MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE ERHA MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE HELD ON WEDNESDAY, 18^th March 2009 AT 7 PM AT THE HILTON HOTEL, STANSTED

PRESENT:

ERHA Management Counties

Bill Felton, President [BF] Peter Wright, Norfolk [PW]

Sheila George, Deputy President [SG] Jill Warwick, Lincs [JW] Lorraine Bant, Competitions [LB] Judith Krone, Essex [JK]

Catherine Lymer, Secretary [CL] Richard West, Herts [RW]

Russell Nutter, League [RN]

John Hendy, Development [JH]

Charlie Farrow, England Hockey [CF]

John Helliwell, Discipline [JHelliwell]

Margaret McCall, Treasurer [MM]

1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Miche Bloch (Performance), Mike Trett (Umpiring), Sally Tippen (Cambs), Rob Oakley (Beds).

2. Minutes of the Meeting held on 19th November 2008.

Sue Boddycomb is now the vice president, successful by 10 votes. Thanks to the East Office who sent the message out. Minutes of last meeting duly signed by BF.

3. MATTERS ARISING FROM THESE MINUTES

4. Discuss correspondence received,

· Letters received from Norfolk and Herts enquiring about funding for HDO posts. Unfortunately the ERHA are not in a position to assist.

· CF and CL left the meeting.

· BF reported the exchange of letters with Sally Munday of EH which had resulted from CF advising Sally of our concerns expressed at out last East Management Meeting. Because of the situation Sally had taken the matter to the EH Board meeting and BF was asked to explain our East position to Martin Gotheridge (President) and Philip Kimberley (Chairman). It was agreed that a meeting was convened in which Sally Munday, Holly Woodford (Development Director) and CF would meet with BF,SG, JHendy and MB in which a working relationship was sorted out.

BF also advised the contents of the open statement made by the East to other members of the single system committee and placed on the East Website which had drawn comment. Discussion took place and BF closed by thanking all involved for their support.

CF and CL returned to the meeting.

5. AGM

· If anyone has anything they want to add to the agenda please let BF know. Positions being looked for are Deputy President and Secretary.

6. Committee Reports

[a] Treasurers (report in appendices)

· MM wanted to highlight the need for counties to chase for the school affilations. In regard to the £6000 excess the East didn’t mean to make this, it was to build in Fiona Gall’s expense but she has since left.

[b] Performance (no report)

· A list is needed from all the counties by the end of the month with a ranking in individuals for the JRPC’s, numbered 1-20.

· Volunteers are needed to help with admin for the JRPC’s.

[c] Development (no report)

· There will be a meeting to discuss the tenders received for the JRPC’s at St Albans and Bury St Edmonds. The level is very high.

[d] League (minutes on website)

· Correspondence between the league and Rutland HC. The league have stipulated that club officer roles have to be in place, and that it can’t be the same volunteer. The league has set deadlines for this which they will be checked against.

· The query that Nigel Brookes asked at the last meeting about multiple yellow cards and there being no avenue for action for the player, was discussed at the league meeting. Response from the league is the player will have to stop getting yellow cards.

· Rule changes – Trevor Williams is writing the rule book in a logical sequence.

· AGM and presentation at Letchworth on 7^th June, all welcome. BF, SG, MM all attending.

[e] Competitions (minutes on the website)

· There are now more age groups in the Mini’s as the competition has been split between the schools and clubs. There will now be 4 competitions.

· Indoor will be a problem as there are no venues.

· U13,14,15 and 16 Girls and Boys competitions will be going ahead. U17 Girls and Boys will now be a league because of the national finals.

· BF enquired about the regional mini’s. CF explained that Fiona Wheeler is on top of the competition, venue is booked, umpires are sorted, hotel is booked. Youth Panel are ready to go. Just sorting out the TD and a TD mentor for the day.

· JH what chance has the competitions group had to feedback on the single system?, LB as CF sits on the group there is constant feedback.

[f] Discipline (report in appendices)

· JHelliwell reported that red cards are showing a decline at the end of Feb 09. Cards that are also getting 16 day suspensions are also going down. One appeal has gone to the national appeal panel – which supported the east’s decision.

· Its come to the attention of the panel that a lot of clubs don’t seem to know that they are doing when it comes to getting red cards. Clubs don’t seem to be aware of the discipline code. Counties also need to be made more aware and that there are clear deadlines to adhere to.

[g] Umpiring (report in appendices)

· SG mentioned the paper that has gone out from EH about playing National League games on a Saturday. The rationale behind it being to free up pitches on Sundays for the JDC’s, JAC’s and JRPC’s.

· CF has heard from a few clubs that would like to play on a Saturday night, to get a crowd to watch. JH believes that quite a few players would prefer to play on Saturdays as it gives them their weekends back.

· BF thinks the paper was circulated to national league clubs, senior regional clubs, regional leagues, umpiring associations and technical officials. Closing date being 23^rd April.

[h] Indoor Hockey (report in appendices)

[i] England Hockey (ask secretary for the report)

[j] RCC (report in appendices)

· JH – asked how the hockey foundation worked?

· BF – The hockey foundation is entirely separate from EH , it was set up that way in case one went bust. Ownership of the land goes back to the MK council. The foundation still has funds of £2 million which is open to all sports in MK.

· EH are still unsure what they will get out of the Olympics in 2012, answer will be known in the next 3 months. The Olympic stadium will be at Eaton Manor, with the economic climate at the moment no one knows what will happen. Aldershot will be a holding camp before the Olympics. Old Loughts, Lilleshall and Indian Gymkana will all benefit from the Olympics.

· BF wanted to mention that Jan Baker particularly mentioned how good the hospitality she received in the East was.

7. Any Other Business

· JHelliwell – the constitutional changes that were pending for a Management Meeting when will this come about. BF after discussions with JH thought that until the single system is further bedded in it would be better to wait

FULL COMMITTEE REPORTS APPEAR ON THE FOLLOWING PAGES.

The meeting closed at 9.15pm with the President thanking all for coming. Next scheduled meeting of Management 6^th May 2009.

President ………………………………………………………………… Date …………………………………………………..

Honorary Treasurer’s Report – East Management – 18.3.2009

· Affiliation fees: All clubs have paid (Note – Rutland men affiliate to Lincs. , Rutland women to Cambs.)

Schools fees to come from Beds., Cambs., Essex, Herts. and Suffolk. Please remind appropriate person to let me have the money as soon as possible.

· Clubs Indoor: Excess income of approximately £450 (includes subsidy of £300 from ERHA), includes refund from EH for pitch time that had to be cancelled due to St Albans Ladies being in the Indoor NL. Goes someway to off-setting excess expenditure in 2007/8. One club was fined for late withdrawal from the competition.

· Camps & Single System Tier 1 : Last staff payment for camps completed. South’s share of Tier 1 costs received. Camps excess income of about £9,000, Tier 1 about £6000. Will be spent on equipment and other requirements for Single System in 2009.

· Other incomes/subsidies : Have received money from EH Youth Trust for updating ERHUA Website and also £500 from EH for Youth Indoor competitions.

· Umpires costs as invoiced by ERHUA have all been paid. Payment of umpiring claims by ERHUA Treasurer has greatly reduced my work load!

Margaret McCall

Honorary Treasurer

EAST REGION HOCKEY ASSOCIATION

Chairman Appeals Panel - Report to East Management 18^th March 2009

There have been two Appeals so far at this stage of the season and one pending.

The Appeals Panel hearing the appeals this season consist of John Helliwell, (Chairman of Appeals panel), Ian Brown, (past Chairman of Suffolk), Chris Hatch, Secretary and Treasurer of Suffolk), Peter Wright (President of Norfolk) and Margaret McCall. ( East Treasurer). In addition, Derek Henley ( Herts ) has made himself available.

Appeal Results

Of the two appeals heard so far this season, one was rejected due to the failure of the club to follow the correct England Hockey Appeal procedure.

The second appeal heard this season was also rejected by the East RDAP. However, the club then decided to take this decision to the National Appeal Panel. The National Appeal Panel Chairman having evaluated the East RDAP process and the evidence provided decided there were insufficient grounds for hearing a further appeal.

As I write this report, there is a further appeal pending.

John Helliwell

Appeals Chairman

Report to ERHA Management Committee from the Umpiring Committee

March 2009

The Umpiring Committee met on 5^th March and the Appointments and Assessment sub-committee met last week..

The new financial arrangements are moving on successfully and because the mileage rate was reduced in January umpire travel claims will be less in the second half of the season than in the first. The umpire appointments secretary has also made significant efforts to ensure that umpires are not travelling further than necessary, consistent with the policy of trying to ensure that teams do not have the same umpires each week simply because they live in the area. This has not been easy because of the dominance of teams from the north of the region in Premier B. Our treasurer reports that to date there do not seem to have been any particular difficulties. At the end of the season umpires will be reminded to make their claims and we hope to avoid problems such as one or two have caused by claiming after the beginning of the next season.

I am pleased to be able to report that the Umpire Report Form, for reporting unacceptable behaviour and poor hospitality by clubs (items not covered by red cards and MMOs), has not been used even though umpires have been reminded of its existence.

All appointments have been fulfilled this season and at alst there seem to be some new umpires coming in to the system. However, there seem to be far too few umpires coming through from the ladies side of the game. We will be looking at ways to improve recruitment in the near future. It would be good if we could return to the situation where umpires from ERHUA could be appointed to more than just the women’s Premier league.

Our next Umpiring Committee meeting is immediately after the AGM to be held on 18^th June.

I wish to record my thanks to all the hard working officers of ERHUA.

Mike Trett

March 2009

NOTES OF A MEETING OF THE ERHA INDOOR WORKING GROUP HELD ON THURSDAY 19 FEBRUARY 2009 AT THE IPSWICH HOLIDAY INN AT 11.30 AM

Present: Ros Marsh (RM), Brian Perks (BP), Mike Trett (MT), Bill Felton (BF), Sheila George (SG), Margaret McCall (MM)

1 It was reported that Charlie Fallow has resigned from the Group.

2 Reported that in the women’s tournament Harleston Magpies qualified for the 2^nd division of the National Indoor League and that Cambridge City had won the first ever EH Trophy finals. Crostyx also played in the Trophy tournament. The men’s qualifiers were West Herts (1^st), Crostyx (2^nd) and Chelmsford (3^rd). Bishop’s Stortford withdrew on the day of the qualifier and the 5 other teams in their section were refunded £25 each as they played less games. It was agreed to fine BS £150, with no refund of their tournament fee. RM to write to the Club and the money to be paid by the end of March 09. In the Ladies’ qualifier, each team was refunded £70 as the tournament lasted only 1 day instead of 2 because St Albans were playing in the National League, without the Region being notified by England Hockey. Some monetary compensation from England Hockey had been agreed. Some concern was expressed about the number of ladies teams entering.

3 The venue of Kelsey Kerridge, Cambridge had proved successful, although the cost of parking was high. MM to ask Fenners if it is possible to park there. Bleachers too close to the pitch to allow the umpires’ free movement and it was agreed to ask KK to put in extra spectator seating with the need to maintain a gap between the edge of the pitch and the front row of seats.

4 Next season: RM to ask Trevor Williams if in his May letter to all outdoor East league clubs he would put details of the East Indoor League and to ask clubs to indicate if they wish to enter and to advise BP by 30 September 09.

5 BP no longer wished to the the East Activator for indoor hockey. RM to advise EH and her name to be used.

6 Old Loughtonians did not return the East Indoor Trophy and bought a new shield suitably engraved. RM to ring Janet Benton at OLs in order to retrieve the old trophy as it had previous winners’ details engraved upon it.

7 Accounts: MM reported an excess of income over expenditure ie about £600. Big thank you to the umpires and in particular Chris Row for their efforts to keep within budget. It was agreed that David Burt be paid only for the day he was asked to attend as an official.

8 RM to recommend to England Hockey the use of KK as a venue for the National League.

9 Dates for season 2009-2010, 10 am - 6 pm (plus set up and clear up times)

5-6 Dec 09 Women’s qualifying tournament for national league

12-13 Dec 09 Men’s qualifying tournament for national league

19-20 Dec 09 Women’s and Men’s East Indoor Championships

All indoor hockey to be played at KK.

National Dates:

12-13 Dec 09 Premier Indoor League

9-10 Jan 10 Premier, Div 2 South & Div 2 North

16-17 Jan 10 Div 1 & Indoor Trophy

23-24 Jan 10 Div 1 and Div 2

30-31 Jan 10 Indoor Finals, Indoor Trophy (30 Jan)

10 Date of Next Meeting

Tuesday 6 October 2009 at 11 am at Brentwood

East clubs’ indoor results for season 2008/2009

EHIL (England Hockey Indoor League)

Men’s Premier Old Loughtonians 3^rd } stay in Premier League

Harleston Magpies 7^th } stay in Premier League

Men’s Div 1 St Albans 2^nd promoted to Premier Division

Women’s Premier Canterbury 1^st }

Chelmsford 5^th } stay in Premier League

Ipswich 6^th }

Women’s Div 1 Sevenoaks 4^th stay in Div 1

Women’s Div 2 Harleston Magpies 1^st promoted to Div 1

Old Loughtonians 2^nd promoted to Div 1

At the National Finals Old Loughtonian Men lost to Reading 3-4 in the semi-final and Canterbury Women lost to Bowden Hightown 3-4 in the semi-final.

A new competition called the Trophy Finals was held with the following results:

Men’s Indoor Trophy Final WINNER Chelmsford

Joint 3^rd Crostyx

Women’s Indoor Trophy Final WINNER Cambridge City

3^rd Crostyx

e:\marshwp\erhaindoor.notes1\05.03.09.

REPORT FROM TWO MEETINGS OF THE RCC

1^st December 2008

I complained about the fact that for some Junior Tournaments medals had not been supplied by EH which not only let down the sponsors Mann Group PLC, but disappointed the Youngsters involved. Not quite the same as getting the medal some time after the event. Much discussion took place about the implementation and costing of the Single System. The South reckoned it had cost them £13,000 so I said that if they had charged their Players correctly this could have been reduced considerably. You will remember that at Old Louts. we were charging Players £20 ,and the South were charging £6.00 I again raised the question of the finances of the Single System as it required an enormous amount of volunteer time which we in the EAST were finding difficult to accommodate. It seemed this was the case all round. We in the regions were all asked to promote the Awards Dinner in Nottingham on the 16^th May 2009. Discussion took place regarding the Umpires affiliating to England Hockey and another paper was being sent out. Christine Jensen came in to promote the new Membership scheme which was going reasonably well considering it had only been going for three months. Discussion took place on the move by EH to Bisham Abbey by the middle of June 2009. Sally Munday gave news about the submissions to Sport England and UK Sport for the period 2009/13. Because of the promotion of Sally Munday to Chief Executive a new Development Director had been appointed and this was Holly Woodford a former South RM. I advised Meeting that we would be putting forward at the AGM in March Sue Boddycomb for the vacant position of VP(Female). As a direct result of Leandra Negre being appointed FIH President Martin Gotheridge was now acting EHF President.

2^nd March 2009

The South advised that after checking their figures their loss for the early activity in the Single System was £11,000. Sheila Plant has unfortunately not won the Sunday Times award as a volunteer because it had gone to somebody from swimming. Martin Gotheridge was congratulated on being made acting EHF President until August 2009 when they have a meeting (He was not at the December RCC meeting). A lot of discussion took place regarding discipline and it seemed that it was not consistent throughout regions. It was agreed that the RCC would request EH to submit a list once a year of how regions had dealt with RED card offences. Because of a serious injury Perkins Slade were recommending that Insurance levels be raised from £5 mill to £10 mill with the resultant increased in premiums. Holly Woodford gave a general up date and requested each region to invite her to a Management meeting when convenient. She also gave an insight into what would be covered at the various Road Shows. A lot of questions were raised about the kit provided and Holly advised She would look into this with Steve Floyd. There was a new Syllabus being distributed to all Clubs about Coaching and extra copies were available at £29.99 each. Holly confirmed to RCC that She would be the Chairperson of the Finance Committee of the Single System.. Ian Wilson joined the meeting and reported on the increased funding from both Sport England and UK Sport. and distributed copies of the new brochure Safeguarding the Hockey Family. The move to Bisham Abbey would cost EH £80,000 as budgeted, but hopefully slightly less and the move would take place after Easter. I was told the Indoor Hockey at the NIA probably would break even although of course there was no sponsor. Next year it would quite likely move to a smaller venue, but remaining in the Midlands. Unfortunately the West had defaulted on hosting the Men’s Outdoor Finals at the end of May 2009, and it would now be in Sheffield. For season 2009/10 Clubs in whatever Region would be requested to show their interest in hosting an event. I will put something on the website about this and advise those Clubs in the EAST likely to want to make their facilities available. There is a consultation paper out on the EH website regarding NHL matches being played on Saturdays as opposed to Sundays. This is to accommodate the implementation of the Single System They require replies by the middle of April. EH are making arrangements to dismantle the Stadium of anything which would be of interest and placed in the achieves.

The next meetings of RCC are 9/10 June 2008 - Monday 7^th September 2009 and Monday 7^th December 2009

Bill Felton

7^th March 2009