The pre-season paperwork which is usually sent to clubs mid August will be sent out at a later date, possibly mid September, due to the later start of our season on 24 October. The return dates for affiliation fees and registration forms will similarly be later and you will be advised in due course on the relevant dates.

With the start of the season still in the balance we still need to have some sort of ALM to close the 19-20 season. Obviously with the current limitations about meeting we have decided that this will be done via email. In general the format of the email would be along the lines of the Minutes, with all paperwork relevant to the agenda items sent to your club shortly. A voting form listing those items that need voting on will be sent as well.

Clubs will be given a date by which the voting forms need to be returned; this will give you the chance to discuss these within your club and then respond.

All clubs should keep abreast of any news items by EH on their website - either on their main news section or via the Covid-19 Support tab at the top of the home page.

Clubs should have had contact from EH on 18 June with regard to completing their survey which is in 2 parts. Part 1 relates to the Implications of Covid-19 and the second part to the Structure Fit for the Future although they can be answered separately. Please ensure your club has its say as this will, firstly, enable EH to get your views on how we can get on with preparing for the new season and getting a starting date. Then secondly, the way ahead for the 21-22 season.

Please note both surveys need to be completed no later than 15 July 2020.

EH has put a short item on their website with regard to deciding the way ahead for hockey and have said they will report back in the near future. Once their decisions have been made we will look to how we, as a League, can return to taking part in the game we love. Along with government guidelines these decisions will also affect what happens with regard to our ALM. I will keep you updated as and when we have this, or any other, information.

Following on from previous news items the end of season tables have now been produced and can be found under the Information tab, then Information and Downloads.

A reminder of the criteria for producing these tables - this is based on total number of points won, less any deductions for penalties incurred; this is divided by the total number of points available from the games played and then expressed as a percentage.

The West Clubs’ Women’s Hockey League Committee met recently, via a conference call, to discuss how we would finalise the end of season tables, and therefore the promotions and relegations, following the early conclusion of the 2019-20 season.

Having looked into a number of possible solutions we finally decided on calculating the final League positions on a percentage points basis. This is calculated on total points won (3 for a win, 1 for a draw), less any points deducted for disciplinary offences, then divided by the total number of points available from the games played, multiplied by 100 to give a percentage. Should teams have the same percentage points then goal difference will be used.

Using this basis takes into consideration that at the point when we closed the season not all teams have played the same number of matches. This method gives fairness to all teams and preserves the League's integrity.

It should be noted that the League tables cannot be regarded as final until England Hockey has decided how to close down National League; a decision from them is expected this month. However, we will provide notification when the League tables are final.

We realise this decision will not please some, however even the most ardent objector will realise the situation we are in is totally without precedent, to us and the other Leagues around the country.

In the coming weeks the committee will look at options for next season, as there are no guarantees we will be able to start the season in September. Updates will be issued on the website when available.

Stay safe

Best wishes

Tim Horsfield
Chairman
WCWHL

Due to Co-vid 19 the ALM that was scheduled for 3 May has been postponed until further notice. Clubs will be advised of the new date in due course.

In light of the ongoing situation with Coronavirus England Hockey recommends that people involved in sport follow the government's advice, which is updated on a daily basis on the Gov.UK website. EH has also produced an article which sets out what action club members, officials and spectators need to take to prevent the spread of the virus. This can be found by using the attached link or by clicking on the blue box on the Home page entitled News from England Hockey.

Presently there is no suggestion that our events should not proceed, but sensible precautions should be taken. Players, parents and officials who do attend our events should refrain from shaking hands before and after games and wash their hands with soap and water or an appropriate hand gel regularly.

If players and / or their immediate family and close friends have returned from countries where coronavirus is widespread, government advice is that they should self isolate. They should NOT participate in our events. This is the responsibility of the parents, players and coaches themselves and not something that WCWHL can manage and enforce.

Everyone is reminded that all players should abide by the EH Code of Behaviour for Players as per the attached. Please take time to read this important document and ensure that you pass this on to other members of the club who do not access the website.

If your match is cancelled due to the weather, pitch, travelling conditions etc and will be re-arranged on a new date both teams should go in and mark that fixture as cancelled. This is the only time the Cancelled box should be used.

If your match is not played because you, or your opposition, cannot fulfil a fixture (i.e. it will not be played at all) please DO NOT mark this fixture as Cancelled. Instead you must inform your divisional secretary who will take the necessary action on the website. (When you mark a unfulfilled fixture as cancelled it causes issues with the administration part of the website, which means unnecessary work on my part).

Thank you, Webmaster WCWHL

If severe weather or travelling conditions have caused your match to be cancelled please go as if you are entering the result but only tick the Cancelled box. This will put the fixture back onto the system and once a new date has been agreed this can be put in and the fixture will appear under the relevant date. Both teams need to do this as it acts as confirmation that the fixture did not take place.
If your match does not go ahead because your opposition cannot raise a team, DO NOT enter anything on the website but contact the relevant secretary for your team to advise them - he/she will then take the appropriate action of cancelling the fixture.

Clubs must ensure times on the website clearly reflect the correct start time of the match. In the event the start time of a match is changed after it has been confirmed with your opposition you MUST ensure you contact them and get confirmation from them, in writing, that they have this new time. DO NOT assume that they will just happen to check the site to see if the time has changed as there is every likelihood they won’t. The onus is on you as the home team to make sure the information is correct and up to date.

If your match was an unfulfilled fixture do not enter a result but contact the league administrator(s) instead who will take the necessary action.
If your match was cancelled due to the weather, use the cancelled section to confirm that the match did not take place and ensure that you re-arrange this in accordance with the Regulations.

Please use the attached link to access the EH Best Practice Guidance which covers the subject of photography at matches, events, etc. We should all be mindful about taking photographs particularly when this involves under 18s and getting the consent of those concerned.

Clubs are reminded that postponed fixtures need to be re-arranged within 14 days of the date of the original match and your league secretary should be advised in writing of the new date. Your league secretary should also be notified of the postponement no later than 7pm on the day of the game other wise you will incur a fine of 10 pounds. Also, some of you need to visit the website and where you would enter the result you should note that the game was postponed.

It has been brought to my attention that offensive language was heard during a match in the vicinity of young players. I understand this can sometimes be due to player frustration but clubs are reminded that all players (and supporters) should demonstrate the highest standard of behaviour before, during and after a game. Please treat everyone involved in your game with the respect they deserve.

Clubs must ensure any umpires they use are suitably qualified, before they umpire the game and that is the only interest we have with them. You are reminded that the use of candidate umpires is only allowed in Divisions 2 and below and only one per match as per Regulation 8a ii). If you have any issues about the standard of umpiring these should be directed to your County Umpiring Association

It was agreed at the ALM that we would no longer have match report books printed, in order to reduce our printing costs. Match report forms are available to download from the Information & Downloads section found under the Information tab at the top of the front page of our website. Please ensure your captains have sufficient copies of these to cover all their home league matches and that they allow their opposition to take a copy of the completed form after the match for their records. If you still have pages in your current match report book and wish to use these up please feel free to do so but once they have run out you will need to download forms as above.

There have been some changes to the Red Card Regulations from September 2016, which are available in the Information section of the website. Please ensure your club is up to date with these changes.