East League Rules...
12. East Men's Veterans League Rules
12.1 League management
The EMVL will be managed on a day to day basis by a League Manager appointed by the East Leagues AGM, and will be subject to the overall control of the East Leagues Management Committee, of which the EMVL League Manager will be a member. Full details of these arrangements can be found in East Leagues Rule 1.
Club eligibility to play in the EMVL and the collection of fees will be managed by the East Leagues Secretary.
12.2. Club eligibility and administration
All men's clubs within the East Region are eligible to play in the EVL. Other clubs of an appropriate location may be invited to join at the discretion of the League Management Committee, providing the travel time to their home ground is normally not more than 90 minutes from those of existing EVL clubs. A Club must submit a completed EMVL Registration form to the East Leagues Secretary by the 31st July including details of a Veterans League Liaison Officer. Failure to submit a fully completed League Registration form by the due date will result in the league fee being increased by 50%. The League Liaison Officer will be the primary point of contact between the League and the Club, must be readily available to the League at all times, and must keep the League fully informed of any relevant changes in the Club, including keeping the club details up to date on the East website.
Clubs must pay their league fee before playing in the league. Clubs paying by 30th September will be eligible for a discount of £5 per team.
12.3. Player eligibility
All players must be bone fide, fully paid-up members of their clubs and must be male. A team (including substitutes) must comprise no more than two players aged 35-39, with all other players aged 40 or over at the start of the season. However, Captains may mutually agree the inclusion of underage players, providing this is done prior to commencement of the game.
Note: The League Management Committee may allow “shadow teams” to participate in the League in the 2006/7 season.
12.4. Player Registration
The names, and dates of birth of all players must be registered with the League Manager by the 30th of September each season. Only registered players may participate in EMVL matches. However, players may be added to the list during the season provided this is done in writing (including email) before participation in matches.
12.5. Matches
All matches shall be played in accordance with the current rules of hockey as published by the Hockey Rules Board for the FIH.
The League will issue all fixtures before the start of the season, and will endeavour to avoid matches in school half terms and bank holiday periods. Clubs may fill in any gaps in their fixture lists providing they allow for slip dates for rearranged league matches. All home teams must confirm their fixtures, giving start times and details of pitches, at least 2 weeks prior to the match. Matches must start between 12.00 am. and 4.00p.m. unless another start time has been mutually agreed by the two clubs.
Matches must be played on astro. Home teams must give a minimum of 24 hour notice of cancellation of a match (other than for unexpected problems occurring on the day of match). Away teams must give at least 24 hours notice on an inability to fulfil a fixture - failure to comply will give the home side the option to charge the away club for the cost of the pitch. Clubs must notify the League Manager promptly of any cancelled or postponed matches and subsequently of details for rearranged games. Rearranged matches may be played on Sundays by mutual agreement.
The home team is responsible for loading the results of the match on the East Hockey website (www.east-hockey.co.uk) within 24 hours of playing. Each team must send its completed Result Sheet to the League Manager to arrive by the Wednesday following the match.
Note: the following guideline on cancellations was issued in June 2006 to all clubs: When a fixture is not played due to inclement weather, then an alternative date should be agreed if possible, but if not the result be declared 0-0, 1 point each. When a fixture is not played due to team calling off, match is forfeit 0-3, 3 points to non-offending side(unless mutually agreed to re-schedule).
12.6 League positions.
Teams will gain 3 points for a win, 2 for a score draw and 1 for a goalless draw. If teams have played differing numbers of matches by the end of the season, the league table may be recalculated on a percentage basis.
The winner of each division will be awarded a trophy at the East Leagues Presentation Day. Clubs presented with trophies in the previous season must return those trophies to the League by the end of March.
12.7. Umpiring and Discipline
Each team will usually provide an umpire, but by mutual agreement both umpires may be provided by one club. Umpires must if at all possible have at least Level 1 qualification
All red, yellow and green cards must be recorded on Result Sheets. For red cards the umpires must follow the EH disciplinary code, and the League will monitor this.