a motion that a task force be established to consider the issue of growth in the organization. Carl Quigley seconded. Motion passed.

Women’s Varsity Proposal 8
Withdrawn by Jim Yeamans.

The Commissioner then requested that the other proposals pertaining to alignment and competitive structure for women be discussed following the time period in which the new committee will present various proposals for discussion. Members present agreed unanimously.

Mike Schofield made a motion to have a staff member from the CWPA be present at each of the NCAA Championships whenever possible in the future. Barry King seconded. Motion passed.

John Benedick, Assistant Athletic Director at MIT, gave a presentation on Sportsmanship that included a study undertaken by the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The study outlined the cultural shift that is affecting our athletes, making unsportsmanlike behavior more acceptable. The Commissioner asked the membership their opinion and it was the consensus that Sportsmanship is an important topic for our league and that we could be in a very bad position if we ignored the current trend. John Benedick requested that those individuals interested in getting involved should contact the office and form a committee. The committee members would discuss the next step for the conference, which might include soliciting grant funding from the NCAA.

The Commissioner discussed possible future plans of the organization briefly, indicating that future expansion of the office staff will require locating a new office, which will be more expensive than the current arrangement. Mike Schofield stated it will be important to examine where we want to place our resources before deciding to do anything.

Meeting adjourned 6:45 PM.

Club Ballot Results

The results of the voting for proposals concerning Collegiate Club teams is listed below. The votes are given according to the following order: In favor-Against-Abstain.

General Proposals
Proposal G1 Passed 15-1-3

Proposal G2 Passed 11-7-1

Proposal G3 Passed 16-1-2

Proposal G4 Concerns only varsity teams

Proposal G5 Passed 14-1-4

Proposal G6 Passed 15-1-3

Proposal G7 Passed 13-3-3


Club Proposals
Proposal C1 Proposal Passed but tied for implementation. 3-7-3-7-7 (last two categories pertain to options), issue will determined when club survey is distributed later this spring.

Proposal C2 Defeated 10-13-4

Proposal C3 Defeated -- Proposal conflicted with G2. Initially both G2 and C3 passed and they both cannot be implemented simultaneously. A new ballot was distributed to the teams that voted initially and Proposal G2 was selected over C3 7-4. Remaining teams failed to vote.

Proposal C4 Passed 19-3-5

Proposal C5 Passed 20-2-5

Proposal C6 Passed 22-2-3

Proposal C7 Defeated 9-11-7

Proposal C8 Passed 13-9-5

Proposal NW1 Defeated 0-0-0 -- Proposal G5 was passed and NW teams will follow that format.

Proposal OV1/GL1 Withdrawn

Proposal NE1 Defeated 1-1-0 Without a majority in favor of change, Proposal G7 will serve as the new format.

Proposal GP1 Defeated 1-2-0

Proposal PC1

This vote was split by gender during the conference call and amended by Cal Poly as it pertains to the women’s vote.

Proposal PC1 Men Passed 1-0-0

Proposal PC1 Women Amended to read: In the women’s competition of the Pacific Coast Division, no player that has appeared on a varsity water polo roster for more than two years may play for that same school’s club team, regardless of class level.
Passed 5-1-0