Joint EWL and
EML Management Meeting: Thursday 16th February 2006
Rutland Arms Hotel, Newmarket
Present
|
Russell Nutter |
Ö |
Pritpal Sagoo |
Ö |
Janet Goody |
Ö |
|
Chris Kime |
|
Mike Huckerby |
Ö |
Sarah Mann |
Ö |
|
Cliff Gulbis |
|
Richard Munns |
Ö |
Rosemary Prince |
|
|
David Burt |
Ö |
Robert Southgate |
Ö |
Steve Mayhew |
Ö |
|
Jim Morris |
Ö |
Trevor Williams |
Ö |
Ros Marsh |
Ö |
Chair
Russell
Nutter
Apologies
Chris
Kime, Rosemary Prince
ERHA
The
Chairman welcomed Ros Marsh, President ERHA, to the meeting.
1. Minutes
of previous meeting.
There were no issues arising.
2. Correspondence
2.1. Chris
Kime had given notice of his retirement from his League Manager role at the end
of this season. The Committee expressed
its best wishes to Chris and its thanks for eleven years of enthusiastic
commitment and sterling service to the League and its teams throughout the
north-west area.
A new
League Manager will be sought as soon as
possible (TW).
3. League
structure and organisation
4. League
structure and organisation
4.1.
Agreed that promotion and relegation
numbers in small divisions can be excessive under present rules, e.g. 3 up and
3 down from a division of only seven teams.
Rule 6 will be redrafted to give the Committee the authority to reduce
promotion and relegation numbers in smaller divisions when appropriate
(TW). To be finalised at the next
meeting.
4.2.
Noted that there was likely to be
some growth in indoor hockey in future seasons, and agreed that if the number
of postponements in Premier divisions became excessive, those divisions would
not have East League fixtures on key indoor dates. This could be accommodated by extending a
Premier division season or by reducing the size of the division. However, this is not an immediate issue.
4.3.
Agreed that to progress towards
divisions of 12 teams, EWL promotions and relegations at the end of 06/07 should
be amended as shown below. There was
also scope to merge and simplify elements of Rule 6 regarding promotions etc ,
and a draft proposal will be prepared for the next meeting (TW). This would also refer to pro rata
calculations for relative rankings in smaller divisions.
|
Division |
Promotion |
Relegation |
|
Premier |
1 |
3 |
|
Division 1N and 1S |
2 each |
2 each |
|
Division 2C, 2N, and 2S |
5 in total: 3 champions plus 2 best runners-up |
1 each |
|
County Leagues & Five Counties League: 7 promoted to East |
||
5. 2005/6
preliminaries
5.1.
League dates EWL: 23 Sept - 9 Dec, 13 Jan - 27 Jan, 17 Feb – 31
Mar
5.2.
League dates EML: 23 Sept - 9 Dec, 20 Jan - 24 Mar
5.3. Website
information on venues & times: to remain mandatory for all divisions
covered by pool umpires. Other divisions
to be encouraged to use the system (most already do).
5.4. A
request from Sudbury that they play in EML NE was agreed and will be actioned
in next season’s fixture list (RM).
Noted that this may lead to extra promotions or relegations in some
divisions.
5.5. Noted
that to avoid three teams in one division in 05/06 St Ives Men would decline a
promotion.
6. Finance
6.1. Fines
so far this season total around £1500, most of which has been collected. Note that extra income from fines is used by
ERHA to support young umpire initiatives.
It is increasingly obvious that switching to £10 fines instead of point
deductions for late results and teamsheets in the Men’s League has caused an
increase in late reporting. Clubs in
the Women’s League perform much better.
Agreed that the AGM be asked to reverse the rule change and have point
deductions in the EML as before.
6.2. Note
that the Leagues’ share of the cost of the East 05/06 League Handbook had risen
to £1500, compared to £1000 in the previous season.
7. Playing
issues
7.1. The
wording of Rule 3.2.4 had caused some confusion with regard to goalkeepers
doubling up in matches. Reference to the
04/05 wording made clear that the use of a doubled-up GK should not preclude
the use of field substitutes. A typing
error in the current rules causes confusion.
Agreed that for the purposes of interpretation, line 2 immediately
following para (c) should read “Doubling up of field players in this
way….” instead of “Doubling up of players in this way….”.
7.2. Noted
that regretfully Bourne 5 have had to withdraw from the league through lack of
numbers.
7.3. The
current suspension of the EHL Premier Divisions means that starred players in
East League clubs are unable to play any significant hockey, leading to
problems of player retention. This issue
will be raised at England Competitions Committee (TW).
7.4. A
complaint by Romford HC regarding an EML match vs. Havering 2 on 21st Jan was
discussed. Agreed that the match result
was valid. Romford to be advised (JM).
7.5. Noted
that some clubs agreeing postponements between themselves. All to be reminded via the website that the
League Manager is the only person who can grant a postponement.
8. Umpiring
& discipline
8.1. A
complaints form for use by umpires to East League matches to be drafted. This will include comments on attitude,
hospitality, pitch condition, etc.
Completed forms will be emailed to Steve Mayhew who will liaise with the
League Manager on issues raised (SM).
Teamsheets for 06/07 to be amended accordingly, for example by removing
the hospitality Y/N comments (which are very rarely used by umpires anyway).
(TW).
8.2. Noted
that Herts & Beds HUA has reported the probable demise of its pool in 06/07
following the retirement of the Pool Secretary.
Agreed that any consequent issues affecting League umpiring should first
be considered by ERHUA, though noted that existing league rules can manage most
of the outcomes of such a situation (SM).
8.3. L1
progress in counties: ERHUA is currently
surveying developments necessary to support the proposed rule change. (SM)
8.4. Cards
so far this season: EML: 18R, 650Y;
EWL: 1R, 44Y. These figures are slightly down on those from
the same period last season.
9. Possible
rule changes for 2005/6
9.1. Agreed
to propose to the AGM that all matches in EML Prem A , Prem B, Div 1 and Divs 2
and all matches in EWL Prem and Divs 1 must be scheduled to start between 11 am
and 3 pm in Nov, Dec and Jan.
This should ensure minimal need for floodlights in pool umpired
divisions.
9.2. Completion
of the rule changes in 5.2 agreed in 2005 for 06/07 is dependent on the
outcomes of the review
9.3. The
requirement for fixture cards to be submitted to the league was thoroughly
discussed and the requirement was confirmed.
To provide greater clarity, it was agreed that the rule be split into a
guideline on card contents and a rule requiring provision of a card (in
whatever format) to the league.
10. Presentation
Day and AGM 200
10.1. Subject
to availability, the venue was agreed to be Redbridge & Ilford on June
4th. Arrangements with the facility to
be put in hand immediately (PS). Action:
·
liaise with venue re timetable &
catering: PS
·
trophies return, purchase,
engraving: RN
·
pennants: PS
·
certificates: TW
·
VIP invitations: SM
·
AGM agenda & papers: TW
10.2. League
Rule 8.6 now requires clubs to return trophies by the end of March, subject to
a £50 fine. Clubs to be reminded via the
website to return cups to DB (EML) or SM (EWL).
11. East
Management
11.1. Following
The success of the East Regional Indoor Tournament and the Indoor National
finals, some growth in indoor is to be expected, with consequent clashes in
fixture priorities between indoor and outdoor hockey. Noted that the League dates for 06/07 do not
clash at all with the East indoor tournament.
Clashes with national indoor will be dealt with as usual by
postponements (see also minute 4.2 above).
Wisbech HC had failed to pay the entry fee and non-appearance fine for the
recent East indoor, despite several reminders.
Under League Rule 2, debtors to ERHA can be suspended from the East
Leagues and will lose all matches during the suspension period. The club will therefore be given one week’s
notice to pay or be suspended (TW).
12. AOB
and Correspondence not covered elsewhere
12.1. RM
will be away on the final Saturday of the season, March 23rd, and also the
following slip Saturday. EML Prem A,
Prem B, and Div 1 clubs will be advised to phone results into RS on those
weekends. TW will input all EML results
into the website for the two Saturdays.
13. Future
meetings: 20th
April: Rutland Arms Hotel