Cornwall Hockey Association Knockout Competition Rules s1

Cornwall hockey association – knockout competition rules

2013-14 Season

1.0  DEFINITIONS AND ABBREVIATIONS

1.1  Abbreviations

CHA - Cornwall Hockey Association

1.2  Definitions

2.0  STRUCTURE OF THE KNOCKOUT COMPETITIONS

2.1  Affiliation requirements.

All teams participating in the Knockout Competitions must be affiliated to the CHA.

2.2  Men’s and Ladies Cup

a.  All Men’s and Ladies teams from clubs affiliated to the Cornwall Hockey Association will be entered into the respective Cup competition. Clubs not wishing to enter should inform the Competition Secretary prior to the September meeting of the CHA.

b.  Where the number of teams in any competition is not directly suited to a knockout structure (i.e. not 8, 16, 32, and so on), preliminary rounds will be contested. Preliminary rounds will be contested by the lowest ranked teams in a competition, determined by their final league position from the previous season.

c.  The draw will decide the fixtures for the competition, including which teams are to play at home.

d.  Teams winning their matches will progress to the next round of matches. Losing clubs will be knocked out of the competition.

e.  In both the Men’s and Ladies Cup Competitions the four highest ranked clubs at the start of the competition, according to their league position of the previous season, will not be drawn against one another.

2.3  Men’s and Ladies Plate

a.  The Men’s and Ladies Plate competitions will comprise all those teams knocked out of their respective cup competition in or prior to the first full round of matches.

b.  Clubs failing to fulfil their 1st and/or Preliminary Round Cup Matches will be deemed to have withdrawn from all knockout competitions for that season, and will NOT be eligible to compete in the Plate Competitions. Re-entry to the plate competition will be at the discretion of the competition secretary, and under such conditions as deemed appropriate.

c.  The competition will then progress in line with the Cup Competition as per rules 2.2b – 2.2e.

3.0  FIXTURES AND DRAW

a.  The fixtures for the Cup Competitions shall be determined at or before the September meeting of the CHA, in accordance with the procedure laid out in rules 2.2 and 2.3. The draw will be conducted at random in the presence of at least one other member of the CHA committee.

b.  The draw for the plate competition will be made by the Competition Secretary, following the completion of all relevant cup matches, and in the presence of at least one other member of the CHA Committee.

c.  All knockout competition matches shall be arranged to take place on dates which will be decided by the CHA Committee prior to the start of the competition. The Competition Secretary shall send to each club the draw for the competitions, and as such its fixtures, within one week of the draw being completed.

d.  Clubs should note that as teams which are knocked out of the cup competition are entered into the plate, all clubs will play a minimum of two Knockout Competition matches per season.

e.  The Finals of the knockout competitions will be contested at a venue to be decided by the CHA not later than the January meeting of the CHA.

4.0  MATCH ARRANGEMENTS.

4.1  Notifying opposition and umpires

a.  The home club shall notify its opponents of the location and type of pitch; start time; umpiring arrangements; and any special requirements (particularly a clash of playing colours) at least 10 days in advance of the match date. If the home side fails to do so in time for the away side to make their arrangements, the away team should contact the home side and the Competition Secretary.

b.  The home club are responsible for the provision of umpires to cup and plate matches. The CHUA shall appoint umpires for the Final. Clubs should notify any appointed umpires of the match details at least 10 days in advance of the match date.

4.2  Start times

Start times of matches shall be at the discretion of the home team, with the proviso that no match may start before 11:00am or after 4:00pm on a weekend, and between 6:30pm and 7:30pm on a weekday.

4.3  Protocol in the event of a draw

In the event of a match being level at full time, the following should be used to decide the match winner:

a.  A 15 minute period of extra time shall be played consisting of two 7 ½ minute halves.

b.  If the match is still tied at the end of extra time the match shall be decided by penalty strokes. Five strokes are to be taken by each team, with the team scoring the greater number to be deemed the winner. If, after five strokes, the scores remain level; strokes will continue on a sudden-death basis until a winner is found using the same five players.

c.  If pitch time is not available to complete the full 15 minute period of extra time, this may be shortened or omitted upon the agreement of both captains and the umpires.

5.0  PLAYER QUALIFICATION AND TRANSFERS

5.1  Qualification

Only bona fide members of a club may play for that club in Knockout Competition matches.

5.2  Transfers

Any player who has transferred between clubs and who has already played for another club in a Cornwall Knockout Competition Match will be deemed to be “cup-tied” and ineligible for cup competitions for any other club during that season.

6.0  TEAM SELECTION AND PLAYER ELIGIBILITY

6.1  Suspended players

No team shall contain a player who is suspended in accordance with the disciplinary code of England Hockey.

6.2  Selection

a.  If any of a club’s teams is not involved in a match, the club shall select its teams for Knockout Competition matches as though that club’s higher teams were playing.

b.  Clubs shall not strengthen a lower team with players from a higher team to gain an advantage at any point in the competition. The CHA will review all match cards and will take an extremely dim view if it is clear that a club has “loaded” one of its weaker teams to progress in the competition. If necessary, the CHA will seek clarification from the relevant league to ascertain if a team has been “loaded”.

c.  If a club has a deficiency of players, it shall cancel its lowest teams’ Knockout Competition matches first.

d.  If a club selects a player to play in a higher team than that in which the regularly play, that player shall not be considered cup tied and may return to his/her “regular” team for subsequent rounds.

6.3  Playing for more than one team

Where a club has multiple teams entered into the competition(s) no more than 3 players may play more than one match in any given round of a competition. Compliance with the conditions of Rule 6.2 must still be adhered to.

7.0  UMPIRES

Clubs should appoint their own umpires for games up to and including the semi-final stage of any competition. The CHA will appoint umpires for the competition final. Umpires are to be appointed to games by the home club. If a match is not played due to the lack of umpires, the competition secretary may adjudicate upon the result as per Rule 12.

8.0  CONDITIONS OF PLAY

8.1  Rules of Hockey

All knockout competition matches shall be played in accordance with the Rules of Hockey.

8.2  Numbered shirts

In any knockout competition match, all players shall wear shirts bearing numbers of at least 9” in height in the centre of the back of the shirt and of contrasting colour from the shirt.

8.3  Clash of playing colours

If two teams have the same or similar playing colours, the away team shall change its playing strip to a contrasting colour.

8.4  Pitch and equipment

The home team captain shall be responsible for ensuring:

a.  An adequate supply of match balls

b.  The goals and nets are in good repair and the pitch clear of debris before the start of the match.

8.5  Match cards

Both captains shall fill in the names and the shirt numbers of all their players, including substitutes, PRIOR TO THE START OF THE MATCH. Match cards should be sent to the competition secretary within one week of the fixture being played.

8.6  Late starts and uncompleted matches

a.  Both teams must be ready to start at the time notified by the Home club and/or CHA. If a full match cannot be completed because of the lateness or absence of one or other team, the Competition Secretary may award the match, reverse the result or order the match to be replayed under such conditions as he/she deems appropriate.

b.  A result shall stand if at least 60 minutes’ play has taken place, or otherwise the Competition Secretary may decide that the score at early termination of a match shall stand.

8.7  Authority of umpires

As soon as a match commences, the captains of both teams shall be deemed to have passed all authority for completion of the match to the umpires.

9.0  POST-MATCH RESPONSIBILITIES

9.1  Emailing results

The Home team captain shall, on the day of the match where possible, email the result of the match to the Competitions Secretary at:

.

9.2  Match Cards

The Home team captain shall ensure that:

a.  Both umpires’ names are clearly printed

b.  The score is clearly recorded

c.  The card is posted/emailed to the Competitions Secretary as soon as possible.

10.0  POSTPONEMENTS, ABANDONMENTS AND UNPLAYED MATCHES

10.1  Postponements

a.  Only the Competition Secretary may authorise postponement of a match for any reason, save if the pitch is unplayable due to weather conditions, when the Home club has the sole right to determine if the pitch is unplayable.

b.  Matches may be completed prior to the scheduled date without the consent of the CHA, only if both clubs agree upon a mutually convenient date. Once an earlier date is agreed upon, it shall be considered as the scheduled date.

c.  Where knockout competition fixtures are scheduled for outside the advertised start/finish date for a University/College, only a recognised University/College may request a postponement.

Note: Postponements are unlikely to be granted for such reasons as: players on holiday, weddings, International Rugby weekends and reasons of personal choice making players unavailable. Delay in applying for postponements is likely to result in refusal.

10.2  Bad Weather Procedure

The home team should follow the following procedure.

a.  The home liaison officer should ascertain from the visiting team the latest time of notification of cancellation, i.e. when the visiting ream intends to depart for the pitch venue. If it is clear, earlier than the above time that the pitch will be unfit due to weather, the visiting side and umpires should be informed immediately.

b.  It is the responsibility of the home team to inspect the pitch prior to the above mentioned departure time. The liaison officer and/or a representative of the home side should do this. A realistic view must be taken at this stage. If the pitch is unfit and is likely to remain so, the game should be postponed and reported as such.

10.3  Abandonments

A match, once commenced, may only be abandoned by the decision of the umpires. The result will stand if at least 60 minutes’ play has taken place, but otherwise at the discretion of the Competition Secretary.

10.4  Re-scheduling postponed, abandoned or unplayed matches

If clubs cannot, within 7 days of the original scheduled date, agree a date to play a postponed, abandoned or unplayed match, the Competition Secretary may dictate the date and venue for it to be played.

11.0  MISCONDUCT

Clubs are responsible for the conduct of their players, officials and supporters and any conduct, on or off the pitch, which is liable to bring the Cornwall Hockey Association into disrepute may be penalised. This includes any written or electronic communications published in newspapers, newsletters and websites.

12.0  ENFORCEMENT AND INTERPRETATION

12.1  Competition Secretary powers

The CHA Committee hereby delegates to the Competition Secretary, the following powers to exercise on its behalf:

a.  to make decisions as to interpretation of the Knockout Competition Rules insofar as they relate to the playing of matches and to impose such conditions as they may deem appropriate to ensure fulfilment of fixtures within the Rules; and

b.  to impose penalties for breach of the Rules by way of disqualification, awarding of matches, reversal of results and ordering payment of expenses by one club to another.

12.2  Appeals

a.  The CHA Committee may, as necessary, set up an Appeals Committee of between 3 and 5 of its members, to hear appeals from decisions.

b.  Decisions of the Appeals Committee shall be by simple majority but, in the event of voting being equal, the Chairman shall have a second and casting vote.