Welsh Hockey

Hockey Wales

NATIONAL COMPETITION RULES for 2002 / 2003

 

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Last updated   06 June 2003 12:10

 

   

1.      Preamble

 

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The following Rules are applicable to the following National Competitions played within the control of the Welsh Hockey Union  (WHU).

 

1.1           Men 

                        a) Welsh Cup

                        b) Welsh 2nd XI Cup

                        c) Welsh Shield

                        d) Welsh Veterans Cup

 

1.2.          Women     

                  a) Welsh Cup

                  b) Welsh Plate

                                 c) Welsh 2nd XI Cup

                  d) Welsh Shield

                                 e) Welsh Veterans Cup

 

2.      Management and Control

 

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Shall be invested in the WHU Competitions Committee as set out in the WHU Constitution.

 

The WHU Competitions Committee may appoint secretaries to assist in the organisation of individual competitions.

 

3.     Entry

 

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3.1           Any club affiliated to the WHU

3.2           Entry form and entry fee to the WHU by the designated date on the entry form

3.3           All monies will be controlled by the WHU.

3.4           No club may enter more than one team per competition.

3.5           Club and players must pay the current WHU affiliation fees by 1st October

3.6           Every Women’s club entering the Welsh Cup or the Welsh Shield must submit the name of an active, affiliated, and qualified umpire, who is available for appointment, i.e., qualified as per the WHUA current list of active umpires, or holding an equivalent qualification from any National Association (details of the qualification to be submitted)

3.7           The top eight (8) men’s clubs and the top eight (8) women’s clubs, as decided by the WHU Competitions Committee, shall not be eligible to enter the Welsh Shield.

3.8           Clubs entering 2nd XI Cup competitions must nominate ten regular 1st XI players, in writing,  one week before the 1st Round, these are the players who will not be eligible to play in this competition

3.9           Clubs entering a team in the 2nd XI Cup must have already entered a team in the Welsh Cup or Welsh Shield.

3.10        Only players aged 40 or over (Men) or aged 35 or over  (Women) on 31st August prior to the start of the season may play in the Welsh Veterans Cup.

3.11        Veterans teams may consist of players from no more than three clubs, without the prior approval of the Competitions Committee Chairman, but players may only play for one team / composite team in the competition (see rule 15.4).

 

4.     Draw

 

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4.1           All draws will be made publicly

4.2           Team drawn first is the Home team

4.3           The losing teams from the 1st round of the Women’s Welsh Cup will automatically take part in the Welsh Plate Competition.

 

5.     Rules of Play

 

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5.1           All matches shall be played according to the Rules of Hockey as issued by the FIH.

5.2           In the event of WHU adopting experimental rules, matches will be played to such rules during their currency

5.3           If there is a clash of colours, the Away team shall change to different colours. This must include shirts and socks

 

6.     Dates of Matches

 

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Matches should be played on the dates designated in the WHU Calendar with the exception of the Universities and Colleges who may be allowed some dispensation to agree different dates for their 1st Round Matches with their opposition and the appropriate competition secretary.     

        

7.     Priority

 

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7.1           The Welsh Cup shall take priority over all other hockey played under the auspices of the WHU

7.2           Exceptions:  Under-18, Under-21 and Senior national squads, training and matches will have priority provided that these dates are included in the Calendar contained in the WHU Handbook

7.3           For the 2nd XI Cup add Under-16 national squads, training and matches, to the exceptions in 7.2 above

 

8.     Time and Duration of Play

 

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8.1           Start time 1200 - 1430 or a time convenient to both teams

8.2           No matches will be arranged to start under artificial light unless prior approval is obtained from the Competitions Committee Chairman

8.3           All matches to be confirmed by Home team with Away team and umpires at least 10 days prior to match

8.4           If insufficient pitch time is booked for the completion of the game, including extra time and penalty strokes, then the Home team will forfeit the game

8.5           In the event of a draw at the end of full time in a Welsh Cup, Welsh Shield, Welsh 2nd XI Cup or Welsh Plate match, there shall be a 5 minute interval, captains toss, then extra time of ten minutes each way

8.6.          If extra time does not produce a winner a Penalty Stroke Competition will take place, as per FIH Regulations for Outdoor Competitions.

8.7.          In the event of a draw at the end of full time in a Welsh Veterans Cup match, there shall be no extra time and paragraph 8.6 will apply.

 

9.     Grounds

 

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         9.1         All matches to be played on artificial turf surfaces (first round matches may be played on Red-Gra or grass with   the prior approval of the Competitions Committee Chairman)

9.2         The Competitions Committee will decide the venue for the Semifinals and Finals of all competitions.

 

10.   Matches - Postponement, Failure to fulfil, Conceding, Abandonment

 

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10.1        Postponed - a match may be postponed due to adverse weather conditions, Home team’s responsibility prior to Away team leaving their home ground, thereafter it is the umpires’ responsibility

10.2        Postponed  - a match may be postponed if adverse weather conditions prevent the Away team from traveling

10.3        Postponed - a match may be postponed if a club has 2 or more players involved with a national squad (see priority 7.2 and 7.3)

10.4        Postponed - for reasons other than 10.1, 10.2 and 10.3 will put in writing, within 48 hrs of the scheduled date, to the appropriate National Co-ordinator, with explanations of failure to fulfil fixture. May incur a fine (see 12.5a) and match expenses

10.5        Postponed match normally to be played within 14 days as per section 8 above

10.6        Conceding a match is unacceptable - the offending club will be fined (see 12.5b) and may incur match expenses (see 12.4) and will be excluded from the Welsh Plate if applicable

10.7        Abandonment - responsibility of the umpires - before the 60th minute, to be replayed normally within 14 days. From the 60th minute the team with the most goals shall be the winner. If a draw, to be replayed normally within 14 days

10.8        Rearranged fixtures within 14 days. If clubs are unable to agree the Competitions Committee Chairman will fix a date for playing the match. Any club refusing to play on a date fixed by the Competitions Committee Chairman shall be deemed to have lost the match

  

11.   Umpires

 

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11.1        The WHUA may appoint umpires to all matches

11.2        Umpires must be qualified as per the WHUA current list of active umpires, or holding an equivalent qualification from any National Association, and be affiliated to the WHUA  and the WHU.

11.3        After the match both umpires to confirm the result by signing the match sheet.

11.4        Non arrival of a WHUA appointed umpire / umpires at the designated time:

 

a)      the start shall be delayed for 10 minutes

 

If the WHUA appointed umpire(s) has not arrived at the end of that 10 minutes the following shall apply:

 

b)     the Home team captain shall ascertain, from amongst the spectators, if there is a qualified umpire(s) available who is willing to officiate. That umpire(s) shall then become the “temporary umpire(s)”

 

c)    the Home team captain, in consultation with the captain of the Away team and the umpire, shall nominate from amongst their playing squads, a qualified umpire(s) to act as “temporary umpire(s)”. A player(s) may be withdrawn from either or both playing squads for this purpose. If a “temporary umpire(s)” has been withdrawn from one playing squad the other team shall withdraw one of its playing squad.

NOTE: For the purpose of this rule both teams shall have an equal number of players on the pitch provided they both have an equal number of players available. If one team has fewer than eleven players available then that differential must be maintained if 11.4(c) is invoked.

 

d)     In the event of the WHUA appointed umpire(s) arriving before the commencement of the 2nd half that WHUA appointed umpire(s) will take over the match and the “ temporary umpire(s)” and the withdrawn player, may rejoin the game.

 

e)      if no replacement qualified umpire is available the match shall be postponed (see 10.5)

 

12.    Expenses, Fines

 

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12.1        The Home team shall meet the match expenses including the provision of the pitch, match balls and reasonable refreshments after the game.

12.2        The Away team to meet its own traveling expenses.

12.3        All clubs must contribute towards the cost of the expense for the appointed umpires, the amount and method of collection to be decided by the WHUA annually.

12.4        Failure to fulfil a fixture (see 10.4, 10.6) clubs will be liable for any expenses incurred by their opponents and umpires.

12.5         

a)        Postponed as per 10.4                   Fine as agreed by the Competitions Committee subject to a maximum of £50

 

b)       Conceded as per 10.6                    Fine as agreed by the Competitions Committee subject to a minimum of £25 and a maximum of £75

 

c)       Non notification of results            Fine of £10 for every offence

 (see 13.1c and 13.1d)

             

d)     Non notification of nominated        Fine of £10

         players for 2nd X1 Cup by due

         date (see 3.8)

                                                                                                                       

13.   Results

 

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13.1        It is the responsibility of the Home team:

 

a)        Prior to the start of the match to ensure a match sheet with list of both teams is handed to the umpires

b)       At the end of the match to receive the signed match sheet from the umpires.

c)        Immediately after the match (18.00 at the latest) phone the result (including postponement etc.) to the appropriate Secretary.

d)       Within 48 hours send the completed match sheet to the appropriate Secretary.

 

13.2.       Failure to comply with either c) or d) will incur a fine (see 12.5c)

  

14.   Disputes / Appeals

 

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14.1.       Any complaint which may arise in connection with these rules or other matters relating to these competitions will only be considered if it is sent in writing to the Competitions Committee Chairman within 48 hours of the event / decision.

14.2.       The Competitions Committee shall determine the action to be taken

         14.3        Clubs shall have the right to appeal to the Competitions Committee or to the WHU Management Committee and

                      the procedures for this are as laid down in the WHU Right of Appeal.               

 

15.   Eligibility

 

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15.1    All players participating in Welsh competitions must comply with the WHU Registration Rules (which explain the   mechanism for players transferring from one club to another).

15.2    Players shall only play, in any of the competitions covered by these rules, for the club with which they are currently registered, with the exception of the Welsh Veterans Cup (see rule 15.4).

15.3    Players shall not play in any of the competitions covered by these rules if they have played in any competition in that season for a club which is not affiliated to the WHU, without the prior approval of the Competitions Committee Chairman.

15.4    It is recognised that some clubs do not play in the Welsh Veterans Cup. If there are players in those clubs who wish   to play in the Welsh Veterans Cup, then they may play for a club which does participate in this competition provided that they are registered with a Welsh club and that that club does not participate in the Welsh Veterans      Cup (see rule 3.11).

                              

16.   Discipline

 

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16.1        The WHU Disciplinary Code will apply to all matches

16.2        The WHU Pitch side Code of Conduct will apply to all matches

   

17.   Doping Control

 

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As per WHU Constitution, you are reminded that all players could be subject to Dope Testing at any match

 

18.  European Cup Winners Cup

 

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The winners of the Welsh Cup shall be eligible to enter the European Cup Winners Cup provided that they are not also eligible to enter the European Club Championships. If this is the case, a play-off will be held between the runners-up in the Welsh Cup and the runners-up in the Welsh National League (women) or Welsh Premier Competition (men) to determine the European Cup Winners Cup entry, provided that the runners-up in the latter competition have entered and fully participated in the Welsh Cup. In the event of a draw at the end of full time, rules 8.5 and 8.6 will apply.

 

WHU Competitions Committee

Revised 1st September 2002

 

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