Can you spot the mistake . . . . . or is it a new FIH experimental rule?

East Grinstead beat Surbiton 5-3 in their final match of the season to clinch the English League title, By Patrick Rowley, Daily Telepgraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/hockey/5072649/East-Grinstead-clinch-historic-first-English-League-title-with-tense-win-at-Surbiton.html)

Not only did the Sussex club become champions for the first time but they also became the first men's club to complete an indoor and outdoor double.

Surbiton did come close to denying them. The Surrey club led 3-2 and, with James Tindall in lethal shooting form for the hosts, they came very close to going further ahead.

But Grinstead picked out the weaknesses in Surbiton's play and found the openings to confirm themselves as the league's highest scorers and secure the title in the process.

The excellent Martin Haner set them on their way with an early roofed corner flick. Matt Daly levelled for Surbiton but Danny Hall regained the lead for Grinstead early in the second half. Tindall then made it 2-2, snatching a goal out of nothing.

Two minutes later, George Harris fouled Daly outside the circle to receive a temporary suspension and concede a stroke.

Ben Hawes converted against Richard Potton but the deputy goalkeeper then proceeded to keep Grinstead in the game until Harris could return.

Dominick Male scored the decisive two goals for Grinstead, with Haner later adding his second.
As it transpired, Grinstead would still have been champions if they had lost. Beeston were beaten 3-1 at Hampstead and conceded second place to Reading, who thrashed Cannock 5-0. Reading's win ensured they join Grinstead and Beeston in Europe next winter.
Bowdon Ladies, already indoor and outdoor champions, failed at the last hurdle to collect maximum points in the Women's Premier League. Playing nervously, they lost 3-1 at Canterbury after Tina Cullen had given them the lead.

Olton denied Canterbury a place in the European Cup-Winners' Cup, by finishing second, a point above the Kent club, with a 3-2 win at Poynton.

The 'self-pass'

At meetings towards the end of 2008, the FIH Executive Board agreed proposals from the Hockey Rules Board for rules changes in 2009.

One of the changes focuses on a “self-pass” from a free hit. In essence, this enables the player taking the free hit to play the ball again after taking the free hit. This will encourage free-flowing hockey. An associated rule change will stop attacking free hits taken inside the 23 metres area from being played directly and potentially dangerously into the circle. Both changes will be introduced as mandatory experimental rules with effect from 1 May 2009 for international hockey.

The detailed text for these rules is currently being drafted and will be published as soon as possible. To ensure that application of these new rules is consistent and accurate, no more information about these rules will be published until the final rules text is available.

So, what do you think about the self-pass? Make your comments here and vote.

Happy Christmas

Devon Hockey 'Special Availability’ Days

Reinvigorating Devon Umpiring – “Together we can do it”

Devon Hockey Association (DHA) and Devon Hockey Umpires Association (DHUA) have agreed to trial two ‘Special Availability’ days in 2008. The aim is to encourage all Devon Umpires, whether Level 1 Qualified or Level 1 Candidates, to make themselves available for appointment and mentoring by DHUA.

The dates chosen for the ‘Special Availability’ trial are Saturday 22 November and Saturday 13 December 2008.

All Umpires, who do not normally umpire under appointment from DHUA, will be encouraged to make themselves available to umpire at least one game on each of these days. Of course many of these umpires will be players or normally only umpire for their clubs. Those who enter their availability will be able to let the DHUA Appointment Secretary know, using the ‘Special Considerations/Notes’ field next to this date, of any information relevant to their availability. For example, if they are playing at a venue in Exeter at 1.00 p.m., or are only available to umpire before a certain time, or after a certain game. Of course DHA and DHUA appreciate that some umpires who play may be playing outside Devon on these Special Availability days and will not be available. DHUA would also like to try and offer mentoring to umpires who request it (let DHUA know by making a note in the ‘Special Considerations/Notes’ field) on these dates.

DHA and DHUA want to try and appoint to as many games as possible within Devon on these dates, for both Men and Women. Due to the West Women’s League Rules a club has the right to appoint their own umpire ahead of DHUA. However, DHA and DHUA hope that on these dates all Devon Women’s Clubs allow DHUA to appoint to these fixtures. If a women’s team from outside Devon insist in bringing their own umpire then it may not be possible to appoint to that game so any umpire appointed may have to be appointed elsewhere. Where possible DHUA would try to ‘pair up’ less experienced umpires with more experienced ones.

On 22 November in Devon there are 32 Men’s Fixtures and 20 Women’s Fixtures, excluding West Premier Divisions 1 and 2 (Men and Women), meaning a requirement for 104 umpires. On 13 December there are 35 Men’s Fixtures but no Women’s Fixtures, meaning a requirement for 70 umpires. Currently Devon has 89 Level 1 Candidates and 202 Level 1 Qualified umpires, a total of 291. Theoretically, therefore, it should be possible to appoint all the games on the designated Special Availability dates, allowing for player/umpire availability.

Obviously the more umpires and clubs who join in this new initiative then the more chance it will have to work that in turn will bring Devon nearer to appointing umpires to all games, thereby taking the hassle and frustration away from clubs. Devon has achieved a lot over the last few years in terms of RDU. DHA and DHUA both support this new initiative and they hope that everyone else in Devon gives it a go also.

To enter your availability, umpires need to go to your Personal Area and using the Change Availability button enter your availability and any ‘Special Considerations/Notes’. If you want to take part and are not set up to enter availability then please email president@devonumpires.co.uk and you will be set up to enter availability. For example for 22 November the following will appear under the date: “Devon has chosen 22 Nov as a ‘Special Availability’ day. All Umpires need to enter Availability for appointment by DHUA. Use the ‘Special Considerations/Notes’ column to enter relevant information (e.g. time playing, venue, reasons if unavailable, etc).”

Remember DHUA cannot appoint unless you enter availability so if you wish to dip your toe in the appointing water then please do so safe in the knowledge that you will not be appointed unless you agree to it. Finally any umpire appointed will be able to claim 20p per mile travelling expenses.

If you have any comments on this initiative then please make them here.

Advance Payment of DCHUA Subscriptions

DCHUA continues to add improvements to the Devon Hockey Website as a result of feedback and in order to provide a better service to umpires. From the end of the 2008/9 season (effective 1 February 2009), members claiming expenses for games umpired will be able to pre-pay their subscription for the next season (2009/2010) in advance from their claimed expenses.

If a person claims appointment expenses after the end of February, and within 160 days of the start of the next financial year (which is 1st May), the system will prompt the member to pay their subscriptions for the following year by adding a line to their claim, defaulting to the amount of subscriptions due for the following year. The person can change the amount down to zero if they wish.

For example (based on current rates as of 30 Apr 2008), U M Pire has umpired 7 games for DCHUA during the 2008/9 season. They have travelled a total of 250 miles. Therefore the total claim for the 2008/9 season is £45 (250 x 18p per mile).

When they claim this amount at the end of the 2008/9 season they pay £10 for their 2008/9 subs (assuming they have not already paid it) and decide to prepay the 2009/2010 subs at the same time (another £10). Therefore the DCHUA Treasurer will pay their claim of £25 (£45 - £10 - £10), assuming the claimant is not donating any part of their claim to ‘DCHUA’, ‘DCHUA Coaching Fund’, ‘MacIlldowie Fund’ or ‘Back to Clubs’.

This will help reduce the administrative workload on the DCHUA Treasurer and Webmaster and prevent any umpires being removed from the system that have forgotten to pay their membership or registration fees.

I hope that this enhancement to the Devon Hockey Website will be of benefit to all those who umpire for DCHUA.

Comments welcome.

Paddy
President DCHUA

New ONLINE Umpire Reports

DCHUA continues to look at new ways in which it can assist umpires. Traditional reporting, after a mentoring or coaching session, involved the mentor/coach preparing a report and then sending this to the umpire by post or email.

We’ll no longer. It can now all be done online via the new reporting module added to the Devon Hockey Website. Umpires will be able to access all their umpire reports in one place and not have to worry about keeping bits of paper, etc. Mentors/Coaches can also prepare the report online and with the press of a button it wings its way, as if by magic, to the umpire’s web area.

Any feedback welcome.

Paddy

DCHUA Blog featured on BBC Radio Devon

Paddy Porter, President DCHUA, was interviewed on The Lunchtime Phone-In (12 noon until 2 pm) by Michael Chequer in their Blog feature. Paddy appeared about 1.10pm, give or take a few minutes. To listen just click on this link http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/aod/networks/devon/aod.shtml?devon/lunchtime_phonein_devon_thu