IFF CB meeting 08.01.2005

 

Place:                   Novotel Zürich City-West, Zurich

Participants:         Tomas Eriksson     President

                             Renato Orlando     Vice President

                             Tomas Jonsson     Treasurer

                             Thomas Gilardi

                             Per Jansson

                             Risto Kauppinen

                             Martin Vaculik

                             Stefan Kratz          Secretary General

 

Excused:              John Liljelund        Vice President

                             Peter Lindström

 

§   1   Opening of the meeting

Mr. Eriksson greeted welcome and opened the meeting at 10:00.

 

§   2   Approval of the agenda

The agenda was scrutinized and approved.

 

§   3   Minutes from last meeting

The minutes from the last meeting were scrutinized, approved and put ad acta.

 

§   4   Economy

a)       Preliminary financial reports 31.12.2004 (enclosure 1enclosure 2)

Mr. Jonsson presented the preliminary financial report per 31.12.2004. The preliminary result is a surplus of +154 659 CHF. The surplus is basically due to, on the cost side, less office costs (differs with +102 000 CHF to the budget), and a general cutting of all costs. The material approval system shows a surplus of +28 732 CHF to be handled by the Development Board. In principal the costs are the same, looked upon during the last three years, but the income is less, circa -18 000 CHF from helmets. The facemasks are no longer in the approval system, on a mandatory basis, since they are regarded as personal protection equipment. The material approval costs have also been higher since there are, in 2004, both labels directly on the shafts, and the possibility to buy the stickers.

 

The Central Board decided to approve the report.

 

b)       Information on IFF claims  – status December 31st, 2004 (enclosure 3)

Mr. Jonsson presented the IFF claims per 31.12.2004. The claims are on December 31, 93 889 CHF, out of which 36 000 CHF are claims for the WFC 2006 that should have been paid on December 31, 2004.

 

Mr. Kratz reported on the activities and the mutual flow of information from Brazil and New Zealand. The CB had the opinion that for the sake of promoting Floorball and taking into account the activities going on in Brazil and in New Zealand, to give the President and the Secretary General the task to discuss with those concerned.

 

The Central Board decided to approve the report.

 

The Central Board decided to give Mr. Eriksson and Mr. Kratz the task to communicate with Brazil and New Zealand, and for the sake of promotion of Floorball also the mandate to strike the memberships fees, a total maximum of 600 CHF. 

 

§   5   World Championships

a)       WFC 2005 – Report (enclosure 4, fixture lists)
Mr. Orlando reported on the progress with the organization of the WFC 2005. Mr. Orlando together with Mr. Liljelund had meetings with the Singapore FA during the APAC tournament in Singapore on December 7-12, 2004.

 

All participants have been informed in due time about the WFC being organized during the period of May 28 (Saturday) until June 6, 2005 (Monday), but with the finals on Sunday June 5. The mandatory technical meeting is, as always, organized the day before the tournament starts, i.e. on Friday May 27.

 

§   5 a) continuation
Mr. Orlando informed on the match schedule, the venues and the fixture lists. Mr. Kratz reported that the final fixture list was sent to all participants on December 10, 2004.

 

Furthermore Mr. Orlando informed about the eventual need of a co-ordinated press officer, and that strict transports and team guides are required.

 

The Central Board decided to approve the report.

 

b)       WFC U19 Men 2005

Mr. Orlando reported on the progress with the organization of the U19 WFC 2005. The WFC is played in the cities of Cesis and Valmiera, in two venues on October 25-30, 2005. The cities are located app. 100 kilometres northeast of Riga.

 

A pre-tournament will be organized in April. Mr. Orlando will attend with the Swiss team and have a thorough look on the organization. Mr. Orlando also reported that Mr. Andris Dzenis is the secretary general of the WFC U19, and this is very good since Mr. Dzenis has a good know-how and experience from the work as RACC member and acting as Jury at IFF events.

Mr. Kratz reported on registered teams:

A-Division: Finland, Sweden, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Norway, Latvia, Denmark, and Poland.
B-Division: Russia, Germany Estonia, Netherlands, Hungary, Japan, Slovakia and Singapore.

 

Mr. Kratz remarked that Poland and Russia are still under suspension, and cannot take part unless the suspension is lifted.

 

The Central Board decided to approve the report.

 

c)       WFC 2006 in Sweden

Mr. Jansson reported on the progress with the organization of the WFC 2006. The Swedish FA has already today signed an agreement with SVT (Swedish Television) as a host broadcaster. SVT will at least broadcast 4 matches; these are Sweden-Denmark, Sweden-Switzerland in the group matches, and one semi-final and the WFC 2006 Final. Mr. Jansson stressed that the Finnish group will play in Stockholm, and the Swedish group in Malmö and Helsingborg. One groups each in the B division in each Stockholm and Malmö/Helsingborg respectively. All matches concerning placing matches will be played in Stockholm. The Swedish FA is responsible for the transportation of teams within Sweden, meaning that the Swedish FA will provide a train or airfares within Sweden from Malmö/Helsingborg to Stockholm for the playoffs. The semi-finals and the Final will be played in the Globe Arena, the same arena that hosted the first WFC in 1996.

 

Mr. Kratz reported, in the absence of Mr. Liljelund, that the contract is signed and the drawing of order in groups was set at the last CB meeting.

 

Mr. Kratz reported that the registered team are:

A-Division: Sweden, Czech Republic, Finland, Switzerland, Norway, Latvia, Russia, Germany, Denmark, and Italy.
B-Division: Austria, Estonia, Hungary, Netherlands, Slovenia, Great Britain, USA, Australia, Singapore and Japan.
C-Division: Canada, Spain, Slovakia, France, Georgia, Poland and Belgium,  – missing registrations are Malaysia, India, and Pakistan.

 

Mr. Kratz remarked that Poland and Russia are still under suspension, and cannot take part unless the suspension is lifted.

 

Spain has shown interest to organize the C-Division. The discussion is going on with the Spanish FA. The CB noted this with pleasure, since the Spanish FA did a very good job on the organization of the C Division in 2004.

 

The Central Board decided to approve the report.

 

The Central Board decided to give the task to Mr. Orlando to negotiate and set the contract with the Spanish FA concerning the WFC C Division 2006.

 

 

§  5 d) WFC 2008, bids from DUB and CFbU

Mr. Kratz reported that IFF is in receipt of the information from the German FA concerning their withdrawal from organizing the WFC 2008. DUB has withdrawn their candidature, due to organizational as well as financial reasons. IFF fully understands DUB´s concern, and respect the decision. Since Germany is an important country in sports in general, and in Floorball in particular, the CB is pleased to read that the German FA is willing to undertake other IFF events in the near future. Furthermore since the 1st U19 Women WC 2004 in Finland was a full success and since the DUB has organised 2001 a perfect U19 men, the 2nd Women U19 in 2006 could be an event for Germany to organise in order to further promote Floorball.

 

The CB also noted with pleasure the good concept from the Czech Republic for the WFC 2008. The CFbU has already shown on a number of occasions that they are fully capable to organize IFF events.

 

The Central Board decided to approve the report.

 

The Central Board decided to confirm the decision to grant CFbU the rights to organize the WFC 2008.

 

The Central Board decided to give Mr. Liljelund the task to finalize the contract.

 

§   6   European Cup

a)       EC 2004/2005

Mr. Orlando reported on the ongoing EC final round. It has already been a huge success, with a lot of spectators, media and in particular TV coverage every evening in the so-called “Sport Aktuell”. The big Swiss papers have reported from the European Cup. Mr. Eriksson confirmed and stressed the facts that the Swiss FA has done a very good job, and he was now looking forward to the finals on Sunday in the Saalsportshalle in Zurich.

 

Mr. Orlando reported that three teams did not attend the technical meeting, which is mandatory. Balrog, Tatran and Örnsköldsvik did not attend the technical meeting on Tuesday January the 4th.

 

Mr. Kratz also reported that two teams, Balrog and Örnsköldsvik, had not sent in their team list in accordance with the IFF competition regulations.

 

These teams will face an automatic sports sanction of 1 000 CHF for not complying with the IFF competition regulations attending the technical meeting. The teams not having sent in their team list in accordance with the regulations will face an automatic sports sanction of 500 CHF.

 

Furthermore Mr. Orlando reported that IFF will ask the Latvian FA concerning the team Rubene for having players on the final team list, signed and confirmed by the Latvian FA, not properly being registered for Rubene latest on September 30, 2004.

 

The Central Board decided to approve the report.

 

b)       ECQ 2005/2006

Mr. Kratz reported that the contract is signed with DAFU on ECQ to be played preliminary in Aalborg 2005 and Copenhagen 2006.

 

The CB noted with pleasure that the base of good organizers now is broadened with also Denmark.

 

The Central Board decided to approve the report.

 

c)       EC 2005/2006

Mr. Vaculik reported that the final round would be played in Ostrava, in the Czech Republic on the 04-08.01.2006. The CB has earlier granted the rights to the CFbU.

 

The Central Board decided to approve the report.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

§  6 d) Future IFF events

The CB had a general discussion on IFF events. As earlier decided there is an objective to ask all IFF member associations six years in advance and to decide upon and appoint the organizer four years in advance. At the last round, deadline to respond was on October 30, 2004, not so many answers from the members came to the IFF. The CB discussed about these facts and the implications of why?

 

Mr. Kauppinen reported that the Finnish FA would probably in the near future ask IFF for the rights to organize events in the coming years. Mr. Orlando reported the same from the Swiss FA, as did Mr. Jonsson from the Norwegian association.

 

The CB was pleased with the fact that more and more associations have a long-term perspective when applying for IFF events.

 

The Central Board decided to approve the report.

 

§   7   Constitution

a)       Constitution of Committees

Mr. Eriksson concluded that at the CB meeting in August in Helsinki, the CB discussed and came to the conclusion that the secretary general would together with the President and vice Presidents discuss and propose and set the requirements of the committees. What shall the staff do, what shall the committees do, what are the guidelines for the committees etc? Since the build up of the IFF administration is not yet set we need to reset the timetable for this work, and to constitute the operational committees. The task was given to the respective committee chairmen on December 1st, in the report by the ExCo, to propose possible members in the RACC and RC.

 

The CB had a thorough discussion on the tasks and constitution of the RACC and the RC, being two important operational committees.

 

The Central Board decided to constitute the RACC and the RC for the period from now until 2006.

 

Committees

RACC:

Chairman, Renato Orlando
Vice Chairman, Martin Johansson
Members, Filip Suman and Hans Botman
Co-opted members, Andris Dzenis, Bjørge Jansen and Ari Vehniäinen

 

RC:
Chairman, Thomas Gilardi
Vice Chairman, Klaus Koskela
Members, Jan Hagen, Thomas Thim and Daniel Würmlin
Co-opted members Andrew G. Clough, Jon-Erik Eriksen and Jörg Heuer

 

b)       Other constitution and how to meet with the IFF Vision and missions

Mr. Eriksson reported from the report from the ExCo on December 1, 2004. Mr. Eriksson had together with the ExCo discussed intensively how to meet with the IFF Vision, amongst other things to meet with the IOC recognition in 2006.

 

In short the conclusion was to divide the main tasks into three different fields:

 

The political work (lobbying) in order to meet with the IOC charter’s requirements and to gain IOC recognition, and to become a member of the IWGA and playing in the World Games, participate on the Universiade program by fully joining the FISU. The marketing work is in order to spread the sport and make it even more popular, and to gain financial funds and raise the percentage of marketing income. In order to meet with this, the marketing objectives are most probably meet by stressing sales. The development work must be more efficient in order to meet with the members’ expectations, but also not the least to meet with the IOC charter requirements, i.e. having 50 IFF members latest 2006.

 

These three main fields should not be put in contrast with the “regular work” such as our five IFF yearly main events, or with operational committees such as the RACC and the RC. On the contrary, those operational committees shall be more involved with for instance the development programs.

 

The Central Board decided to approve the report.

§ 7 b) continuation

The Central Board discussed how to redefine our strategy and how to work. A thorough discussion followed, and the CB concluded that IFF should in the future work with steering groups and not ordinary committees in the three mentioned fields.

 

The Central Board decided to work on a functional basis in the fields of development, marketing and political work.

 

The Central Board decided to appoint the following steering groups.

 

Steering groups
Development:        Renato Orlando (Head of the group), with Martin Vaculik and John Liljelund as members
Marketing:             Per Jansson (Head of the group), with Risto Kauppinen and Peter Lindström as members

Political:                Tomas Eriksson (Head of group) together with the ExCo

 

§   8   Committees – Reports

a)       ExCo

Mr. Eriksson reported from the ExCo report of December 1st, 2004.


Mr. Eriksson reported on the response from the IWGA and its President Mr. Ron Froehlich, on Floorball’s application on membership of the IWGA (enclosure 5).

 

Mr. Orlando reported on the Asian Summit held in Singapore on December 11, 2004. It was a very positive meeting, and the participants decided upon founding an Asia and Oceania Confederation. The next meeting, to found the Confederation, and to form the roadmap for the region will be held in Singapore during the WFC 2005. The minutes from the Summit will be distributed in the near future.

 

Mr. Eriksson and Mr. Orlando reported from the respective meetings they had had with the IOC members Gerhard Heiberg from Norway, also being head of marketing within the IOC, and Mrs Gunilla Lindberg from Sweden, being vice President of IOC, and with Mr. Gian Franco Kasper, from Switzerland, also President of the International Ski Federation, as well as President of all Winter Olympic Sports.

 

The Central Board decided to approve the report.

 

b)       RACC

Mr. Orlando reported on the RACC work.

 

There was a joint proposal from Mr. Orlando and Mr. Gilardi concerning the pass to the goalkeeper to be installed already from 2005/2006.

 

Mr. Kratz informed that the evaluations from the test nations should be IFF office at hand on February 15, 2005. With this taken into account the CB was of the opinion to see the evaluation, and based on these evaluations postpone the decision until the next CB meeting.

 

The Central Board decided to approve the report.

 

The Central Board decided to handle the proposal in the next CB meeting after having collected the experiences of the testing associations to be handed in latest on the 15.02.2005.

 

c)       RC

Mr. Gilardi reported on the RC work.

 

The Central Board decided to approve the report.

 

d)       EDC

Mr. Vaculik reported on the EDC work.

 

The Central Board decided to approve the report.

 

 

 

 

 

 

§ 8 e)           Material questions

Mr. Eriksson reported, in the absence of Mr. Liljelund, that the ITC is recognized as a testing institute and approved and operational from 01.01.2005.

 

The Central Board decided to approve the report.

 

Mr. Orlando reported on the German FA and the status on the German development plan, the latest available report from November 15, 2004. The next report as of December 31, 2004, arrived IFF on January 3 and is enclosed (enclosure 6).


Mr. Orlando said that the increase of the number of members of the DUB is much appreciated. However what is missing is a detailed report concerning the action taken by the German FA. In order to make an analysis of the work, facts and figures are needed, i.e. plans of the work accomplished by whom, how and when.

 

The Central Board decided to approve the report and give the task to Mr. Orlando to ask the DUB to inform the IFF in a more detailed way about the processes and progresses the DUB have made.

 

The proposal of the Development Programme was discussed (enclosure 7). The CB was satisfied with the objectives set, and that the work must be more thoroughly steered. The CB also emphasised that the work must be carried out on a project management basis.

 

The CB discussed the presented timetable, and said that it might has to be revised due to present lack of professional recourses, that is that the IFF office is not yet fully staffed.

 

The CB decided to approve the Development programme and timetable according to the proposal.

 

f)        MIC

Mr. Kauppinen reported on the Marketing seminar held 07.01.2005. Five member associations took part, on invitation, and these were the Czech Republic (Mr. Filip Suman), Finland (Mr. Risto Kauppinen), Norway (Mr. Tomas Jonsson), Sweden (Mr. Per Jansson), and Switzerland (Mr. Patrick Falk).

 

The objectives of the seminar were to clarify and report on the:

- The present marketing status of IFF

- Tasks for the future

- Building a marketing portfolio

- Clarify the position of Floorball on the media map in the different countries

 

On the agenda for the seminar was also:

How to organize the sales of IFF sponsorship?

- The sales procedure – what is the way into the sponsors?

- The networking between the 5 federations

- The material

 

What is the timetable for the work and strategy for the future?

-Agree of responsibilities for the different parties

- Set up timetable and targets for the sales

 

A follow-up meeting will be held on the 24.02.2005 in Prague.

 

The Central Board decided to approve the report.

 

g)       DC

Mr. Kratz informed on the decision by the DC on the ECQ case;

Raul Kivi – suspended from IFF matches until 30.04.2005

 

The Central Board noted the report.

 

§   9   IFF Office

Mr. Eriksson reported on the progress with the IFF head office. The Finnish FA has, co-ordinated via Mr. Eriksson, had an employment advertisement in the Helsinki paper on December 19, and now the work has started to evaluate all applicants.

 

The Central Board decided to approve the report.

§ 10   Member Associations

a) Reports on status of suspended members of IFF

1. Poland: Mr. Kratz reported that the Polish FA has had an extraordinary General Assembly in December, and elected a new board and a new President, Mr. Marek Budzinski. The new board is in office starting from January 1, 2005.

 

The CB took note of the positive signs in Poland, such as Poland having paid during 2004 a substantial amount of the old debts, and that the flow of communication has improved much. The CB also noted an entirely new Polish Board, and in particular congratulated Mr. Budzinski, as the new President of the Polish FA.

However, the CB is of the opinion that it is IFF´s obligation that all IFF member associations much be handled in the same way, and of course under the same regulations. The case is that Poland is under suspension due to having debts over a substantial period of time now. The actual debts are, together; having deducted all payments on older debts, up till today, a total sum of 4 682:16 CHF. The debts are, an old debt of 682:16 CHF, and the registration fee of WFC U19 in Latvia 2005 (should have been paid 30.6.2004) of 2000 CHF, and the registration fee for the WFC 2006 of 2000 CHF (should have been paid 31.12.2004).

 

The Central Board decided to approve the report.

 

The Central Board decided that the Polish FA is still under suspension, due to debts of 4 682:16 CHF, and the debts have to be paid latest January 31, no more time is given. The reason for setting January 31, 2005, is that at this date the Latvian WFC U19, as well as the WFC 2006, are closed for Poland.

 

2. Russia: Mr. Eriksson reported that he together with Mr. Orlando, Mr. Liljelund and Mr. Kratz meet with the Russian Floorball Union representatives Mr. Sabanchiev, together with Mr. Markov and Mr. Kalinin in Tampere in November during the WFC U19 for women. The Russian organization, with its 89 different regions has had a number of meetings and also on December 10, 2004, RFU has signed an agreement together with the Federation of Floorball of Russia (FFR) stating mutual co-operation under the organisation of FFR. This has also been confirmed on December 29, 2004, by the Ministry of Sports, the Head of the Federal agency of physical culture of sport, by vice director A.S. Sokolov.

 

The CB took note of the positive signs in Russia. However, the CB is of the opinion that it is IFF´s obligation that all IFF member associations much be handled in the same way, and of course under the same regulations. The case is that Russia is under suspension due to having debts over a substantial period of time now

 

Mr. Eriksson furthermore reported that he and Mr. Orlando and Mr. Kratz IFF would meet again with the Russian representatives on Sunday January 9, 2005.

 

The Central Board decided to approve the report.

 

The Central Board decided that the Russian FA is still under suspension, due to debts of 26 700 CHF, and the debts have to be paid latest January 31, no more time is given. The reason for setting January 31, 2005, is that at this date the participation for Russia at upcoming WFC are closed.

 

b) Membership applications

1. Korea – application for membership, as member number 33

2. Ukraine – application for membership as member number 34

 

Mr. Kratz reported on the membership applications. Mr. Eriksson said that he on behalf of the IFF was very pleased with the good and solid applications for membership in Floorball from Korea and Ukraine. Floorball is not only growing in Europe but also in Asia and strong members are vital for the Floorball development. With Korea as a new member in Asia IFF is confident that the development in Asia will be given another good boast. With Ukraine, a big country in Europe, joining the Floorball family, it will give Floorball a good co-operating partner in the region, and also help Floorball grow in other parts in that region within Europe, and this is important for Floorball’s Vision to be Olympic.

 

The Central Board decided to approve the report.

 

The Central Board decided to grant Korea provisional membership of IFF, as member number 33.

 

The Central Board decided to grant Ukraine provisional membership of IFF, as member number 34.

 

 

 

§ 10   continuation

3. Ongoing processes for membership applications in IFF

Mr. Jonsson reported on the progress in Iceland and a membership application is expected during 2005.
Mr. Orlando reported on the progress in Liechtenstein and a membership application is expected during the spring 2005.

 

The Central Board decided to approve the report.

 

§ 11   Next CB meeting

The next CB meeting will be held on the 08-09.04, 2005 in Prague.

 

The GAISF Sports Accord will be organized in Berlin on April 16-20, 2005.

 

The WFC is in Singapore on May 28 until June 6, 2005, the final played on June 5, 2005.

 

The second Asian Summit (founding meeting of the Asian FF) is organized in Singapore on Thursday June 2, 2005.

 

The Presidential meeting, as well as the Secretary Generals meeting, is held in Singapore on Friday June 3, 2005.

 

CB Meeting on Saturday June 4, 2005, in Singapore.

 

§ 12 Closing of the meeting

Mr. Eriksson thanked the CB for an efficient meeting and closed it at 16:15.

 

 

 

 

 

Stefan Kratz                                                Tomas Eriksson

Secretary General                                        President