England Hockey Championships

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1 England Hockey s 07-8 During 06 and 07 England Hockey consulted with its clubs in respect of our competitions programme and the insight that gave us means it is an exciting time for England Hockey competitions. We have a new portfolio of competitions for 07-8 shaped by feedback from clubs. This includes many existing popular competitions, new versions of competitions we have previously run and an increased depth of competitions for young players. In summary, there are changes to our adult competitions with a new tiered structure aimed at widening participation and making them available to more teams. There are no changes to our masters and mixed competitions. We have introduced new tiered junior competitions aimed at offering competitive hockey opportunities for more junior players in clubs and make it easier for clubs to field teams. The tiered structure will also help reduce the likelihood of one-sided matches. There will be further changes to our junior competitions programme that will introduced in 08-9 season and beyond. To enter the relevant competition you will need to register teams at your club at the appropriate tier and age group if relevant on our new Competitions Management System. If you have any queries please contact competitions.info@englandhockey.co.uk Overleaf you will find details of competitions which will run in If you require any further guidance competitons.info@englandhockey.co.uk

2 ENGLAND HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIPS SEASON 07-8 Age Category Gender s Tier* Eligible teams & & & & 4 Mixed & Any team Over 5s Over 5s Over 5s Over 45s Over 60s Under 8 Under 6 Under 6 Under 4 Under 4 Under 4 Development & & Teams competing in England Hockey League and the highest Premier Division in each Region. See matrix of leagues for detailed information. Teams competing in Regional Premier Division and sub- Regional Leagues in each Region. See matrix of leagues for detailed information Teams competing in higher level County based leagues. See matrix of leagues for detailed information Teams competing in remaining lower County based leagues. See matrix of leagues for detailed information strong sections developing sections and able to call on other local from other clubs A Plate competition for early round losers in the Tier s Aimed at all clubs and with opportunity to call on other local from other clubs strong sections developing sections and able to call on other local A Plate competition for early round losers in the Tier s strong sections developing sections and able to call on other local A Plate competition for early round losers in the Tier s Aimed at Counties, merged Counties and clubs and with opportunity to call on other local & All club U8 teams Self selecting but aimed at clubs with developing junior sections and the opportunity to call on other players from local clubs. nd teams from clubs with developing junior sections and the opportunity to call on other players from local clubs. nd teams from clubs with junior sections looking for additional competitive hockey for developing players * nb where Tier & is shown all teams enter at Tier, Tier is a plate competition for early round losers in the Tier s.

3 In addition the following competitions will run during Summer 08. Entry for these s will follow later in the year. Age Category Gender s Tier* Eligible teams National Sixes Over 0s Over 0s Local, Area, National competition run over a series of days. For teams of all abilities additional competitions will run for teams knocked out of main competition strong sections developing sections and able to call on other local Further Information ADULT CHAMPIONSHIPS This consists of the following elements: and s Mixed s The s are sponsored by Investec. The and s are tiered to offer a chance for hockey teams, whatever their standard, to pit themselves against similar teams in a national competition. Early round draws are made geographically leading to area finals and then a national draw in the semi finals and the finals. Matches are usually played on Sundays. In recent seasons the Finals Days at Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre have become memorable occasions in the England Hockey calendar, celebrating all that is good in our club game. and s The and s are new competitions, split into 4 tiers, that will run in It is for and adult teams. It replaces the Cup, Trophy, Vase and nd XI competitions that were run in 06-7 and previous seasons and recently enjoyed fantastic finals days at Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre. They offer a chance for hockey teams, whatever their standard, to pit themselves against similar teams in a national competition. Entry to any of the four tiers of the s is based on which league/division a team play in. Any club team from a st XI to 0 th XI can enter and will be placed in the relevant competition The Tiers of the s are based on the following levels but for more details of which competition tier a team should enter see our matrix of leagues Tier - England Hockey League and the highest Premier Division in each Region Tier - Regional Premier Division and sub-regional Leagues Tier - Higher level County based leagues Tier 4 - Remaining lower County based leagues

4 Closing Dates The closing dates for entry into these s is 7 September. Mixed The Mixed is a competitive but sociable knockout competition that sees men and women competing in mixed teams - five men/five women plus a goalkeeper on the pitch at any one time. Clubs can enter more than one team into the. There is no change to the structure which was previously called the Mixed Trophy and Plate. All teams enter at Tier and Tier remains a Plate competition for early round losers in Tier. Closing Dates The closing date for the Mixed is 5 October. MASTERS CHAMPIONSHIPS The are for senior players aged 5+ in the women s game, 40+ in the men s. Players have to reach the relevant age in the year of the final, so for this season, for example, to be eligible for the Over 5s Cup a player can reach the age of 5 as late as December 08. competitions offer a great way for players of the same generation to play with their peers and renew old rivalries. Tier Clubs with strong sections. Over 5s, Over 45s,,, Over 60s Tier Clubs with developing sections and able to call on other local Over 5s, Over 45s,,, Over 60s (Tier - Over 5s,, ) As only a small number of clubs could field a Over 60s team this competition is open to County sides too. There are no changes to the formats of the competitions although the titles have changed. In the Over 5s,, teams can enter at Tier or Tier ; previously called Cup or Trophy. Tier is for higher level teams and there are restrictions on fielding players who play for other clubs. Tier has less restrictive player eligibility regulations a club can field players from a maximum of five different clubs. Teams can enter directly into Tier competitions but they are also open to early round losers from Tier as a Plate competition. Early round losers at Tier are eligible for Tier (previously the Shield), a further consolation competition. In the Over 45 and Over 60s all teams enter at Tier and Tier are Plate competitions for early round losers in Tier. Closing Dates The closing dates for entry into the Competitions is 7 September. JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS The following national s are organised centrally by England Hockey for 07-8 season for boys and girls teams. At the U4 and U6 age groups these competitions offer clubs regular fixtures for their young players. The U4, U6 and U8 Tier s culminate in finals which have been held at Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre in recent seasons, providing a fantastic experience for those players involved. 4

5 Tier aimed at - All clubs with U8 teams U8 Tier aimed at - Clubs with U6 Tier, U4 Tier Tier aimed at - Clubs with developing junior sections, with the opportunity to call on other players from local clubs. nd teams of clubs with U8 Plate, U6 Tier, U4 Tier Tier aimed at - Clubs with junior sections looking for additional competitive hockey for developing players. Emerging Clubs. U4 Tier Development (7-a-side) The Tier U8 is a knockout competition open to any club. All teams enter at Tier and Tier is a Plate competition for early round losers in Tier. The U4 and U6 Tier s are elite level competitions aimed at High Performing clubs. Participating clubs are divided into local leagues based on the geographic spread of entrants. League winners and runners up progress to area finals and then on to national finals. The U4 and U6 Tier s are aimed at Intermediate Clubs. High Performing Clubs nd / other teams. These competitions have more relaxed player eligibility regulations to allow players who play for different adult clubs to participate, clubs are able to merge their young players to participate, players can play at different age groups (for the same club). Participating clubs are divided into local leagues based on the geographic spread of entrants. League winners progress to Area finals. The U4 Tier Development is a 7-a-side competition. It provide regular competitive hockey opportunities for Emerging clubs junior sections and other teams from Intermediate and High Performing clubs. Relaxed Player eligibility regulations will allow players from other (adult) clubs to participate and clubs to have the opportunity to merge to form teams to participate in the competition, players can play at different age groups (for the same club). Participating clubs are divided into local leagues based on the geographic spread of entrants. There is no onward progression for teams in Closing Dates The closing dates for entry into s is 7 September. 5