Minutes of the Council Meeting of the Midland Region Hockey Association Held on Wednesday

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MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL MEETING OF THE MIDLAND REGION HOCKEY ASSOCIATION HELD ON WEDNESDAY 10h JANUARY 2007 AT OLD SILHILLIANS HOCKEY CLUB.

Present: C.Barthorpe (President),), A Glazier (Vice President), N Stott (Vice President), J.Hopkins (Immediate Past President, MH Gotheridge (Life Member), M.Gotheridge (Treasurer), L.E.Alcock (Hon Sec), S. Handley (Boys S&Y), J Freeman, S. Williams, (Girls S&Y), M Thompson (Women’s League). B Forrester, (Men’s League), P.Colledge (MRHUA), S.Floyd (RDM), E Leithead (RA), Dr R Oakley (Beds), M.McLoughlin (Leics), M.Wilkes (Northants), P.Lycett, J.Nightingale (Staffs), WMP.Hives, S Musgrove, (Warks).

1Apologies for Absence.C Frye (Coaching), T Sellers (Northants), J Wall, J Straw (Notts), M.Downes (Shrops), R Kirk [MRHUA], D.Colson (Indoor Sub Committee).

2Minutes of the meeting of Wednesday 8th November were agreed as a true record with the following correction

10.1.4 U15 should be U16 at Lilleshall. Sunday 3rd December was the U18 indoor.

3Matters Arising.

It was reported that Robert “Owen” Wood, a stalwart of Midland Boys Schools & Youth, died on 18th December 2006 aged 100 years. MRHA were well represented at the funeral.

4England Hockey Matters.

4.1.England Hockey - Affiliation Fees.

The Hon Sec tabled a list of those clubs who had not paid, which included three Midland Clubs. Disaffiliation letters had gone out to all those clubs listed. Some clubs only received invoices very late after the registration was done early on line. Clubs were disappointed with the process of invoicing after the registration phase. Some invoices were not sent until 23rd November. Agreed to table at RCC Action J.Hopkins

4.1.1Newtonians was not on the original list but was on a subsequent list.

4.1.2The only 3 clubs in the Midlands that had been served with a disaffiliation notice by England Hockey were Amateurs HC, United Brothers HC and Birmingham University HC. (BirminghamUniversity were due to make a Baccs transfer on 12th January)

4.1.3The Hon Secretary thanks all the county secretaries in chasing their clubs to ensure that no club was disaffiliated.

4.2RCC Report. Janet Hopkins reported various issues from the RCC meeting.

4.2.1EH disaffiliation would be effective from 31st January.

4.2.2The EH Men’s U21 competition was going ahead on 26th-27th May at Cannock HC. There was diminishing support for this event

4.2.3A request that a synopsis of Regional minutes was posted on regional web sites. Council agreed with this request. Action LEA

4.2.4Discussion had taken place on how to improve communication. Simon Mason (EH VP) was developing a common format for all EH.

4.2.5The Centrally Contracted Coach would not be the Head Coach – it was the decision of the region as to how they are used. There appeared to be conflict in some regions on the information from Road shows and the paper sent out by Jane Powell [Performance Coaching Manager]. If anyone has concerns they were requested to contact Sally Munday [Development Director].

4.2.6Hockey Development Officers [HDO’s] – some concerns that there had been so far no regional input.

4.2.7Child Protection. The MRHA Hon Sec’ was the designated contact in the Midlands but all cases must be referred to Alison Hogg at England Hockey.

There was an increasing workload in this area with more cases being reported.

4.2.8Jon Potter had resigned as a Non Executive Director and a replacement was being sought, ideally from someone with marketing/IT skills.

4.2.9European Nations Cup 2007 – Manchester. Andy Tapley had been appointed Chair of the Operations Group with Sue Catton as Project Manager. There had been no time to advertise the positions!

Volunteers were required –information and the signing up process was on the event web site -

JH requested Council members to let her know of any issues that they wished her to table at RCC.

4.3RDM Report.

4.3.1. Communication with the MRHA Officers had been very positive.

4.3.2Three new fulltime HDO’s in Midland Region. Applications close on Monday 15h January with appointments commencing 1st April. Not a direct replacement of existing HDO’s but a new appointment employed by England Hockey. Some HDO’s contracts go through to 2008. Oxon & Bucks are included in the areas covered with MRHA. A screening day and then a normal interview day. Insufficient applicants for screening day but sufficient applications of the interview process. A Glazier had agreed to sit on the interview panel. Appointees will be notified.

4.3.3Youth Panel. Five appointments two applicants taken on board. Meeting now arranged on Sunday 28th January as Midland Mini Festival is at Cannock. Three places to be filled. Five already from West Midlands, so ideally require an East Midland appointee. Youth Festival now sponsored by Yazoo.

4.3.3.1The revised Terms of Reference of Youth Panel were agreed.

4.3.4RUAG making very good progress 42 young umpires on database and have returned Parental Consent Forms. There were over 120 on full d/b to get promising umpires identified. County mini dates with young umpires and mentors and coaches.

4.3.4.1Funding Bid paper tabled with a proposal considered by the officers. It was recommended that £1000 be allocated and paid to MRHUA as a one off payment. Council agreed this proposal. Action MG

4.3.4.2Build on the National promising list, a fantastic initiative that is working well. Two girls umpired in the recent boys tournament.

4.3.4.3SF thanked Elaina for all her work in setting up the group.

4.3.5Single System group set up. Feb 8th reporting back.

4.3.5.1Joint S&Y met yesterday and considered centrally contracted coaches.

4.3.5.2Coaching Committee met in December, to discuss opportunities and how liaison will happen and coaching pathways.

4.3.5.3Transition arrangements has been passed onto regions for implementation. Meeting again on 8th February.

4.3.5.4A full list of the Course Programme in MRHA was tabled and the latest Course list had some gaps to be filled. HE was the Head Educator and AE the Assessor. These are the ones that most people attend

4.3.5.5Two level 2 courses in the Midland with 56 expressing an interest.

4.3.5.6Level 3 courses run nationally

4.3.5.7Level 4 courses being written by Jane Powell. Some will have to retake.

4.3.5.8AG - Regional Centres need to look at national picture. Officially 10 national centres. If any member has a view regarding their location then please feedback to AG who would liase with Kath Arter. Boundaries may cross over existing regional and county boundaries.

4.3.5.9SF agreed to update MRHA with a presentation at the March Council

4.3.5.10Three tiers Active Sports tie, County and Regional tiers. Looking for actual physical centres for location. Regional teams would be based at the regional centres which need to be located where travel. Long term could facilitate the location long term.

4.3.6The President congratulated Elaina on her first European Technical appointment.

4.4Indoor Finals Day. The President reported that ticket sales were going well [1200+] and that volunteers were still required. The S&Y qualifiers would not be known until the Saturday.

4.5European Nations Cup in Manchester in August 2007. Already covered,

5Umpiring Matters

5.1P College [MRHUA} had no umpiring matters to report. MRHUA were meeting with Jane Nockolds on 13th Feb

5.2RUAG had been dealt with under item 4.3.4.

5.2Officers considered a discussion Paper that the President had written on the future of umpiring in the Midland. CB had been delegated to revise and précis, which is still ongoing

1. Finance
2. Margaret Gotheridge tabled a report –[attached to Minutes]
3. Appeal to Warwickshire for payment of MRHA fees. Sian Musgrove has chased and this is now in hand. The Men’s payment received today
4. Youth Panel - £1000 account to be received into MRHUA. All section accounts should have been sent to the MRHA Treasurer for preparation of the annual audit. PC agreed to take back. Action MRHUA
5. CB reported on a verbal contact from Leicester Hockey Club regarding a request for assistance for the European Cup in Azerbaijan in June. Provisional budget £30k with flights and other costing over £10k. Agreed that the Officers would consider any application and make a recommendation to March Council. MMc outlined some of the fund raising that had already taken place.
6. Some concern expressed that EH does not now allocate any funding support for the six teams from England that represent England in European competition. It was noted that the format for some European competitions may change for 2007-08
7. The receipt of the outstanding Regional Under 21 Tournament monies from 2006 was still ongoing. Action LEA
8. No budget recommendations.

1. Men’s League Committee.
2. Barry Forrester [Chairman] tabled a report following the last League Committee meeting. The League was running smoothly but there was a discipline concern with two clubs, one had been summoned to a meeting with the League Committee prior to the Council meeting.

No major concerns, the Premier League was close at the top so an exciting finish to the season was in prospect.

7.2Performance Plan -Consultation Document. This had been widely circulated. The principle view from MRHA was that automatic promotion from the regional league was vital to ensure that there was regional representation in the National League. With the regional split in the bottom of the EHL there was the potential for more teams than any other region to be relegated back into the Midland League. A long discussion ensued with no overriding view that Council could support.

7.2.1Option Premier, National 1 National 2.

7.2.2Option 1 ruled out totally.

7.2.3Premier1. Many issues- are there any other options? JN agree with automatic promotion and relegation. EH Cup a marketable tool. Indoor expensive to service in a restricted period. Difficult where there are no facilities and the cost is the major factor for clubs without major sponsorship. 12 Midland Premier clubs may not want to play indoor league hockey. 5th February was the return by date.

7.2.4The President stated that he had conversed with a number of clubs and their overriding view was that a fourth option was missing and that the consensus view was to have a true National League with three divisions 1.2.3. AG stated that there were concerns expressed over the philosophy behind some of the proposals that had come from Performance. The note regarding no sponsorship input in the bottom Division had caused great concern. It was agreed that the Hon Secretary would attempt to draft a response from MRHA. Action LEA

1. Women’s League Committee.
2. Margaret Thompson [Chair] reported that the Women’s League had a close season and did not restart until the 4th February. An Appeal hearing had been held prior to Council and had decided to reject the appeal and upheld the decision to deduct points but had reduced the financial penalty..
3. Boys Schools’ Youth Committee
4. S.Handley tabled a report and expanded on various aspects of the report. Apologies for not bringing enough copies.
5. A long meeting on Monday 8th January and a number issues to deal with. Results tabled.
6. Indoor facility now in Northampton at MoltonCollege and will enter next year. Thanks to Trevor Taylor for organising umpires.
7. The U18 County Championship had had to reorganised on the day as one county dropped out and one did not turn up. Defaulting counties were fined and the fines paid, Problem with two schools who provide the bulk of the county squads,
8. The Midland Youth Panel had already been dealt with under 4.3.3.
9. Rules of Hockey –Goalkeepers attire. The Hon Sec tabled a paper for Council following a number of concerns that had been expressed. A Directive had issued by the South Region to all South clubs to ensure that all their youth outdoor competitions played with fully kitted keepers. One rationale behind the decision of FIH in implementing this change of Rule was explained to Council in that it was to encourage the development of the game in non-hockey playing counties where any form of protective equipment was not available.
10. Boys S&Y had considered the matter at their recent meeting and were in favour of adopting the Directive for all outdoor matches under their jurisdiction i.e all age groups Under 18.
11. The Girls S&Y had not had a meeting to consider the matter but the Hon Secretary was of the opinion that they would take a similar stance.
12. A point was raised of an issue of child protection for those Under18 players who were playing in adult leagues. Question posed as to whether there was a duty of care from MRHA and indeed EH?
13. The implication of the change of Rule was that there were now three option regarding goalkeepers i) to have a GK who is fully kitted; ii) to play with a “kicking back” who wears a helmet and has all the privileges of a GK, but is restricted as to where he can go on the pitch; and iii) to play without a GK i.e with 11 outfield players.
14. Council debated the implications of young players in adult leagues and the possible scenarios. The considered view was that MRHA had jurisdiction for local decisions on local matters.
15. There was a concern especially from the umpires on the potential for confusion when matches were being played in EH competitions [e.g. EH Trophy, when the FIH Rules from 1st January would be used.]. The major concern was that MRHA ought to be seen to be taking action to protect all players under their jurisdiction and to give appropriate advice,
16. It was agreed that SF and MG would take up at matter with EH as a matter of urgency in order to seek clarification of the full legal implications, as they both would be at EH HQ later in the week.
17. Council agreed that the Directive should be issued, via the MRHA web site with immediate effect and would cover all outdoor hockey under the jurisdiction of MRHA must have a fully kitted keeper. Action LEA

In effect the tabled draft was adopted with the deletion of ‘junior’ in paragraph 5.

9.4Schools & Youth raised the continuing problem of the provision of umpires for its events. It was hoped that the Young Umpires scheme would assist in this.

9.5The selection of Midland players for the England age group squads was noted. These would be tabled on the EH Web site

1. GirlsSchools’ & Youth Committee.
2. Jeanne Freeman tabled a report detailing the Schools’ and Indoor championships held recently and the forthcoming CountyTournament in March. U18 winners were Bromsgrove Sch with Nottingham Highfields HC r/u and at U16 Belper HC with Dame Alice Harpur Sch r/u. Lilleshall had proved to be an excellent venue. England warm weather training camp included the weekend and took five Belper players. Concern that England give priority dates and then performance take no notice of the priority.
3. The joint Presentation Dinner had been a great success and it was hoped that this would be repeated in future seasons.
4. Two Midland players had been named in the GB U20 squad -Charlotte Craddock and Suzie Gilbert along with Xanthe Travlos and Katie Long from last year, who would be playing in the Youth event in Australia. It was agreed that the Hon Sec would write on behalf of Council to these players.

1. Competitions Committee
2. Indoor Sub Committee – D.Colson had sent apologies and stated that there was nothing to report until after the end of this indoor season.
3. Women’s Veterans Club being organised by Mrya Downes in Shropshire
4. Men’s CountyU21 was being organised by Shropshire on Sunday 15th April in Telford. Roger Furniss has the arrangements in hand.
5. Women’s Senior County Championships. Pam Lycett confirmed the dates of CC finals on 12th/13th May with the Zone Round on 28th/29th April. Two pitches had been reserved at Aldersley and the closing date for entry had been put back to end of January. Staffs, Shrops and Northants entered.
6. PL was concerned at the level of the £70 entry from EH, which she had been informed would go solely towards umpire expenses at Finals day. Her concern was the costs for the Zone round where all expenses have to be picked up by the participants. [A concern was to book the requisite time at Aldersley -£40 per hour.]
7. Bedfordshire stated they had not received an Entry form.
8. Women’s Under 21 tournament is being organised by Warwickshire in October 2007. Sian Musgrove requested information on previous formats and requested that counties notify her of provisional entry. Action all Women’s Counties
9. Coaching Committee

Coaching Committee had met regarding Single System on 29th January.

1. Regional Discipline Administrator

NS apologised for not presenting a written report.

13.134 red cards [against 56 all last year] No any match day offer nice. All 34 are traditional red cards. Situation worrying.

13.2Category of violence used on other payers 12 reported against 15 for last year.

13.3Relative cards for dissent has gone down [16]

13.4Geographical distribution Staffs 9 [10 last year] Warks have already reached last years total of 12.

13.5No information as to whether any action has been reported to the Police, as if so no action could be taken.

13.6Concern whether umpires more competent in giving cards. A number of reasons