News & Diary

2nd Mar 10	Information regarding new team / club applications & team / club withdrawals
	If you are thinking of putting in a new team or new club application into the league committee for entry into the 2010/11 season please be aware the closing date for applications is the 3rd April 2010. Applications received after this date will only be considered at the committees discretion. Applications forms can be obtained from the league secretary. Equally if you are thinking of withdrawing a side from the league please note this needs to be done in writing to the league secretary within two weeks of your last scheduled league fixture (rule 2.1e). Failure to do so will mean your club will encur subcription costs for that side.
1st Mar 10	Important message from the West Umpires Association
	WEST UMPIRES ASSOCIATION PLAYER BEHAVIOUR POLICY Importantly this policy is not intended: • to be prescriptive of the sanctions which will be applied in every instance; • to take away the umpires' ability to manage the game and apply their common sense; or • to discourage a dialogue between players and umpires in appropriate circumstances. However, this policy does represent a standard which will be enforced by umpires in the majority of cases and against which their handling of player behaviour will be assessed. 1 ROLE OF THE CAPTAIN Captains are responsible for the behaviour of all players on their team, including those on the bench (Rule 3.4). The importance of this rule cannot be underestimated. Umpires will expect and must receive the assistance of both captains at all times to assist their management of the game. A personal penalty will be awarded to a captain who does not exercise his/her responsibilities. 2 SWEARING Swearing is unacceptable on a hockey field. All instances of audible swearing will be dealt with by the umpires with a personal and/or team penalty being applied where appropriate. The personal penalties may include: (a) A verbal warning; (b) A green card; or (c) A yellow card. A team penalty will result in the upgrading or reversal of a decision as appropriate. Swearing directed at an umpire, about the decision of an umpire, at an opponent, any other official or a spectator will be punished with a yellow card. The duration of the yellow card will reflect the seriousness of the offence. Swearing which is audible only within a short distance or which is genuinely borne out of frustration (but not in reaction to a decision of the umpires) will generally be dealt with by a verbal caution in the first instance, perhaps even without the game stopping. Subsequent or repeated occurrences will see more severe penalties applied. 3 DISSENT / VERBAL ABUSE Dissent or verbal abuse directed towards an umpire, about the decision of an umpire, at an opponent, any other official or a spectator will be punished with a yellow card. The duration of the yellow card will reflect the seriousness of the offence. Team penalties may also be applied. Ordinarily a captain will be invited to deal with the first instance of verbal abuse between members of his/her own team unless it is particularly serious. Thereafter, the umpires will apply such penalties as they see fit. 4 PERSISTENT QUESTIONING / INDIRECT DISSENT Persistent questioning of or complaining about umpires' decisions undermines their authority and is unacceptable. Whilst there will always be individual instances of questioning the umpires' decisions during a match, this should ordinarily be undertaken by the captain and always in an appropriate manner. Any explanation offered by an umpire will be the end of the matter and not be subject to further discussion during the match. Persistent questioning, indirect comments about umpires, their decisions, non-verbal dissent (e.g. throwing away the stick) and generally petulant behaviour will be dealt with in the same manner as swearing in section 2 above. 5 SURROUNDING UMPIRES Surrounding an umpire means more than 2 players approaching an umpire to contest a decision. Surrounding umpires is unacceptable and will be punished by the umpires in every instance. On the first occasion the team captain will be awarded a green card and warned to control his players. On subsequent occasions, the captain and/or offending players may be awarded a yellow card. 6 APPEALING Encouraging umpires to award cards to members of the opposing team is unacceptable. Players doing this (either verbally or by waving imaginary cards) will receive a minimum penalty of a green card.
12th Feb 10	YEOVIL 1ST XI WITHDRAW FROM PREMIER DIVISION 3
	It is with regret I have to advise that Yeovil & Sherborne 1st XI have withdrawn from Premier Division 3 with immediate effect. All results of games played thus far against Yeovil have been removed from the League records. Terry Cook Chairman
21st Dec 09	PITCHSIDE MISCONDUCT
	A complaint has been reported to the League where a player was seen to be urinating against the backboard of one of the goals. The behaviour of urinating within the pitch surrounds cannot be tolerated and may lead to a disrepute charge being brought against either the player or club, or both. There is also the possibility that the pitch landlords may lay charges and ban clubs from using the pitch in the future. You have been warned!
10th Dec 09	CLUB UMPIRE INFORMATION REQUIRED
	UMPIRING. It has become apparent that some clubs are using umpires for N4 Hockey league games who are not suitably qualified and therefore may not be covered by insurance. This was discussed at length at a recent league committee meeting and it was agreed all clubs should be asked to nominate the umpires associated with the club along with the association that they are registered with and the registration number allocated by the appropriate Hockey Association. Any umpires who are currently going through training / registration who are used in the District leagues should be included and registration details sent as soon as qualification is complete. Please send umpires names and registration details to me by 9th Jan 2010. Failure to send details may lead to financial and points deduction penalties. E-mail responses to Alan Judge, the League Adminstrator or send to address as per the league website. Regards Alan Judge
23rd Oct 09	N4 HOCKEY LEAGUE RAIN COATS
	Follwing the sucess of the recent N4 Hockey League umpiring shirts, the League committee are pleased to be able to offer Raincoats with the same logo. Priced at £22.50 each they are available from the League Secretary Jonathan Watts.

7th Oct 09	NOTIFICATION OF MATCH ARRANGEMENTS
	Home clubs are reminded of the League requirement to inform both their opposition and umpires of forthcoming match arrangements (Rule 5.1). There have been reports that some clubs are relying on the information provided on this website regarding pitches and start times. Where clubs have entered pitches and times for matches, these should not be taken as confirmation of match arrangements and home clubs are still expected to confirm these details with their opposition by phone.
14th Sep 09	UMPIRES' POLO SHIRTS NOW AVAILABLE

	Following the success of the umpires' polo tops that we produced several years ago, the Committee have decided to repeat this offer to mark the change of the name of the League. The shirts are in yellow (as before) and feature the sponsor's name on the left breast - see attached image. The cost will be £5 for the first shirt ordered and £10 each for further supplies. HOWEVER, if you have an old shirt with the Gerrard logo, this can be swapped for a new shirt FREE OF CHARGE. Committee members now have supplies of the new shirts and are waiting for you to contact them so you can receive the 2009-2010 shirt.
14th Sep 09	RULES CHANGES 2009 - PITCH MARKINGS, REVISED GUIDANCE
	League Liaison officers will re-call that their club received a letter from the League on the 9th June 2009 regarding the matter of new pitch markings for the 2009/0 season. Due to subsequent guidance which has been published by England Hockey, the N4 Hockey League committee wishes to revise its guidance to clubs. It is now the expectation of the committee that all League games should proceed as scheduled regardless of the markings on the pitch - unless the umpires officiating expressly raise a concern. The committee would not, as it previously stated, expect opposition teams to decline the fixture on the grounds of missing pitch markings.
10th Sep 09	PLAYING GAMES UNDER FLOODLIGHTS
	Clubs are reminded of the Floodlighting Policy and match start times, as detailed in Appendix A of the League Rules - especially for teams playing in the Premier, North and South Divisions. If clubs intend playing games that conflict with the policy, they must discuss this with their Area Secretary as a matter of urgency.
5th Aug 09	THE ROLE OF THE UMPIRE CONTACT FOR PREMIER ONE AND TWO OF THE N4 HOCKEY LEAGUE
	The Men's Premier One and Two Appointments Secretary and the N4 League committee would wish to remind clubs who have teams in these two divisions of the following league rules. 5.1b Both umpires are contacted at least 5 days prior to the Saturday or Sunday match. The umpires should be informed verbally of the match venue, start time, playing colours of both teams and the past match venue. It is important that you get back from the umpires confirmation that they have received this information. 9.3 Ensure that there is no colour clash between the two teams. Shirts, shorts and socks of the two sides should be different with all players having a clearly visible number. Players of the same team should have uniform colours. If there is a clash of colours it is the away side which must change. 9.4 The home team should ensure that the pitch, goals and nets are in good order. 10.2 After the game the home team captain should provide a matchcard. Before asking for umpires' signatures players names, their numbers, goal scorers and final score have been written down accurately and legibly. Whilst not specifically stated in the rules of the N4 hockey league there is also an expectation of the following- • A member of the home club meets and greets the umpires on their arrival. Refreshment is offered as often they will have travelled a long distance. They should also be shown to their changing area. • The appointments secretary (Mike Legg) is informed as soon as possible when known if there is a change to a scheduled match date.
2nd May 09	RULES CHANGES 2009 - PITCH MARKINGS
	You will have seen the recent announcement from the FIH of the new rules to be implemented at International level on 1st May 2009. These new rules will be in place domestically for the start of the 2009-2010 League season. Pitches MUST be correctly marked with broken lines marked with their ‘outer edges 5 metres from the outer edge of each circle-line; each broken line starts with a solid section at the top centre of the circle-line and each solid section is 300 mm long with gaps between the solid sections 3 metres long’. If your pitch is not marked as above, please advise your pitch owner of the requirements AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. It is MANDATORY that all pitches used for League hockey will have markings that meet the rules of hockey.

20th Mar 2010		Last scheduled dates for the 2009/10 season

7th Apr 2010	19:00	League Committee Meeting @ Lyngford Conference Centre, Taunton

19th Apr 2010	19:30	South Area Meeting @ The Dolphin Hotel, Bovey Tracey

20th Apr 2010	19:30	North Area Meeting @ Old Bristolians clubhouse, Failands, Bristol

22nd Apr 2010	19:30	South Wales Area Meeting @ TBC

19th May 2010	19:00	League Committee Meeting @ Lyngford Conference Centre, Taunton