1. Primary Aim
   The primary aim of the WHUA National Appointments Policy will be to seek and provide opportunities for WHUA umpires and technical officials to officiate, within their capabilities, at the highest level of hockey.
    
2. Secondary Aim
   
   (i) To select to appointments which will provide opportunities to achieve, establish, and maintain themselves at
   
   a) National Umpire status
   
   b) FIH Registered status (International)
   
   c) FIH Grade 1 (Crown) Status
   
   (ii) To provide wherever possible, an equitable distribution of appointments to umpires and technical officials at various levels of qualification within each season and from season to season. For example, it is envisaged that an element of rotation might apply to honour of umpiring and technical officiating the Welsh Cup Final – however, this is not to allow for any element of ‘token’ appointment.
    
3. Criteria for selection of appointments
   
   (i) No appointment may be given to a WHUA member who is in financial arrears to the Association.
   
   (ii) Other than 3 (i), the appropriate abilities, experience and personal qualities of umpires or officials will be the key determinants of selection.
   
   (iii) No international or national umpiring appointments will be given unless the umpire is able to meet the current FIH fitness levels, umpiring to present grade and capable of umpiring the game.
   
   (iv) International umpiring appointments will only be awarded to those who:
   
   (a) must be a current member of the WHUA preferably for a minimum of three years, although umpires can be fast tracked if experienced and capable;
    
   (b) have shown a commitment to the Association;
   
   (c)  (a) born in Wales or
   
         (b) one or both parents born in Wales or
   
         (c) one or more grandparents born in Wales or;
   
         (d) continuous residence in Wales for three years
              immediately proceeding selection;
   
         (e) any other criteria that the WHUA considers acceptable
   
   (d) provide an independently certified record of passing the necessary FIH fitness test for the level of games appointed. These will be set out annually and
   may be changed following receipt from the FIH.
   
   (e) for other nationally determined appointments, the only criteria are member of and commitment to the Association.
    
4. Appointments Committee
   
   (i) The pursuance of the above aims and selection criteria will be vested in the Appointments Committee.
   
   (ii) The Committee consists of a Chair, appointed at the AGM, and no more than four others, two shall be male and two shall be female, who shall be appointed by the Chair after seeking nominations. The WHUA Executive Committee will endorse the Appointments Committee annually.
   
   (iii) In determining the membership of the Committee, the following essential criteria will be considered:
    
        a) experience of umpiring and/or officiating at
        international/national level
    
        b) members should not be active umpires seeking nationally
        determined umpiring appointments
    
        c) members should be available, within reason, to assess
        the performance of appointed umpires and technical officials
        at both international and domestic levels.
    
        d) Be in possession of a current Umpire Coach Level 2 (by
        2007) or above qualification
   
   (iv) The Committee will appoint its own Secretary.
   
   (v) The Committee's decision will be, whenever possible, arrived at by consensus. Where there is no consensus, the Chairman will have a second and casting vote.
    
5. Duties and responsibilities of the Selection Committees
   
   (i) To annually review the effectiveness of the National Appointments Policy and propose change to the WHUA Executive Committee, which is responsible for this Policy.
   
   (ii) To select the International/National Panels for each season.
   
   (iii) To select all umpiring appointments made nationally, both outdoor and indoor.
   
   (iv) To ensure, wherever possible, umpires are watched at international and national appointed matches.
   
   (v) To receive reports on umpire performance.
   
   (vi) To select Tournament Directors, Match Delegates, Technical Officers, Judges, Umpire Managers, Coaches and Assessors to officiate at tournaments/matches of importance in Wales.
   
   (vii) To nominate Technical Delegates, Technical Officials, Judges, and Umpire Managers for EHF and FIH appointments.
   
   (viii) To record minutes (or action points) of its meetings
   
   (ix) To provide feedback to the Executive Committee.
    
6. Communications
   
   (i) International Panels.
    
   The Appointments Committee Secretary (ACS) will:
   
       (a) By 30 November each year, or as soon after, advise
       individuals of their appointment to the Outdoor and/or
       Indoor Panels and establish their availability for
       tournaments, etc.
    
       (b) Simultaneously advise all members of the panels of all
       individual appointments.
    
       (c) Advise the EHF and the WHUA Secretary, if necessary,
       of appointments;
    
      (d) Periodically arrange for appointments to be
      communicated to other member of the Association
   
   (ii) Other umpiring appointments: The ACS will:
   
       (a) advise individuals of their appointments and;
   
       (b) communicate these to others as in 6(i) (d).
   
   (iii) Match Officials: The ACS will advise the EHF and the WHUA Secretary, if necessary, of all nominations to be nominated to them.
   
   (iv) The ACS will, as necessary, advise details of all confirmed appointments to the WHUA Secretary, the Coaching Committee and Regional Secretaries;
   
   (v) The ACS will copy reports on performance to all members of the Appointments Committee, to individual concerned and to the Coaching Committee when necessary.
   
   (vi) The ACS will copy minutes of the Appointments Committee meetings to the WHUA Secretary and to others, where appropriate

 
NOTE: "International Appointments" are those made to an FIH or EHF recognised/registered match or tournament, including international matches, European Club Championship tournaments and similar events, or to other international matches at all age levels.
November 2005
 

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