It has been discussed amongst the board about a Rookie of the Year Award. Of course there have been several questions and concerns about a new award and what the criteria of a "Rookie" would be, but we will get to that.

The purpose of the award was to give people who are basically new to tournaments in our club the chance to compete for something without having to compete against the veterans. We were hoping it would encourage more tournament participation from less skilled anglers the club still starting out.

Now we know that there are new members to the club that have fished for years and would have more skills than some of the other rookies. This would just be sort of the luck of the draw for those people that year. If you think about it, we aren't taking anything away anyhow. We are just providing a chance. So if some feel it is an unfair advantage then think of that. At least it limits the skilled anglers they would have to beat for an award.

Last year would have been a good example. I think it was Hendrickson's first year. I guess he would have had both titles. That is pretty rare.

One of the concerns was members that haven't fished WBC events for several years. I think one of the criteria should be that you haven't fished a WBC tournament event for a specific amount of years and once you have rookie season with the club....you are no longer eligable.   

Another was what if someone only fished one tournament the year before...I would say if they only fished 1 tournament then they should be eligable then next year as a rookie. If they fished 1 tournament in 2 consecutive years, then would not be eligable the next. Basically...after fishing one, they would be in their rookie year the next, so they would have to make a go for, it.

We can also put an age limit on it for the youngsters. Something like you can't declare a rookie year until you're 15 or something like that. This would keep it open for the children that may fish a tourney hear or there as they are growing up.

This award doesn't offer mst of us anything as we aren't eligable for rookie status, including me. I thought this was a good idea for future members to have something to strive for as the transition into our tournament curcuit. Most of the big bass circuits have it and I thought we could too. I had it in my first club and the issues we are concerned of never really came up. I think we can handle it and it would be a fun award to hand out at the banquet every year.

Tell me what you think and if you have any idea on criteria...

I want to put something together to submit to the new rules changes vote in October...

That sounds like an excellent idea, Rob.

My only suggestion, if you haven't already thought of it, would be to set up a log book or some kind of data keeping system to keep track of new members and how many tournaments they have fished. Then one board member would be responsible for that duty.

Chris

Rob,
I think you got a good basic idea there but definitely have to work out some ground rules. IE: Just because a person fishes tourneys doesn't mean he/she is a veteran by any means.
My 2 cents: Increase tourney participation by paying more places. Our 1st - 3rd payment was set up waaaaay back when we only had a few boats show up. Now we have a very good turnout. I feel more would participate if they're odds were slightly increased.
IE: Northwest Bass vs ABA a couple of years ago. Lots of folks switched to NW because of more payout for more places.
Mark

Mark,

And the NW Series pays higher dollars for 1st,2nd, & 3rd from the get go. If you are trying to get more participation by paying to 4,5 and 6th and raise the fee's for entry you could lose some guys buy raising fee's. Look at Potholes, Ron and Mark didn't we have like 32+ guys there? Participation wasn't the issue. I'm all for a fair game and more participation, heck I would love to see 50-100 guys fish our club events. Only about 30% of the club now fish our events.
Just my 2,
Russ

Rob,
  I agree with you also.  I got off track a little with the entry fees thing.  I love the idea of a "rookie of the year award".  I would certainly support that.

So.....again what this thread has lead to........without trying to.......is that more participation.....even for Rookie of the year........will require higher dues and higher entry fees to our tournaments?

I think the intent was to just reward the NEW GUY for their hard work and efforts and Frankenstien has again risen about increasing payouts for tournaments?
We are and have been a club based on education and conservation and we keep recycling the "Money Brings More and Better Members" Theory.
I am all for high paying tournaments but there are circuits for those and the club level...through the years has been understood not the place........just a vent or a rant but Rob came into a good idea that worked for his club in California but apparently will not here....sorry Rob.

So, we have yet more stuff for the TD/VP to take care of, in addition to the individual results and the couples results? Don't forget, there's another trophy to buy at the end of the year. What are they? $30? You think it's only $30, but it's got to come from someplace. It comes from the treasury, like all those end of the year awards, not tournament entry fees.  Otherwise, I think it's a good idea. Just wanted to mention the other aspects.

Larry
I think one thing to look at and to consider, and you would know better than anyone else, is if we increased the trophy output, would the current entry fees cover the cost of the trophies? And possibly leave a decent return to the angler!? If not then you need to think about possibly raising the entry fees. I believe what was being said was that the cost of everything is going up these days, i.e. gas, campsites, food etc, along with trophy costs I am sure. But the 4th and 5th place certificates were given out a few years a go, in a nice picture frame, not sure what happened to that idea.
Just my .02

Ted