GENERAL MEETING
WARWICKSHIRE WOMENS HOCKEY LEAGUE
5th March 2012, Olton
Minutes of the Meeting
Start of Meeting 20:11
Present: Lucy Aldridge (Atherstone); Anna Darowska (Berkswell and Balsall Common); Anne Stait (Birmingham Wasps); Catherine Bell, Abbie Bissett, Anne Bourton (Coventry and NW, AssociationTreasurer); Melissa Fox (Coventry City and Uni); Katherine Jones, Sara Husseini (Edgbaston, Minutes Sec); Nicola Gotrel (Hampton-in-Arden, Publicity Officer); Nick Solman, Liz Jones (Leamington); Kay Molloy (Long Buckby); Tracey Bromley, Jackie Neale, Sally Davidson Jones (Nuneaton, Treasurer/Results Sec); Clare Rippin, Carrie Lowndes (Olton, Association Sec); Claire Dickinson (Rugby and EW); Sian Musgreave (Solihull Blossomfield); Janice Kerse (Stratford, Vice Chairperson); Claire Wright (Sutton Coalfield, Midlands Rep); Katie Gibbons (Uni of Birmingham); Sarah Cremin(?) (Uni of Warwick); Pam Dalton (Warwick)
Apologies: J West (Secretary); A Briggs (Chairperson); S Chidlow (Fixtures Secretary); Shipston
1. Warwickshire Hockey Association fees:
The Association Treasurer (A Bourton) handed out invoices at end of meeting to each representative with her contact details for anyone who has further questions. This includes:
· Warwickshire Affiliation fee- £30 per club.
· Midlands Affiliation fee- £30 per club.
· Warwickshire County fee- £15 per team in Warwickshire league
2. Olympics
The Midlands Representative (Claire Wright) attended a Hockey Olympic Legacy meeting last Wednesday.
Summary: England hockey are expecting a significant influx of players following the Olympics. (80% of people with hockey tickets are likely to be non-hockey players. Nationwide, it is hoped that around 30000 new players will try hockey. England Hockey have introduced a number of initiatives to capitalise on the increased interest, including:
· 24hr Hotline during Olympics for people to call/ask questions etc
· 5 week frenzy of hockey related events (end July-August)
· Rush hockey/Back 2 hockey/Into hockey (mini hockey)
(For more information or to discuss any ideas/initiatives you may have as a club, please contact Emma Sadula ( England Hockey relationships manager for Warwickshire)
What England Hockey would like to know from us is to ascertain the extent to which we can accommodate additional teams.
Suggestions on how to prepare for this potential influx of players following the Olympics:
· In theory the league could accommodate 4 more teams (12 per div) but could be problem logistically
· The league could extend the deadline for pulling teams out- so if clubs are unsure about putting in a new team/keeping a team in the league then they are encouraged to do so and then pull out if necessary at a later date
· Potential possibility of a flexible mini-league which would start later in the season (after Christmas perhaps), or a pool whereby players from different clubs form teams to get a game on a Saturday during slip weekends
· The rule regarding having no more than 4 teams from one club in the league allowed could be abolished (This rule currently only affects Sutton and Warwick) (Rule 6.3)
· The lowest division (Div 4) could have 14/15 teams and be split halfway through the season
· Rule about number of registered players per club may need to change (Rule 6.2)
Rule discussions will to take place at the AGM, but clubs are asked to start thinking about proposals for changes. (Rules can be found in the ‘Downloads’ section of the website: www.wwhl.co.uk )
3. Umpiring:
Since Christmas there have been 13 umpires with a 1 or a 0, but all were isolated incidents. Comments must be made otherwise the league cannot follow it up.
Foul language has been an issue-clubs are asked to encourage umpires to card people for bad language.
The league intends to hold a meeting at the start of the season for all captains and regular umpires to meet, discuss expectations on both sides, and establish understanding and cooperation between players and umpires. Steve Tabb (Warwickshire Hockey Association) will hopefully be involved at that meeting. It will be compulsory for all clubs- each club to send at least one representative per team and two umpire (unless the club only has one team in which case they need only send one team representative and one umpire).
Rule 11.1 concerning level 1 umpires for Div 3 is due to come into force this season. This means that all teams in Div 3 will be expected to provide a level 1 umpire, or someone working towards level 1 during next season. The League is committed to supporting clubs in getting umpires qualified. This is to be discussed and to be voted on at the AGM.
4. Fixtures Live:
Steve Chidlow to send out instructions to clubs regarding registering players on fixtures live.
The time and venue of fixtures can also be put on fixtures live-it is recommended that clubs do this at the start of the season/ two weeks prior to each match, as it is a useful way for all players to see match details.
5. Summer League:
Olton are running a two-tier league this season (one aimed at Div 1/2 level and the second at Div 3/4 level, though it is anticipated that Midlands teams will also enter the upper division as usual) Pam Daley is the contact.
Stratford are also running a summer league this year aimed at Div 1 level
6. Rearranged matches:
8 outstanding matches to play. April 15th is the last day to replay matches this season. (This will not be extended, but the committee will consider individual cases.)
7. Divisions for next season:
It was decided that there are not enough teams to warrant a 5th division for next season.
1 team will go up from Div 1 this year; it is anticipated that none will come back down. 2 up and 2 down through rest of divisions. This will leave 10 teams in Div 1, 11 in all of the rest.
8. Trophies:
Need to be returned by Division winners from last season.
Div 1- Edgbaston
Div 2- Hampton
Div 3- Warwick
Div 4- Stratford
9. Website:
The website is generally deemed very useful, though clubs are encouraged to use it more. Adding fixtures times and venues through fixtures live (as discussed above) will help.
News items are also wanted for the website. The League is considering offering an incentive-such as reduced fees for regular contributions.
10. Fines:
Sally has a few to chase up but generally clubs have been fined less this season.
11. Match Sheets:
Match sheets improved mid-season, but the quality of the printed name of umpires has slipped to the point that Sally can no longer read a lot of the names. Clubs are asked to remind captains/umpires to make printed names clearer.
12. Resignations:
Sara Husseini will be stepping down as Minutes Secretary after this meeting. Katherine Jones (Edgbaston) will replace her for the rest of the season (and has offered to continue after that)
Anne Bourton will be stepping down as Association Treasurer at the end of this season (Sally Davidson Jones has offered to add it to her list of duties)
Carrie Lowndes will be stepping down as League Association Secretary at the end of this season
Clubs who are not currently represented on the committee are encouraged to take on committee positions should they want to.
13. Rule changes
Any proposed rule changes to be sent to committee by start of May at the very latest so that proposals can be circulated to clubs and discussed by the committee ahead of the AGM on the 14th May (Stratford). Clubs are reminded that non-attendance will result in a 3 point deduction per team in the following season. Clubs must send 1 representative but are encouraged to send 2, as each club gets 2 votes on rule changes.
14. Photography of players without permission
There have been one or two incidents where people have been taking photos of matches or players which involve under 18s. This may be innocent, but it is illegal to take photographs of people without their permission. Teams need to seek the opposition captain’s permission, before taking any photographs of matches.
15. A.O.B.
Midlands have asked the potential winners of Division 1 (Stratford and Warwick) whether they would want to participate in the County League Winners’ tournament. Both teams confirmed that they would.
A Nuneaton umpire felt the need to write a letter to the committee complaining of bad language and the deteriorating nature of the hockey matches they have umpired. Umpires are strongly encouraged to use their cards for bad language. It is important that example is set for the youngsters and that they are protected. This is one of the reasons for pre-season umpiring meeting as discussed above.
End of Meeting 20:35
Next meeting: 14th May, Stratford 7:30pm
FOR CONTACT DETAILS OF ANY OF THE COMMITTEE OR LEAGUE REPRESENTATIVES MENTIONED IN THESE MINUTES, PLEASE VISIT THE WEBSITE: www.wwhl.co.uk