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Last updated 09 March 2003 18:50
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Table of Contents:
The association shall be
called the "Welsh Hockey Union" (WHU) and shall be the governing
body for hockey in Wales.
The objectives of the WHU
shall be:
to encourage, promote, develop and control hockey in Wales, including indoor hockey and such other forms of hockey as may be decided by the WHU Council
to arrange international and other matches and to select teams to represent the WHU
to
affiliate to the International Hockey Federation and the European Hockey
Federation
to
appoint for the efficient discharge of the functions of the WHU any employee
for such terms at such remuneration and upon such conditions as it thinks fit
and to make such provision for pension or other rights for their benefit as it
thinks proper
to
do all such other things as may be necessary or conducive for the attainment
of the above objectives including making, maintaining and publishing rules and
regulations and administering the funds of the WHU
Membership of the WHU shall be
open to any club or school situated in Wales wishing to participate in the
game of hockey. No club that is a member of the WHU shall play in any fixture
against another Welsh club unless that club is also a member of the WHU.
Clubs and schools shall be
allocated to Regions in accordance with the situation of their principal home
grounds as follows:
North
Wales (Men) - the unitary authorities of Anglesey, Conwy,
Denbighshire, Flintshire, Gwynedd, North Powys and Wrexham
North
Wales (Women) - the unitary authorities of Anglesey, Conwy, Denbighshire,
Flintshire, Gwynedd, North Powys and Wrexham
South
Wales (Men) - the unitary authorities of Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly,
Cardiff, Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Merthyr Tydfil, Monmouthshire,
Neath Port Talbot, Newport, Pembrokeshire, South Powys, Rhondda Cynon Taff,
Swansea, Torfaen and Vale of Glamorgan
South
Wales (Women) - the unitary authorities of Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend,
Caerphilly, Cardiff, Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Merthyr Tydfil, Monmouthshire, Neath Port Talbot,
Newport, Pembrokeshire, South Powys, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Swansea, Torfaen and Vale of
Glamorgan
Each Region shall submit its
constitution, and any amendments that may be made, to the Director of Hockey who shall place such constitution or amendments before the Council for
approval. This submission shall take place either when the Region requests it
or when the Council requests it.
6.
Welsh Hockey Umpires Association
The interests of all umpires
in Wales shall be administered by the Welsh Hockey Umpires Association (WHUA),
membership of which shall be open to all umpires in Wales. The WHUA shall
submit its constitution, and any amendments that may be made, to the Director of Hockey
who shall place such constitution or amendments before the Council
for approval. This submission shall take place either when the WHUA requests
it or when the Council requests it.
7.
Welsh Hockey Coaches
Association
The interests of all coaches
in Wales shall be administered by the Welsh Hockey Coaches Association (WHCA),
membership of which shall be open to all those interested in coaching in
Wales. The WHCA shall submit its constitution, and any amendments that may be
made, to the Director of Hockey who shall place such constitution or
amendments before the Council for approval. This submission shall take place
either when the WHCA requests it or when the Council requests it.
The
officers of the WHU shall be the President, Chairperson, and the Vice
Chairperson.
The
officers shall be elected for one year at an Annual General Meeting (AGM) of
the WHU and shall be eligible for re-election for further one year periods.
Any
casual vacancy arising among the officers of the WHU shall be filled by the
Council and the person appointed shall hold office until the next AGM of the
WHU.
The President shall chair Council Meetings. In his / her absence, the Chairperson shall chair the meeting. The Chairperson shall chair Management Committee Meetings and Finance Committee Meetings.
The
WHU shall indemnify each of its officers, officials and employees when acting
in good faith against claims by third parties for liabilities arising out of
their official duties for or on behalf of the WHU.
The
WHU shall be governed by a Council consisting of the officers of the WHU
together with the Chairperson of each Standing Committee (as laid down in
sections 16 to 20), two representatives appointed by each Region, the
Marketing and Publicity Co-ordinator, the Director of Hockey and the
Sports Council for Wales Liaison Officer.
The
Council shall have the power to co-opt extra members.
The
Director of Hockey, Sports Council for Wales Liaison Officer and any co-opted
members shall be non-voting members.
Each
Standing Committee and Region shall be entitled to send a substitute(s) to attend
a meeting of the Council in the absence of the specified representative(s). Such
substitute(s) shall be eligible to vote.
The
Council shall hold at least two meetings in each year.
The
Management Committee (as laid down in sections 12 and 13) has the power to
call a Special Meeting of the Council. A Special Meeting of the Council shall
also be held when a request is made in writing to the Director of Hockey by
any of the Regions. This request shall express the purpose of the proposed
meeting and upon receipt of the request, the Director of Hockey shall
immediately call a Special Meeting of the Council.
The
Director of Hockey shall give at least fourteen days notice in writing of any
meeting of the Council, specifying the date, time and place of the meeting and
the agenda for the meeting.
The
quorum for meetings of the Council shall be six members present and eligible
to vote.
Every
resolution at Council meetings shall be decided by a simple majority of votes
of those present and voting. Except as mentioned in (f) below, no person shall
cast more than one vote.
In
the case of equality of votes, the Chairperson of the meeting shall have a
second or casting vote.
11.
Powers and Duties of the Council
Subject to the overall authority of a General Meeting, the Council shall be responsible for governing the WHU including policy making. The role shall include:
appointing members to and removing members from Standing Committees as laid down in sections 16 to 20
appointing
the Marketing and Publicity Co-ordinator from nominations received
approving
budgets submitted by the Management Committee
appointing
or nominating members to represent the WHU on outside bodies
electing
Honorary Life Members as laid down in section 21
developing
the game of hockey in Wales
deciding
upon any matters not specifically covered in the constitution
approving the Doping Control Policy and child Protection Policy submitted by the Management Committee
The Council may delegate any
of its powers to a committee or person as it thinks fit.
The
Management Committee shall be responsible for the day to day management of the
WHU and shall consist of the Chairperson, the Vice Chairperson, the
Chairperson of each Standing Committee, the Director of Hockey and the Sports Council for Wales Liaison Officer.
The
Management Committee shall have the power to co-opt additional members as
necessary for individual items or meetings.
The
Director of Hockey, the Sports Council for Wales
Liaison Officer and any co-opted members shall be non-voting members.
The
quorum for meetings of the Management Committee shall be three members present
and eligible to vote.
Every
resolution at Management Committee meetings shall be decided by a simple
majority of votes of those present and voting. Except as mentioned in (f)
below, no person shall cast more than one vote.
In
the case of equality of votes, the Chairperson of the meeting shall have a
second or casting vote.
13.
Powers and Duties of the Management Committee
Subject to the overall
authority of the Council, the Management Committee shall be responsible for
implementing, within agreed budgets, the policies laid down by the Council.
The role shall include:
appointing
and managing the employees of the WHU, including the provision of day to day
policy guidance
ensuring
the efficient administration of the WHU
producing
the annual Development Plan for approval by members of the Council prior to
submission to the Sports Council for Wale
preparing
budgets for approval by the Council
recommending
to Council the level of affiliation fees
appointing
and removing international management teams
calling,
when necessary, a Special Meeting of the Council
recommending
to Council the insurance policies to be used by the WHU
organising
or overseeing the organisation of all international fixtures played in Wales
reviewing and recommending to Council any changes in the Doping Control Policy and the Child Protection Policy
The
Finance Committee shall consist of the Chairperson, Finance Officer, the
Marketing and Publicity Co-ordinator and the Director of Hockey
The
Finance Committee shall have the power to co-opt additional members as
necessary for individual items or meetings
The
Director of Hockey, the Finance Officer and any co-opted members shall be non-voting members
The
quorum for meetings of the Finance Committee shall be two members present
and eligible to vote
Every
resolution at Finance Committee meetings shall be decided by a simple majority
of votes of those present and voting. Except
as mentioned in (f) below, no person shall cast more than one vote
In
the case of equality of votes, the Chairperson of the meeting shall have a
second or casting vote
15.
Powers and Duties of the Finance Committee
Subject to the overall
authority of the Management Committee, the Finance Committee shall be
responsible for:
producing
the annual Development Plan for approval by the Management Committee
preparing
budgets for approval by Management Committee
keeping
the financial position of the WHU under constant review and reporting on this
to Management Committee
monitoring
cost centre budgets and ensuring that budget holders are aware of their
financial position
recommending
to Management Committee the level of affiliation fees
generating revenues from sponsorship, government schemes and any other sources
liaison with sponsors
publicising WHU events, sponsors and any initiatives in the media
marketing / promoting the game of hockey
There shall be the following
Standing Committees, whose composition, appointment and responsibilities are
set out in the following sections, subject to the overall authority of the
Council:
Competitions
Development
Performance
and International
Umpiring and Technical
The quorum for meetings of any Standing Committee shall be 50% of those allowed to attend and vote.
Every resolution of any Standing Committee meeting shall be decided upon by a simple majority of those present and voting. Except as mentioned below, no person shall cast more than one vote.
In the case of equality of votes, the Chairperson of the meeting shall have a second or casting vote.
Each Standing Committee shall
have the power to co-opt extra members as necessary. Any co-opted members
shall be non-voting.
The President and Chairperson
(or nominated deputy for the Chairperson) shall have the right to attend any
Standing Committee meeting in a non-voting capacity.
In addition to the
responsibilities set out in the following sections, the Council or Management
Committee may delegate other matters to Standing Committees.
Membership
The Competitions Committee
shall consist of:
Chairperson
Secretary
2 National
Coordinators
1 Representative from Each
Region
1 Representative from the Umpiring and Technical Committee
The Regional representatives
shall be appointed by the Regions and the remaining members of the committee
shall be appointed by the Council from nominations received.
Responsibilities
The Competitions Committee
shall be responsible for:
organising or overseeing the organisation of all national and regional domestic competitions including youth and schools competitions
coordinating the rules,
including the eligibility rules, of all national and regional domestic
competitions
recommending to Council
amendments to the Disciplinary Code, in liaison with the Umpiring and
Technical Committee
input to the annual
Development Plan including a draft budget
keeping expenditure within
budget guidelines
maintaining the WHU Calendar
the development of domestic
hockey excluding youth and schools activities
Membership
The
Development Committee shall
consist of:
Chairperson
Secretary
1 Representative from Each
Region
Director of Hockey
Regional Development Officers
All members of the committee
except the Director of Hockey and the Regional Development Officers shall be appointed by the Council from nominations received.
Responsibilities
The
Development Committee shall
be responsible for:
planning and implementing
national and regional coaching courses, conferences and seminars
input to the annual
Development Plan including a draft budget
administering a grading
structure to assist with coach education and qualification
recruiting and developing
coaches
keeping expenditure within
budget guidelines
administering the Welsh Hockey
Coaches Association
the development of domestic youth and schools hockey encompassing all age groups up to and including 18 years of age
19.
Performance
and International Committee
Membership
The
Performance and International Committee
shall consist of:
Chairperson
Secretary
2 National Teams
Coordinators
2 Assistant National Teams
Coordinators
Managers and Coaches of all
International Squads
National Performance Director
1 Representative from the Umpiring and Technical Committee
The Chairperson,
the Secretary, the 2
National Teams Coordinators and the 2 Assistant National Teams Coordinators
shall be appointed by the Council from nominations received.
Responsibilities
The
Performance and International Committee
shall be responsible for:
all international squads at
all levels
managing the co-ordination and
performance of all international squads
input to Great Britain
Performance Committee
organising formal de-briefings
for managers and coaches as required
input to the annual
Development Plan including draft programmes and a draft budget
keeping expenditure within
budget guidelines
recommending to the Management
Committee for approval the appointment of international management teams
20.
Umpiring and Technical Committee
Membership
The
Umpiring and Technical Committee shall consist of:
Chairperson
Secretary
Treasurer
2 Appointments Representatives
1
Grading Representatives
1 Coaching Representative
1 Representative from Each
Region of the WHUA
The Chairperson shall be
elected at the WHUA Annual General Meeting and the appointment approved by the
Council. The Regional representatives shall be appointed by the Regions of the
WHUA and the remaining members of the committee shall be elected at the WHUA
Annual General Meeting.
Responsibilities
The Umpiring and Technical
Committee shall be responsible for:
formulating policy for and
managing all matters relating to umpires and technical officials
appointing umpires and
technical officials to domestic and international events
input to the annual
Development Plan including a draft budget
administering a grading
structure to assist with umpire development
recruiting and developing
umpires and technical officials
keeping expenditure within
budget guidelines
administering the WHUA
planning and implementing
national and regional umpiring courses, conferences and seminars
liaison with the Competitions
Committee regarding amendments to the Disciplinary Code
The Council may elect as
Honorary Life Members any persons who merit this honour as a result of their
distinguished service to the WHU or its predecessors the Welsh Hockey
Association and the Welsh Women's Hockey Association. Honorary Life Members
shall be entitled to vote at Annual and Special General Meetings.
The
WHU shall hold an Annual General Meeting (AGM) in June each year - the date,
time and place to be determined by the Council.
The
business of the meeting shall be to elect the officers and appoint an Auditor
for the ensuing year, to receive a report of the activities of the WHU during
the preceding year, to receive the accounts of the WHU for the previous
financial year, to fix the affiliation fees for the ensuing year and to
consider any other business specified on the agenda for the meeting.
There
shall be in the hands of the Director of Hockey by 1st May, prior to the AGM
in June, full written details of any business required to be transacted, or
any nominations for election. Such business or nomination shall be proposed by
the Council or Management Committee or shall be proposed and seconded by two
affiliated clubs or schools.
A
Special General Meeting shall be convened at any time by order of the Council
or the Management Committee or by a request in writing to the Director of Hockey
signed by the Secretaries of at least five affiliated clubs.
The
request shall include full written details of all business to be transacted at
the proposed meeting and upon receipt of the request, the Director of Hockey shall immediately proceed to call a Special General Meeting.
No
business shall be transacted at a Special General Meeting other than that
which is specified in the agenda for the meeting circulated beforehand.
24.
Annual and Special General Meetings
The
Director of Hockey shall give at least fourteen days notice in writing of
Annual and Special General Meetings specifying the date, time and place of the
meeting and including the agenda for the meeting and details of any resolution
to be proposed. The notice shall be sent to the members of Council, Honorary
Life Members and the Secretary of each affiliated club and school.
The
President shall chair Annual and Special General Meetings. In his / her
absence, the Chairperson shall chair the meeting. In his / her absence, the
voting members present shall elect one of their number to chair the meeting.
Fifteen
members present and eligible to vote shall form a quorum.
Every
resolution at Annual and Special General Meetings shall be decided by a simple
majority of votes of those present and voting except for resolutions
concerning amendments to the constitution, when sections 34 and 35 shall
apply. Except as mentioned in (e) below, no person shall cast more than one
vote.
In
the case of equality of votes, the Chairperson of the meeting shall have a
second or casting vote.
There
shall be no postal or proxy votes.
25.
Voting Entitlement at Annual and Special General Meetings
Those entitled to vote at
Annual and Special General Meetings shall be:
members
of the Council eligible to vote at Council meetings
Honorary
Life Members
one
member from each affiliated school
ten
members from the Welsh Hockey Umpires Association
five
members from the Welsh Hockey Coaches Association
one
member from each affiliated club plus two additional members for each senior
team run by the club in the previous season
For the purpose of (f), a team
shall consist of at least twelve members. The maximum number of voting members
from one club shall be ten.
The financial year of the WHU shall end on 31st December in each year up to and including 31st December 2001. With effect from 1st January 2002 the financial year will end on 31 August with the first period between 1st January 2002 and 31st August 2002 to be of 8 months duration.
A
balance sheet and income and expenditure account shall be prepared in respect
of each financial year and shall be audited by a suitably qualified Auditor.
A
copy of the audited accounts for the previous financial year shall be
circulated with the notice for each AGM and shall be presented to the AGM for
approval.
At
the AGM, an Auditor shall be appointed to act for the ensuing year.
The
WHU Finance Officer shall be responsible for the WHU’s current accounts, deposit
accounts or other accounts as may be required for the purposes of and in the
name of the WHU All cheques and other documents relating to such accounts
shall be signed by either the Finance Officer, the Director of Hockey, the
Chairperson or the Vice Chairperson of the WHU.
27.
Registration and Affiliation Fees
Each
club and school in Wales shall pay annually to the WHU an affiliation fee
which shall be due on 1st October each year
The
amount of all such affiliation fees shall be agreed at the AGM
The
Management Committee shall have the power to impose sanctions on any clubs or
schools not paying its full Affiliation Fees by 31st October in any
year. The sanctions to be
considered may include disqualification from competitions ( cup / plate or
league ), deduction of league points, suspension from competitions ( cup and /
or league ) and / or fines.
Each
affiliated club and school in Wales shall provide to the Director of Hockey,
by 30th June each year, the name, address and telephone number of its
Secretary (or Teacher in charge of hockey), to whom all WHU correspondence
shall be sent
Each
affiliated club in Wales shall register all its members, senior and youth, by
31st October in any year. Each
club shall provide an up to date name and address list for every senior and
youth member, including dates of birth for youth members.
To provide the registration list a club may annotate any previous list,
supplemented by any necessary additional Registration Forms.
A club must submit a completed Registration Form and any relevant
Affiliation Fee for new members who join during the year.
The membership list shall be maintained by the WHU subject to the
provisions of the Data Protection Act.
Each affiliated club in Wales shall have Civil Liability Insurance, the cost of which shall be recovered through club Affiliation Fees.
Minutes shall be taken of all
proceedings of all Annual and Special General Meetings, Council Meetings and
Management Committee Meetings and such minutes shall, upon questions put and a
vote taken, either at the meetings or at some subsequent meeting, be signed by
the Chairperson of the meeting and when thus signed shall be conclusive
evidence of the correctness of the entry.
29.
Qualification for International Matches
A player shall be eligible to
play for Wales if he / she satisfies one of the following conditions:
Born
in Wales
One
or both parents born in Wales
One
or more grandparents born in Wales
Continuous
residence in Wales for the three years immediately preceding selection and a
regular playing member of a club or school affiliated to the WHU
Players will only be able to represent Welsh under-aged squads (U-21, U-18, U-16) if they are under the necessary age by the 1st January in the year of competition or otherwise as deemed by the European Hockey Federation / International Hockey Federation
In case of doubt the
Management Committee shall determine any player's eligibility to play for
Wales.
In
the event of any affiliated club or school, official, player, coach, umpire or
member of an affiliated club or school being reported in writing to the Director of Hockey
for an alleged breach of this constitution or misconduct
which has brought the game or the WHU into disrepute, the Management Committee
shall appoint a Disciplinary Committee of three persons to enquire into the
alleged offence.
After
fully investigating the alleged breach or misconduct, the Disciplinary
Committee shall have the power to order the offending club, school, official,
player, coach, umpire or member to be expelled, suspended or dealt with in
such other manner as the committee shall think fit.
Any
club, school, official, player, coach, umpire or member found guilty by the
Disciplinary Committee shall have the right to appeal to the Council whose
decision shall be final. Any such appeal must be lodged in writing with the Director of Hockey
within 14 days of notification of the penalty.
The WHU reserves the right to refuse, suspend or cancel registration of any member or proposed member for such reasons that may be deemed to be appropriate, provided that the member shall have the right to appear before the Council within 21 days of any notification under this rule, to give such explanations as they may desire. Any person may make a written appeal against the Council's decision by informing the Director of Hockey within 10 working days. An Appeals Committee consisting of three independent and impartial persons, will be appointed to hear such appeals. The Appeal Committee's decision will be final and binding on both parties.
If
any member, officer or employee of the WHU has a financial, commercial,
personal or other interest either direct or indirect in any contract, proposed
contract or other matter and is present at any meeting at which that contract
or other matter is the subject of consideration, he or she shall at the
meeting and as soon as practicable after its commencement disclose the fact
and shall not take part in the consideration or discussion of the contract or
other matter or vote on any question with respect to it
Interests
as follows shall be disclosed, although the list is not exhaustive:
any employment or income
received from work undertaken within the sport
any income received from the
sport as a partner, director or employee within a firm
any sponsorship personally
received
any sponsorship given to any
aspect of the sport
any contracts with the sport
for the provision of services or goods for profit
any interests in any corporate
bodies, which do business with the WHU
Any
interest which any close members of the family of the member, officer or
employee may have in these matters shall also be declared when matters or
issues are discussed which could affect their financial position
For
the record and for openness and scrutiny, a Register of Interests shall be
maintained and in which shall be declared in writing the interests of those
persons referred to in this section
Written
disclosures shall be entered in the Register which shall be maintained by the Director of Hockey
and shall be available and open to any member or
authorised official
All
Registered entries shall be checked annually by letter to those concerned who
shall report any necessary deletions or additions
Any
persons required by this section to declare orally or in writing any relevant
interest and failing to do so shall be subject to the disciplinary procedure
mentioned in section 30 or, if an employee, that mentioned in his / her
contract of employment
No amendments to this
constitution shall be made except by a resolution at an Annual or Special
General Meeting supported by not less than two-thirds of those present and
voting.
No resolution for the
dissolution of the WHU shall be passed except at an Annual or Special General
Meeting and supported by not less than two-thirds of those present and voting.
In the event of such a resolution being passed, the Council shall realise the
property of the WHU and shall make provision for the WHU’s liabilities. The
remaining assets at the date of dissolution shall be distributed in such a
manner as shall be determined by an Annual or Special General Meeting, or if
such a meeting so decides, by the Council.
16th June, 2001
Doping
is strictly forbidden.
Doping
is the use by, or distribution to, a sportsman or sportswoman (the competitor)
of any substance defined by the Welsh Hockey Union and International Olympic
Committee Medical Commission as a banned class.
The
identification of a substance and / or metabolites of a doping class in a
competitor's urine will constitute an offence. The offender may be penalised.
Evidence of blood doping, pharmacological, chemical or physical manipulation
is also an offence that may be penalised.
A
competitor must, if requested by an authorised official, submit to a doping
control test. Refusal or failure to do so may be taken as if a positive test
result had been obtained and dealt with accordingly.
Any
person assisting or inciting others in the contravention of doping regulations
shall be considered as having committed an offence against these rules and may
be penalised.
Doping
control collection procedures shall conform with current guidelines
recommended by the International Olympic Committee and International Hockey
Federation.
A urine sample will be
provided by the individual selected and will be divided into 'A' and 'B'
samples of which only the 'A' sample will be analysed initially.
If
the analysis of the 'A' sample proves analytically positive, or a doping
offence is suspected, an investigation will take place. The individual will be
given the opportunity to insist on the analysis of the 'B' sample and to be
present or to be represented at this analysis.
The
competitor may be suspended from competition until the 'B' sample is analysed
and / or disciplinary proceedings have been conducted.
If,
after the 'B' sample has been analysed and / or an investigation has been
held, it is considered that the sample is positive or that a doping offence
has occurred, a disciplinary hearing shall be conducted.
The
International Olympic Committee Medical Commission recommended sanctions for
positive cases in doping control are the following:
androgenic anabolic steroids, amphetamine-related and other stimulants,
caffeine, diuretics, beta-blockers, narcotic analgesics and designer drugs
two
years for the first offence
life
ban for the second offence
ephedrine, phenylpropanolamine, etc. (when administered orally as a
cough suppressant or painkiller in association with decongestants and / or
anti-histamines)
a
maximum 3 months for the first offence
two
years for the second offence
life
ban for the third offence
Competitors
may be required as a condition of eligibility for selection for national
representative teams and international competitions to make themselves
available for out-of-competition testing.
Competitors
under 16 years of age may be requested to obtain the consent of a parent or
guardian agreeing to the child's participation in doping controls as a
condition of eligibility for national events and national squad membership.
All
competitors should note that some drugs, whether prescribed by a doctor or
purchased without prescription, contain a banned substance. THE
ONUS IS ON THE COMPETITORS TO ENSURE THEY DO NOT TAKE A BANNED SUBSTANCE.
If in doubt, the Sports Council for Wales Drug Control Officer should be
contacted for advice - any enquiry will be treated with the utmost confidence.
16th June, 2001
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