WELCOME to the

Three Counties Women’s Hockey LeagueAGM/Presentation Evening

2nd June 2015

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AGENDA

• Welcome• Apologies• Report from the Committee• League Rules• Election of the Committee for the 2015-16 season• New Hockey Rules Explained• Any Other Business• Presentation of trophies• Close

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We are absolutely delighted to have our sponsors with us tonight - extending our relationship to 20 years

There is a link to the Trysports Direct website via our League web site

www.trysportsonline.co.uk or visit their shop in Bicester

or call 01869 253313

OUR SPONSORS

Apologies received

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Report from the Committee

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REPORT FROM THE COMMITTEE 2014-15

• We had no teams dropping out of the league this year during the year but record number of walk-overs

• A significant number of weather related postponements – c250 fixtures A reminder for Premier Division clubs to contact the Umpiring

Appointment Committee when games are postponed We introduced mandatory slip dates We re-jigged some of the divisions for a maximum of 12 teams in each

and created the new division 6 last year

• One fixture was not completed … but had no impact on promotions or relegations

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LEAGUE STRUCTURE FOR THE 2015-16 CLARIFICATION

• One team promoted to the South League

• One team has been relegated from the South League

• We have received no requests no enter the League next season

• One team has withdrawn from the league

• Re-jigged divisions 5 and 6 slightly to balance the number of teams within each

• For the majority, we have promoted two teams from each division (except Premier Division One) and relegated two teams from each division, with the exception of divisions 5 and 6

• We have 5 spaces, then we are full

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AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT DURING 2015-16 (1)

Bench players- inform the umpires- can only play for a total of 30 minutes- they should not be part of the starting line-up

Match sheets- present to the umpires ahead of the game- completeness- legible hand writing- submit them in a timely fashion

Match forms for the 2015-16 season should be returned to:Premier Division 1 & 2 - Sue Burrell Sue.Burrell@ATCentre.co.ukDivision 1 & 2 - Sue Yates sueyates@3663.co.ukDivision 3 & 4 - Karen McKinnon karenmckinnon@live.co.ukDivision 5 & 6 - Angela Bowler bowlerbray@aol.com

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AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT DURING 2015-16 (2)

Clubs to provide appropriate information on the league website and their club website

Slip dates will become mandatory – dates for the new season are on the website

When postponing fixtures, please;• Be mindful of oppositions travelling• Don’t postpone matches too early• Be supportive• Keep an eye on the weather

Easter is early next year (in March) so we will be playing in April

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REPORT FROM THE UMPIRES COMMITTEE

• For the last four seasons we have provided appointed umpires for both Premier Division One & Two

• Whilst the distribution of umpires was better this year, i.e. all clubs finally providing umpires most weeks as required, we did however on at least 2 occasions have to withdraw umpires from a club that did not fulfil their obligations leaving them to have to provide umpires on the day. This is far from ideal as we prefer to appoint neutral umpires where possible to all matches.

• Expenses were higher as a result of the high number of cancelled matches (due to the weather) where the umpires had travelled to the match before the game was cancelled, this resulted in double the expenses for that particular game.

• Expenses are rising due to umpires travelling further and there being less doubling up.

• Clubs, not the HUA's, need to take greater responsibility for encouraging people to take up umpiring, the requests for courses has been lower this season than in the past 10 years, as with a reduction in new umpires being qualified. Hockey cannot thrive without umpires!

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REPORT FROM THE UMPIRES COMMITTEE

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Discussion about current umpiringqualifications for each division

• Unable to police unqualified umpires• Are they appropriately insured?• Lack of knowledge of the rules• May impact the outcome of the game• Unable to deal with complaints

League Rules

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PROPOSAL TO REVIEW OUR RULES RULES WORKING GROUP

• Need to substantially changes our rules

• Proposing a ‘rules working group’ over the 2014-15 season to introduce the new rules for the 2015-16 season

• Working group will consist of 6 people – 2 committee members and 4 volunteers from clubs

• Share a draft set of new rules by 31st March 2015

• Period of review and challenge

• New rules to be presented at the 2015 AGM/presentation evening

• Captains meetings in early September 2015 to support clubs through this change

• New rules implemented from September 2015

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OUTSTANDING

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2015-16 Review and issue by 16th August

We are listening to feedback and pain-points, so we will look at:• Team Bound• Should GKs be excluded from being team bound?• Umpire qualifications• Walkovers• Promotions / relegations

2016-17 Revamp with a working group

• Based on Sussex rules• Remove the team bound rule• Aligned to the other county leagues

Election of the Committee

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ELECTION OF THE COMMITTEE 2015-16

Chair - Jacqui BarlowSecretary - Angela BowlerRegistration Secretary - Sue NewmanMatch Secretary - tbc

County Reps Berkshire - Sue Yates Buckinghamshire - Karen McKinnon Oxfordshire - Sue Burrell

Umpiring Reps Berkshire - Paul Stanley Buckinghamshire - Michael Dillow Oxfordshire - Andy Gwinn

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New hockey rules explained

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NEW HOCKEY RULES EXPLAINED

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• These slides are intended to outline the rule changes for 2015 and also to provide some guidance

• In an effort to provide clarity and reduce the number of variations of tournament rules and domestic rules, the Rules of Hockey will apply to all levels of the 11 a-side game and are effective from 1st July 2015.

The 2015 new rules relate to the following areas:• Breaking at a penalty corner• The use of the stick above your shoulder• Two minute green card• Free hit within 5 metres of the circle• Long corner • 10 metre march• Technical rules:

– team composition, – stick specifications, – faces masks.

NEW HOCKEY RULES EXPLAINED

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Breaking at a penalty corner – defenders

• If a defender, other than the goalkeeper, crosses the back-line or goal-line before permitted, the offending player is required to go beyond the centre-line and cannot be replaced by another defender: The penalty corner is taken again.

• If another defender at this or any subsequently re-taken penalty corner crosses the back-line or goal line before permitted, they are also required to go beyond the centre-line and cannot be replaced.

• If the goalkeeper or player with goalkeeping privileges breaks at a penalty corner, they nominate another defender to go to the centre-line and the penalty corner defended by 4 players.

• A repeated break from the goalkeeper or player with goalkeeping privileges means that another defender involved in the corner is sent back to the centre-line and the team defends the corner with (penalty corner defended by 3 players).

NEW HOCKEY RULES EXPLAINED

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Breaking at penalty corners – attackers

• If the player taking the push or hit from the back-line feints at playing the ball, the offending player is required to go beyond the centre-line but is replaced by another attacker and the penalty corner is taken again

• If an attacker enters the circle before permitted, the offending player is required to go beyond the centre-line: the penalty corner is taken again

Commentary and Guidelines• If any feinting by an attacker leads to what otherwise would be a breach of this rule by a defender,

only the attacker is required to go beyond the centre line (if their feinting leads a defender to break).• The attacker that is sent back to the centre-line may be replaced at the circle edge by another

attacker, as there is no restriction on attacking numbers during a penalty corner, however the penalty corner should not be held up to wait for a replacement player.

• Attackers who are sent beyond the centre-line may not return for re-taken penalty corners, but may do so for a subsequently awarded penalty corner i.e. their return is governed by the same restrictions as defenders.

NEW HOCKEY RULES EXPLAINED

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Stick above the shoulder

Players may stop, receive and deflect or play the ball in a controlled manner in any part of the field when the ball is at any height including about the shoulder unless this is dangerous or leads to danger.

Commentary and Guidelines• Umpires should pay particular focus on control and danger (and leading to danger).

– The umpire should deal strictly with players who are swinging their stick in the air dangerously. In open space, inside the circle, an attacker may play a controlled shot in order to shoot at goal.

• Around the field, the receiving player still has 5 metres to bring the ball down, however, other players can also attempt to bring down the ball earlier in the flight path of the ball.

• Players should not be allowed to wave their sticks above their heads to try and stop aerial free hits and passes. The action of putting the stick above the shoulder should be to trap or receive the ball in the air and not to distract or intimidate opposition players

NEW HOCKEY RULES EXPLAINED

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Two minute green card

• For any offence, an offending player may be warned and temporarily suspended for 2 minutes of playing time (indicated by a green card).

• The use of the green card 2 minute suspension is an additional management tool for umpires and can be awarded for minor bad tackles, players not being 5 metres, dissent from players, etc.

NEW HOCKEY RULES EXPLAINED

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Free hit within 5 metres of the circle

• New Rule:

– Players may now take free hits awarded within 5 metres of the edge of the circle, from the point of the offence (they do not need to take the ball back outside the dotted 5 metre line around the circle). However, rules surrounding the entry of the ball into the circle still apply (for ease of reference see below)

• From a free hit awarded to the attack within the 23 metres area, the ball must not be played into the circle until it has travelled at least 5 metres or has been touched by a player of either team other than the player taking the free hit.

NEW HOCKEY RULES EXPLAINED

Commentary and Guidance• The ball still has to travel at least 5 metres before it can be played into the circle OR it has to be

touched by another player of either team (other than the player taking the free hit).• All players standing outside the circle should be 5 metres from the player taking the free hit

(however play should be allowed to continue if they are not influencing).• However, players standing inside the circle (only need to stand on the circle edge) do not need to

be 5 metres (as the player taking the free hit cannot bring the ball into the circle until it has been moved 5 metres or touched by another player) so any defenders are not interfering by standing inside the circle.

• Players standing inside the circle cannot leave the circle to play at the ball until the ball has been moved 5 metres or the ball has been touched by another player. One of these two actions would deem the end of the self-passed free hit and therefore the defender is allowed to engage in play.

• It is unreasonable to expect defenders to allow attackers into the circle without a contest just because they were not 5 metres from the original free hit. Essentially, once the ball has moved 5 metres, or it has been touched by another player, the ball is alive, can be injected into the circle, and therefore attackers should expect that defenders whether 5 metres away, or not, will then re-engage with play.

• Umpires will not be able to recall the position of numerous defenders at the point when a free hit is taken and therefore the only way to ensure all players are 5 metres is to stop play, and move people back into the circle. This action negates the quick free hit application and game flow which attackers want when awarded a free hit close to the circle. Umpires should resist ‘managing’ these situations as flow will be upset.

• Note: any interference from the defender who is not 5 metres, while the attacker is moving the ball 5 metres may be deemed a deliberate act and dealt with accordingly.

NEW HOCKEY RULES EXPLAINED

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Corner

• When the ball is played unintentionally over the back-line by a defender or goalkeeper and no goal is scored, play is re-started with the ball on the 23 metre line and in line with where it crossed the back-line and the procedures for taking a free hit apply.

• Because the ball is placed on the 23 metre line the restart is within the 23 metre area and the rules around taking a free hit within this area apply (refer to rule 13.2). Practically, the ball does not need to be placed exactly on the 23 metre line, however, it cannot be hit directly into the circle.

NEW HOCKEY RULES EXPLAINED

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Deleted rule: 10 metre march

• The ability of the umpire to progress a free hit by up to 10 metres has been deleted. The action has become redundant with new free hit rules and the self- pass.

NEW HOCKEY RULES EXPLAINED

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Technical rules (1)

1. Stick specifications (Refer to Field and Equipment Specifications Section 2): Stick

– The maximum length being specified for the first time

2. Face masks (Refer to rule 4.2)

– New Rule: Players must not wear anything that is dangerous to other players

3. Team

A team consists of a maximum of sixteen persons composed of a maximum of eleven players on the field and up to five substitutes. This may be amended by Regulation to a maximum of eighteen players.

NEW HOCKEY RULES EXPLAINED

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Technical Rules (2)

4. Team• A maximum of eleven players from each team takes part in play at any particular time

during the match.• Procedure for dealing with incorrect number of players on the field:• If a team has more than the permitted number of players on the field, time should be

stopped to correct the situation.• It can be dealt with by either:• If the team inadvertently have too many players on the pitch for a very short period of time and it does not

materially affect the match then a personal penalty MAY be awarded to the captain of the team involved.

OR• If however, this occurs and materially affects the match, a personal penalty MUST be awarded to the captain of the

team involved.• Decisions made prior to correcting the situation cannot be changed.• Play is restarted with a free hit to the opposing team unless another penalty had been awarded against the

offending team immediately before time was stopped in which case that penalty is taken. (the team that has the correct amount of players on the field gets possession of the ball).

NEW HOCKEY RULES EXPLAINED

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FAQ• If a goalkeeper breaks at a penalty corner, are they required to go to the halfway

line?

– Answer: No. The defending players chose another defender to go to the halfway line.

• When taking a corner from the 23 metre line, can the ball be hit directly into the circle, when the ball is placed just outside the 23 metre area?

– Answer: No. The corner is governed by the free hit rule as per any hits taken within the 23 metre area.

• Is the game stopped when a goalkeeper is awarded a green or yellow card suspension?

– Answer: Yes. However, the time is only stopped to allow for the goalkeeper to leave the field. There is no additional time allocated to allow a player to put on protective equipment.

Any Other Business

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Presentation of Trophies

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PRESENTATIONS FOR THE 2014-15 SEASONLEADING GOAL SCORERS (as recorded on the website)

PREMIER DIVISION 1 Alice Keddy Amersham & Chalfont 27 goals

PREMIER DIVISION 2 Lyn Cockshott Oxford 30 goals

DIVISION 1 Pip Cantwell Abingdon 17 goals

DIVISION 2 Laura Dean Abingdon Pilgrims 43 goals

DIVISION 3 Fiona Bethel Abingdon 23 goals

DIVISION 4 Alexandra Andrews Thame 33 goals

DIVISION 5 Sarah Maddern Marlow 19 goals

DIVISION 6 Bernadette Wagerfield Oxford Hawks 19 goals

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PRESENTATIONS FOR THE 2014-15 SEASON (1)LEAGUE WINNERS & RUNNERS-UP

WINNER RUNNER UP

PREM DIVISION 1 Reading 2

PREM DIVISION 2 Oxford Hawks 3 Sonning 2

DIVISION 1 Slough 2 Witney 2

DIVISION 2 Oxford University 3 Newbury & Thatcham 2

DIVISION 3 Buckingham 3 Oxford Hawks 5

DIVISION 4 Thame 2 Amersham & Chalfont 3

DIVISION 5 Reading 4 Marlow 5

DIVISION 6 Oxford Hawks 6 Maidenhead 4

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PRESENTATIONS FOR THE 2014-15 SEASON (2)LEAGUE WINNERS & RUNNERS-UP

Our league champions are

Buckingham 2Good luck in South League next season

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Won England Hockey Team of the year

• Thank you for attending

• Good luck for the 2015-16 hockey season

• And finally …. have a safe journey home

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