MIDLAND REGION HOCKEY ASSOCIATION.
To MRHA Clubs, County Secretaries, MRHA Council,
NEWSLETTER September 2013
1. There are a number of matters that I would wish to draw to your attention.
2. MRHA web site. There is now an umberella web site for the Midlands.
2.1. www.midland-hockey.org.uk
3. Affiliation fees - Midlands
3.1. A reminder that the affiliation fees for the men’s clubs within MRHA [£30 per club] are collected via the Men’s League fees.
3.2. The fees from the Women’s Clubs [also £30 ] are collected via each County HA.
3.3. I would confirm that a joint club therefore pays a total of £60.00
4. Affiliaitin Fees – England Hockey. Firstly if you are no longer the Hon Secretary for your club could you please pass this communication onto your successor and notify me and England Hockey of the new contact details [address, telephone number/s and E mail].
4.1. MORE IMPORTANTLY- all clubs should receive an E-mail regrding the affiliation process from England Hockey.
4.1.1. The deadline for affiliating this year is the 31st October. Final payment is due by the second Monday in November. PLEASE NOTE THIS DEADLINE
4.1.2. The England Hockey League and their committee took the decision this season to dock 1 point per week unpaid for EHL clubs should they miss the deadline
5. MRHA Handbook. A copy of the 2013-2014 Regional Handbook is being distributed to all clubs within MRHA.. Please notify me if there are any errors or updates required or if you are no longer your club contact.
5.1.1. This year the joint MRHA Fixture Priority List is on pages 37-44. This lists the priority for each date in the hockey calendar and should prevent any clash.
6. INDOOR HOCKEY.
6.1. A major change is that the FIH have changed indoor hockey to FIVE a side
A MAJOR CONCERN IS THAT THERE ARE NO VOLUNTEERS TO ORGANISE THE RESPECTIVE NATIONAL INDOOR LEAGUE QUALIFYING TOURNAMENTS
6.2 Women’s Indoor Midland Qualifier. This is provisionally arranged for Sat 7th December at Bromsgrove School..
6.3 Men’s Indoor Midland Qualifier This is provisionally arranged for date for Saturday 15th December at Aldersley..
6.4 Schools & Youth Indoor. Entry Forms will be issued by MRHA S&Y. Please notify any interest to me in the first instance.
Sat 30th Nov Schools U16 & U18 Girls Aldersley
Sun 1st Dec Schools U16 & U18 Boys Aldersley
Sun 8thth Clubs U16 & U18 Girls Aldersley
Sun 15th Dec Clubs U16 & U18 Boys Aldersley
7. England Hockey Red Card and Match Day Misconduct Offence Regulations.
7.1. Pages 23 – 33. It is vital that ALL Red Cards that are issued are reported to the CDA
7.2. The Red Card and Match Day Misconduct Offences are now published in the MRHA Men’s League Handbook and the MRHA Handbook. The relevant report forms can be downloaded from the Ethics and Equity section of the England Hockey web site.
8. Midland Men’s League Handbooks.
8.1. These have been distributed direct to all Men’s clubs. If your club has not yet received their Men’s League Handbooks. handbooks please contact Peter Cranswick [ League Secretary][detail on page 3]
9. Competitions.
9.1. There are now no RHB outdoor quaifying tournaments within MRHA but there are two new England Hockey competitions.- A Men’s Over 60’s Cup and Women’s Over 45’s Cup.
10. Web Sites
10.1.1. All clubs should be aware that the main communication medium being used for all Hockey matters is now via relevant web sites. The main ones are:-
10.1.2. Midland Regional web site [www.midland-hockey.org.uk]
10.1.3. England Hockey [www.englandhockey.co.uk]
10.1.4. Midland Men’s League [www.mrha.co.uk]
10.1.5. Midland Performance [www.midlands.singlesystem.co.uk]
10.1.6. Midland Umpires [www.mrhua.org.uk]
10.1.7. Midland Women’s League [note no www prefix] [http://mrhawl.clubbuzz.co.uk
10.1.8. Other sites can be accessed using the“Links” section of the EHB site .
11. Insurance. MRHA wishes to advise clubs to check the scope of their insurance cover for Public Liability, especially with regard to the cover for club umpires. Many players, and especially parents of young players, are not aware that they are not covered for Personal Accident under the normal EH policy.
12. Single System.
12.1.1. Many of you will be aware that the “Single System” for young players is now commenced and will run though to the Futures Cup on November 2013.
12.1.2. The Futures Cup will be held over the October Half Term [Thursday 1st to Sunday 4th November at Cannock Hockey Club. This will complete the process for identifiying the potential England players for the summer international fixtures in 2014
12.1.3. There are Junior Development Centres [JDC] operating thoughout the Midlands. The contacts for the Development Groups are listed on page 35. Please note that the route into the Junior Academy Centres. From the JAC competition programme will be the selection to players to be further assessed for the Junior Regional Performance Centres in May/June 2013
13. Masters [Veterans] Hockey. [men & women]
13.1.1. COULD YOU PASS THIS INFORMATION ONTO ANY ELIGIBLE PLAYERS IN YOUR CLUB. [NB The age qualification is to ATTAIN the age in the year of the t/ment]
There are now representative regional Masters tournaments in 2014 for
13.1.2. Over 40’s [men] 26/27 April - Cannock [tbc]
13.1.3. Over 50’s [men] 26/27 April -Highfields
13.1.4. O70’s Men & O50’s Women. 03/04 May - Cannock
13.1.5. Over 40’s & 045’s Women 10/11 May -Highfields [provisional]
13.1.6. Over 45’s [men] 10/11 May -Southgate [tbc]
13.1.7. Over 55’s [men] 10/11 May -Chelmsford
13.1.8. O60’s & O65’s [men] 17/18May - Cannock
13.1.9. Over 55’s [Women] 17/18 May - Midlands tbc.
Would Clubs please let me know the full details of any player in your club who may wish to be considered for the Midlands in any of the above age groups- preferably by E-mail or post to the MRHA Hon Secretary and copy WOMEN - Deb Wilkes – E mail
MRHA Masters Committee – contact details are on page 5 of the Handbook. One change for the Over 55’s organiser is Mark Gibbon
14. Midland Regional Office.
14.1.1. Please note the mobile no for the for the Midland Regional office adminstrator Elaina Leithhead is 07545 438129:
15. Best wishes to you all for a successful hockey season
Laurie Alcock MRHA Hon Secretary