Minutes of the East League Management Committee
Thursday, 6th February, 2014 – held at The London Stansted Hilton.
Attendees:
Andy Barlow / X / Richard Malone / / / David Roberts / /David Burt / / / Philip Maddison / X / Pritpal Sagoo / /
Christina Dewing / / / Sarah Mann / / / Kishor Shah / /
Sarah Smith / / / Samantha Menear / X / James Sheppard / /
Janet Goody / X / Richard Munns / / / Ali Smyth / /
Barry Harness / / / Russell Nutter / / / Henry Wanchoo / /
Nick Hoyle / / / Chris Perry / / / Nicola Wilkes / X
Neil Liversedge / / / Rosemary Prince / /
1. Apologies
Apologies were received from Nicola Wilkes, Janet Goody, Samantha Menear, Philip Maddison and Andy Barlow
2. Minutes of the Last Meeting
The minutes of the last meeting were accepted with any action points acted on/outstanding being reviewed in the minutes below.
3. Correspondence
3.1 Appeal Long Sutton – EWL 3NWN Long Sutton appeal against match being awarded against them was turned down.
3.2 Plashet – Had provided a comprehensive proposal to re-enter a team into the EML. It was agreed that a team from the club would be re-admitted from the start of the 2014-15 season. Concerned was raised that one player listed (called Ajay Khera) is also known as Ajay Singh who has been serving a lengthy ban this season due to striking a member of the opposition. It was agreed that NL would discuss this with Plashet and report back to the next meeting.
3.3 Lower Leagues with 9/10 division teams – A consultation exercise was carried out during January of clubs with teams in the bottom divisions of the EML regarding league divisions of 9 or 10 teams. The preference being whether to keep the later start time and breaks or to allow clubs to start their fixtures at the start of the season with their other teams and take the breaks as they occur per team as they would occur through the fixture list.
Of the 48 clubs, 26 replied (a response rate of 54%)
22 clubs asked to keep the start dates/principle we have been using as it is
3 asked for the start dates
1 club was happy either way
The Fixtures co-ordinator would take this in mind when collating the fixtures.
3.4 EWL Div 3 and 4 NWN/S - A survey was carried out of the clubs with teams that had migrated into the newly formed Div 3 and 4 NW divisions. 15 teams out of 36 had replied.
Clubs felt largely that the migration had gone well and the administration side was good. Most clubs felt the games standard was competitive, but a big message to come out were that there was not enough hockey being played, particularly as the Leagues were entry level leagues for players. This would be noted in collating next season’s fixtures.
3.5 St Neots – An issue regarding homophobic abuse had been levelled against a player. Issue was initially addressed to the League. League advised that the England Hockey code of conduct process should be followed, but also carried out a disrepute investigation.
3.6 Ramgarhia 2’s – Had started the season playing on the Kingsford Community College pitch. Following a complaint from Redbridge and Ilford it was found that the pitch was a non-FIH certified 3G pitch and should not be used to play hockey. Unanimously agreed that all games played on that pitch by Ramgarhia will be awarded to the opposition. NL to advise Ramgarhia.
3.7 FIH Own Goal rule –This rule will revert back to its original rule from start of 2014-15 season. National League has already adopted the change, however all other regional hockey leagues will follow from the start of the new season.
3.8 Rochford Casuals – Advised by England Hockey in December that Rochford Casuals had not paid their EH Affiliation Fee’s, despite reminders from EH and promises from Rochford. Rochford were therefore disaffiliated until such time that they had paid their fees and all games were awarded against them 5-0.
3.9 Cheshunt 3’s – Complaint about spectator abusing an umpire has been addressed by the club and an apology issued.
4. Playing Matters
4.1 HW and CP reported that they both had a couple of games outstanding due to postponements.
4.2 Richard Malone reported he had an on-going investigation regarding UEA doubling up players.
4.3 RP reported that she had an on-going investigation regarding Ipswich doubling up of players.
4.4 RN reported that Harleston had a game awarded against them for fielding a player who had received 4 yellow cards and was therefore suspended. He further reported that he had issued an official warning to Ramgarhia, as two games they had played at home had ended early due to staff at their astro site insisting their timeslot had ended. In the warning Ramgarhia had to ensure with their pitch supplier that there was enough time to complete every game. RN had confidence that their 1st X1 captain would make sure that this happened. Both games would be treated as being complete.
5. Finance
£80 fines had been collected. No fines were outstanding
6. Umpiring
Following discussion at the ERHUA meeting DR asked if:
6.1 Can we provide a list of yellow cards per game for EML and EWL Premier Games – The answer was that this would be hard to achieve, but could be administered within ERHUA.
6.2 Can our yellow cards penalty system be brought into line of other leagues – Answer was No. Historically the East League has wanted to provide support to umpires at all levels. Below the top 5 EML divisions and Prem and Div 1 divisions in EWL, more than 75% of cards issued are for umpire dissent and there needed to be recourse for repeat offenders in this action.
6.3 Can fines/points deduction be introduced for Red Cards – Answer was in regard to fines would have to be administered by the RDA/CDA. In regard to point’s deduction, the ELMC historically had a good track record of managing discipline in clubs.
6.4 RM raised that with the new Umpire Grading system the terms of reference used when referring to Umpires had changed and that these changes needed reflecting in the East League Rules. NL undertook to make the changes for review at the next meeting.
7. Discipline
Richard Munns reported that the number of cards issued to date were:
RED / YELLOWEWL / 0 / 114
EML / 28 / 1057
Richard was further concerned that not all League Managers had entered all their cards to date and reminded them to do so.
8. Rule Changes
A number of Rule Changes were proposed with the aim of making the Rules consistent across both EML and EWL following the introduction of EWL Divisions 3 and 4.
8.1 Rule 1 – remove reference to Veterans League
8.2 Rule 4.2 to read - All matches in all divisions must be played on astro pitches of a standard approved for hockey by EH, except that approved 3G pitches may only be used for matches in the lowest two divisions of any quadrant of both the EML and EWL.
8.3 Rule 4.3.2 Paragraph 1 to read - Unless otherwise agreed by the League Manager, matches in EML and EWL Divisions 2 upwards must have a starting time 11am - 4pm in Sept, Oct, Feb, Mar, and Apr and 11am-3pm in Nov, Dec, and Jan. For other divisions start times must be 10.30am - 5pm.
8.4 Rule 5.2 to read- Clubs must use their own umpires for matches in other divisions. Umpires in all matches in EWL Divisions 2 and above and in EML 3NE, 4NW, 5SE, and 4SW and above must be fully qualified Level 1 or higher. In lower divisions Candidate Level 1 registered umpires may be used.
8.5 Rule 5.4 to read - Umpires should not normally be changed during matches in EWL divisions 2 and above, nor in EML matches in divisions 4NE, 4NW, 5SE, and 5SW and above. However, a change may be made if an umpire is incapacitated during a match or if a temporary umpire is needed until a delayed umpire arrives. In lower EML divisions, umpires may be changed once, at half time, if the captains agree before the start of the match.
In addition two rule changes were proposed by clubs
8.6 Long Sutton – Where games are abandoned due to inclement weather with less than 10 minutes to go the result at that point should stand – Recommended that this rule is not introduced as we will be asking umpires to officiate on League Rules. This rule would not be recommended for inclusion by the ELMC as it is felt the current rule is more appropriate.
8.7 Horncastle – In the bottom 2 divisions clubs should not be withdrawn from the Leagues when conceding their 4th game. This rule would not be recommended for inclusion by the ELMC. Clubs know that they make a commitment on entering the League to honour their fixtures and as such need to ensure they have sufficient playing resource to honour that commitment.
9. Presentation Day
9.1 Will be held on Sunday 8th June. The committee agreed that it should be held once again at Letchworth Hockey Club, which is a good central venue for all clubs in the East as was demonstrated last year by 100% attendance of league Division winners. The food was good and the size of the meeting room more than adequate. NH will collect the trophies again and SS will print the League tables.
10. ERHA Management Meeting
Next meeting will be held on Thu 6th March.
11. Any other Business
11.1 Dates for next season.
We are proposing games will be played from 20th September through to 13th December with no breaks. The second half of the season will run from 17th January to 14th February, a weeks break for half term/slip date and then from 28th February to 21st March.
We are not proposing a weeks break in December next season. We do wish to play our part in promoting Indoor to clubs, however the feedback from clubs was that the weeks break this season was not beneficial to all of their club members. Also should be noted on the 7th December break in the EML only 2 clubs played indoors that day. However once dates are agreed for the regional rounds in December cancellations will be granted to clubs and it is proposed that those games will be played on an agreed date during October or November to get the games played in the first half of the season.
11.2 Mixed League
RMal had noted that there was a Suffolk Mixed League that was run very informally and should that League be incorporated into the East. The view was that it shouldn’t be.
11.3 Proposal from North Walsham
North Walsham had made a proposal on 21st June regarding reducing travelling distances/time in the bottom division of the NE quadrant by introducing what would effectively be a 6NEN and 6NES Division. Last season a quick straw poll had been conducted showing about 50% of the affected clubs in favour 50% not in favour. League Manager Richard Malone was not in favour as the standard between teams relegated from Div 5 and the bottom teams in the current Div 7 being too wide, giving more imbalanced games. It was agreed to survey clubs again.
12. Date of next meeting
Thursday 10th April starting at 7.30 and will be held at The Stansted Hilton Hotel.