MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE ERHA MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE HELD ON WEDNESDAY, 19 MARCH 2008 AT 7 PM AT THE HILTON HOTEL, STANSTED

PRESENT:

ERHA Management Counties

Bill Felton, President [BF] John Adams,Suffolk [JA]

Sheila George, Deputy President [SG] Jill Warwick, Lincs [JW]

Margaret McCall, Treasurer [MM] Peter Wright, Norfolk [PW]

Catherine Lymer, Secretary [CL] Sally Tippen, Cambs [ST]

Miche Bloch, Performance [MB] Dan Heydon, Herts [DH]

Mike Trett, Umpiring [MT]

Russell Nutter, League [RN]

Lorraine Bant, Competitions [LB]

John Hendy, Development [JH]

Mick Pullin, Discipline and Essex [MP]

1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Charlie Farrow, England Hockey; John Helliwell, PR & Appeals; Robert Oakley, Beds.

Welcome to all and congratulations to Joy Cochrane (Essex) for her MBE. Margaret McCall is going stay on for a further year. Thanks to Ford for hosting the AGM.

2. Minutes of the Meeting held on 28^th November 2008

Changes to minutes of last meeting. AOB point 2 should say England.

Minutes of last meeting duly signed by BF.

3. MATTERS ARISING FROM THESE MINUTES

There were none.

4. Technical Development (report in appendices)

· Can counties please put forward names to SG for the Technical Officiating at PLUM, there is a Job Spec on the EH website, it may also be on the East Website.

5. COMMITTEE REPORTS

[a] Finance (report in appendices)

· Still awaiting for school affiliation fees from Essex, Cambs and Suffolk.

· Proposal to raise petrol from 16p to 20p/mile. Agreed.

· If petrol price continues to increase mileage rates would be looked at again.

· Proposal that the Performance Group buys a Laptop for administration. Agreed.

· Proposal to fund the RYUAG £1520 for updating the ERHUA website and start up costs

of £1345. Agreed.

In regards to the letter from Richard West concerning using the reserve money – how about looking to reduce the cost of county entrants to the Youth Competitions. This was agreed.

BF – received a letter from Herts requesting funds to support their HDO – discussed and all agreed that can’t support this as it is one county.

[b] Performance (report in appendices)

· Fiona Gall is the administrator

· Other regions are asking for the East debrief report

· There is an advertisement for coaches on the EH website for East Camps if anyone is interested then please pass names onto MB

· ST – How are players being nominated for tier camps?

· MB – Through JRPC’s

· LB – Is it your intention to keep the dates the same each year?

· MB – Ideally from 09/10

· If counties are limited at only nominating their top 5 players what happens if you have a very strong squad one year where you have 8 outstanding players.

· MB – will ask Jane Powell

· JH – At JRPC we will possibly lose players from Kent and Lincs

· JW – Lincs are very concerned that the county will be split 3 ways

· JH – For the future of hockey, it’s best that the players go to a local centre even though it may mean county identity dissolves but what does that matter if the players are reaching the next level

· LB – Is concerned that Essex will be split at JDC and JAC level – has heard that Essex won’t accept players unless they are from affiliated schools?

· MB – Will ask Charlie

[c] Development (report in appendices)

[d] League (minutes of last meeting are on the Website)

· The umpire complaint form is now up and running - 2 umpires have used it complaining about the hospitality during and after a match, this is being investigated.

· DH – asked if Trevor Williams was going to notify the ladies league about the division 2 change.

[e] Discipline (no report)

• 869 yellow cards
• Could counties tell their umpires to send the red card form to the DA of the county to which the offending club belongs.

[f] Competitions (report in appendices)

• Will be a struggle to find umpires for the Indoors as there will be two competitions on the same day, adult and youth.
• LB – Next year will be the last year that LB is involved with the ERHA partly due to the changes that will happen with the centralised calendar. Feels very strongly that the youth still has a forum to express their views and voice their concerns, can this be discussed in future meetings

[e] Umpires (report in appendices)

• Amendment – the mentoring event that didn’t take place is happening on 27^th April at the Regional Youth Festival

[f] England Hockey

RM (report in appendices)

[g] Strategic Planning Report (report in appendices)

· BF – It was supposed to be a RCC meeting but was hijacked by the strategic planning meeting.

· At next RCC meeting will discuss the Eurohockey and why it was a financial loss.

· At EH AGM – it was discussed that Philip Kimberly would become executive chairman and an opening would occur as Chief Executive who would work full time. It was realised that the matter could not be resolved at the AGM due to a letter from Simon Marshall saying you had to have 75% of the vote – so would have to call a EGM to move this forward.

· What does the ERHA think about this?

· Where is the money coming from to pay this new position?

· BF- Our affiliation fees which is why we should discuss this.

· Discussion followed during which these points were raised:

· Is this being done because we need someone in post 7 x full days or because we

are catering to a particular individual?

Decided it couldn’t be discussed any further without having seen the documentation SG to forward to CL who will share with everyone.

[h] Indoor

· All competitions will be held at Kelsey Kerridge.

· Discussions to be had at the next meeting about going over budget

6. Any Other Business

· Bill Felton was awarded the Times Sydney Friskin Memorial Silver Goblet 2007 Award for his contribution to hockey

· ST – East Club Ladies Veteran Tournament is on 6^th April, 6 clubs entered from the 7 counties

· BF – Next year’s meetings will be 1^st October 08, 19^th November 08, 18^th March 09, 6^th May 09 - AGM to be held 2^nd July

FULL COMMITTEE REPORTS APPEAR ON THE FOLLOWING PAGES.

The meeting closed at 10.18 pm with the President thanking all for coming.

President ………………………………………………………………… Date …………………………………………………..

TECHNICAL OFFICIATING

Report for ERHA Management Meeting on Wednesday 19^th March 2008

At the last Management Meeting I asked that this be made an agenda item; therefore here outlined are matters I wish to bring to your attention.

u Technical Officiating has been existence for a very long time but with no great emphasis on its importance to the game of hockey. Three or so years ago England Hockey addressed the situation in order to restore the importance and create an interest to attract more volunteers. The Technical Officiating Development Group was established. I was a member of that group for a couple of years; in which time a training guide was put together and Regions were asked to appoint Co-Ordinators to organise training. I undertook that role for the East as a temporary measure pending finding someone permanently.

u I organised training at the PLUM tournament in 2006 with limited resources. Not everything went to plan due to sickness and others pulled into umpiring at the last moment. However, benefit was derived by those who did attend. The only expense to the East was the purchase of the England Hockey Training Guide Books. Attendees travelled at their own expense and overnight stays if appropriate were at own expense

u Some of those also gained indoor experience in the December following.

u I also endeavoured similarly at PLUM 2007 but finished with only one new volunteer. Again no expense was incurred by the East.

u PLUM has required appointment of Technical Officials are two venues which makes it more difficult to find sufficient numbers for all kinds of reasons.

u In October 2007 I attended a meeting of Regional Technical Officials Co-Ordinators arranged by England Hockey at Milton Keynes. There were discussions on the way forward in recruitment and training. The main criteria which became evident was the lack of events with which to use as practical training. I outlined the East training so far and again it was evident that we were ahead of other Regions. The use of PLUM has been so beneficial. An ensuing discussion resulted in the possibility of using such an event and opening it to other Regions. Obviously financial issues arise here and whilst it is a good idea, when it was suggested that the Region could stand the cost and it could be a reciprocal, I had my doubts. If the PLUM event was opened up with an invite to other Regions this would help on two counts, appointment of personnel to two events and our own recruitment but I think that each Region should be responsible for its expenditure.

Points of consideration:

¬ Recruitment for East

¬ Use of PLUM

¬ Open to other Regions

¬ Budget for future

¬ Appointment of East Region Technical Official Co-ordinator

ERHA Management meeting 19^th March 2008

Honorary Treasurer’s Report

Items for information

· East club affiliation fees – all received. Thanks to County treasurers for collecting these.

· East schools affiliation fees – received from Beds., Herts., Kent, Lincs. and Norfolk. Cambs., Essex and Suffolk still to pay (deadline was end of February).

· Clubs Indoor Championships – excess expenditure of £817.75 (actual net expenditure was £1117.75 but ERHA agreed to a £300 subsidy) due mainly to umpires costs being far greater than in budget. Indoor committee have met and discussed overspend and will learn from this year’s problems.

· Camps 2007 – excess income £2320.92, taking into account 2006/7’s deficit leaves £2237.10 in the camps account plus almost £600 interest. Camps administrator appointed and is being paid £3,500 for 6 months’ administration starting in January 2008. Budget received for 2008 Camps and discussed. Aim for excess income to be at a similar level to that in 2007.

· Youth Indoor competitions – received £500 from England Hockey plus medals (MAN sponsorship) and ERHA agreed subsidy of £300. Have given a donation of £100 plus free entry for their 2 teams(worth approximately £80) to Bedford School who did not charge for the use of their hall for the boys’ U16 competition. Entry fee invoices sent to Counties.

· Handbook – advertisers invoiced for advertisements in Handbook.

· East junior squads 2007 – £800 ERHA subsidy available for each of the girls’ and boys’ U15 & U17 squads. Boys’ U15 squad – subsidy slightly overspent; boys’ U17 squad and girls’ U15 squad – each squad underspent subsidy by approximately £200. Girls’ U17 squad – currently budget overspent by £1527.70 but players’ fees for Regional tournament still being collected. Once these have been collected, the squad expenditure will hopefully be within budget.

· Transfer of payment of umpires’ claims/umpiring expenditure from ERHA treasurer to ERHUA treasurer – Bill Felton and I had a very useful meeting with Mike Trett and Helen Sargeant (ERHUA treasurer). Have agreed that from 1^st June 2008, all umpires’ claims and all expenditure relating to umpiring activities will be paid by ERHUA Treasurer and not by the ERHA treasurer. ERHUA will prepare a budget for all the relevant costs (by mid-April) and will submit it to ERHA for agreement. During the financial year ERHUA will invoice the ERHA as necessary. The budget will be brought to the May management meeting as part of next year’s budget.

For discussion and agreement

· Mileage rate for 2008/9 – propose to increase mileage rate from 16p/mile to 20p/mile from 1^st June. Will discuss a further increase during 2008/9 if petrol prices warrant it.

· Regional Young Umpires Action Group(RYUAG) – Bill Felton and I met with Liz Pelling (Chairman of RYUAG), Mike Trett (ERHUA Chairman) and Charlie Farrow(RDM) to discuss the work of this group and the submitted budget. Very useful meeting. Some, but not all, of the income/expenditure in the budget is currently being received/paid by ERHA. The estimated shortfall for start-up costs is £1345 and for longer term a further £2255. The main part of the longer term budgeted expenditure is to update the ERHUA Website to include a young umpires section with the same facilities as the current ERHUA site including being able to make appointments and for umpires to be able to claim as well as ‘protecting’ the details of young umpires using the site. The cost of this is £1520 and it is recommended that Management agree to this expenditure and also to paying the start-up costs of £1345, these costs being funded from the Association’s reserves.

The Group intends to apply to various funding bodies for grants and if successful will contribute towards the longer term funding for the Group.

· Camps and performance administration 2008 – it is recommended that the Association purchases a laptop computer to be used for all the performance administration connected with the camps and the proposed junior regional performance centres – maximum cost of £500, to be met from reserves.

Margaret McCall

Honorary Treasurer

East Region Hockey Association

Update on the Implementation of the Single System at Regional Level 2008/9 & Dates – Performance Group

· The East region is to host 2 Junior Regional Performance Centres (JRPCs), one in the Bury St Edmunds area and one in the St Albans area.

· The interim arrangement for JRPC locations in the region as above is that only Bury St Edmunds will be set up during 2008 (Culford Residential Summer Camp). St Albans JRPC will come on line in 2009 in the same format as Bury St Edmunds.

· It is envisaged to tender for actual JRPC locations from 2009.

· It is proposed to select two separate squads from the one JRPC, Bury St Edmunds to attend the pilot Tier 1 U16 & U18 competition in the autumn (previously known as U15 & U17).

· England Hockey are running High Performance Assessment Camps (HiPACs) in 2008 for the U14 age group (1994/1995). The Boys U14 HiPAC is to take place June 13-15^th at Lilleshall and the Girls U14 HiPAC is to take place July 11-13^th at Loughborough. The East Region will be asked to nominate 16 players for both boys and girls to attend the HiPACs. The date for the nomination of these players is May 16^th 2008.

· The Summer Residential Camp in Bury St Edmunds in August 2008 will in effect become the East JRPC (for U14, U15 & U17 age groups, with a dedicated U16 age group to come on line in 2009) and will be the only JRPC activity arranged this year. Each camp will be an intensive four days amounting to 20 plus hours of planned and scheduled contact time.

· The summer Residential Camp in Bury St Edmunds in August 2008 will also host additional activity which will not take place in 2009 when it is anticipated that the natural progression will be for Junior Development Centres (JDCs) and Junior Academy Centres (JACs) to take this forward. This additional activity for 2008 is U13 Performance Camp (1), U13 Potential Camp (1), U14 Potential Camp (1), U12 ‘Start’ Camps (2)

· The girls U13 & U14 (in preparation for the U14 HiPAC in July 2008) activity is underway, the U13 age group is complete and the U14s will commence shortly after the final county league matches on 20^th April 2008. The dates & locations tbc with Phil Hurst.

· The boys U13 & U14 (in preparation for the U14 HiPAC in June 2008) activity is shortly to commence. The dates & location tbc with Iain Gall.

· There is as yet no other regional JRPC activity planned in 2008 (aside from Tier 1/Tier 2 Competition in Autumn outlined on the NGB Centralised Calendar).

· Advertisement for Coaches placed on England website for involvement in Regional activity. Response good so far. To be further discussion regarding anomaly of salary payments within different programs of activity (JDC, JAC, JRPC, HiPAC)

DATES

JRPC (Residential Summer Camp 2008 - Bury St Edmunds)

U17 Performance Camp (Boys & Girls), Monday 28th - Thursday 31st July

U15 Performance Camp (Boys & Girls), Monday 4th - Thursday 7th August
U14 Performance Camp (Boys & Girls), Monday 11th - Thursday 14th August

• The above are 4 day inclusive camps at Culford School, Bury St Edmunds

‘Additional’ JRPC activity (Residential Summer Camp 2008 – Bury St Edmunds)

U14 Potential Camp (Boys & Girls),

U13 Performance Camp (Boys & Girls), Monday 18th - Thursday 21st August inclusive (4 days), Culford School, Bury St Edmunds.

U13 Potential Camp (Boys & Girls),

U12 ‘Start’ Camps (Boys & Girls)

• The above are 3 day inclusive camps at Culford School, Bury St Edmunds with the exception of U13 Performance which is a 4 day inclusive camp.

SQUADS – For Tier 1 Competition

Girls U15, 2 teams (for U16 Tier 1 Competition)

Girls U17, 2 teams (for U18 Tier 1 Competition)

Boys U15, 2 teams (for U16 Tier 1 Competition)

Boys U17, 2 teams (for U18 Tier 1 Competition)

Dates: Sunday 14th & Sunday 21st Sept, Sunday 28th Sept (Tier 1 Competition)

Locations: tbc

TIER 2 COMPETITION

Girls U15, 2 teams (for U16 Tier 2 Competition)

Girls U17, 2 teams (for U18 Tier 2 Competition)

Boys U15, 2 teams (for U16 Tier 2 Competition)

Boys U17, 2 teams (for U18 Tier 2 Competition)

Dates: Sunday 12th & Sunday 19th October, Sunday 26th October, Thursday 31st October - Sunday 2nd November (Tier 2 Competition)

Locations: tbc

Miche Bloch

17^th March 2008

No meeting held specifically for Development committee so, just for the moment, me and my musings. 

It is fascinating being an insider and watching, from an evolutionary/group dynamics point of view, all that is happening as a result of the National LTAD initiative. Changes have been launched via 'Performance' and the beefed up Regional Managers' development portfolios and have, shall shortly or will eventually influence, effect and overlap/support/organise (and maybe replace?) a considerable portion of the voluntary responsibilities of the regions and counties.

These EHA initiatives have been the subject of several meetings held at Nat level involving regional officers and at County level but not yet involving regional officers. We expect this will all be 'joined up' in the East shortly and we will have soon a full picture of who, what, where, when, why, how and how £ much is happening in our region.

At the risk of evoking an Irish curse - We live in 'interesting times'.  There's shed-loads of stuff going on in the background in developing our game. Please get involved - we must all contribute to, monitor and help to guide this process - it is and will be an impossible load for our professional staff to carry almost alone. 

The attached document defines the role of the Development Group in the East. It has been compiled from the constitution, the briefing/discussion document laid before the last management meeting, comments received (thank you) and further consultation with the President on specific items.

I look forward to your comments and to helping in the continuing process of our Region's Development.

John Hendy

EAST COMPETITIONS REPORT

The main discussions at the last meeting were on the new calendar for 2008/9 in light of the various and different activities that the counties are running under the single system and the congested England programme.

We have prepared a draft programme for next season which I have attached to the England programme.

We have a concern about umpire/pitch availability for the indoor – with a schools and a clubs competition – that one being separate next year and obviously the costs to the schools/clubs – although with a smaller entry – if it is we may be able to merge age groups/sexes.

The minis competition arrangements this season are progressing well with a member of The East Youth panel attending our recent meeting to brief the group – CF may be able to add more.

Loraine

REPORT FOR ERHA MANAGEMENT MEETING

WEDNESDAY 19^TH MARCH 2008

Notes from RCC meeting held at Milton Keynes on Monday 4^th February 2008

Indoor committee looking to produce a strategic plan for the role of indoor hockey following this season’s extensive indoor break and greater emphasis on the indoor game.

It was agreed that it would be best practice to request CRB checks for all people working with under 18’s including members of Youth Committees.

As with previous RCC meetings it was again agreed that all competitions are important to the participants. Bearing in mind the challenges of both the calendar and staff/volunteer time, suitable prominence should be given to final days as well as the allocated competition days. Specific reference was made to National 2^nd XI Cup and Junior plate competitions.

Applicants for EH volunteer posts. Board to be asked for liaison with Regional Committees in respect of such applicants.

Leadership of England Hockey. Document went out very close to committee date with little chance of referral among Regional Committees to feed back to this meeting. No clear message was given for the action to be taken. In view of this the members agreed the principle was good. Three Regions responded at meeting. Discussion ensued re ‘Articles’ for AGM with points for noting.

Sally Munday presented draft consultation paper in regard to Junior Competitions going forward under the Single System. Target groups highlighted. Being circulated by 3^rd week in February. Responses to be in by end of April. Commencement on season 09/10.

Review of EH Board meeting. Affiliation of HUA’s to EH: Board had requested more information before any proposal could be put to an AGM. Concern also with regard to the legacy facilities from 2012. EH had seen plans which intended to site a 120m wind turbine with the area allocated as the hockey and tennis facility. A report had been submitted highlighting health risks associated with wind turbines.

Indoor. Competitions committee chairman had requested that regions consider whether they would be prepared to make a financial contribution to the running of indoor tournaments. Some regions indicated this was already the case but consultation in regions would take place and be reported back at a future RCC meeting. It was noted that the Competitions Committee would also be requesting financial support from England Hockey.

A reminder that affiliations may go up but depending on a matter relating to VAT.

The next meeting is Monday 2^nd June 2008.

Meeting attended by Sheila George on behalf of the President

REPORT ON MEETING 3^rd DECEMBER 2007

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

This meeting was to have been a Regional Consultative Meeting (RCC), but was changed to become a Strategic Planning Meeting held in a Conference Centre near Milton Keynes. Basically those who attended were RCC Members, the England Hockey Board Members and Senior Staff of England Hockey. In addition the various Committee Chairman were invited.

Philip Kimberley was the main person and England Hockey presented a paper which showed their aims since taking over in 2003 and asked us to comment/vote on how they had done over the first five years. While I anticipate they expected to get glowing marks in reality they got about a 55/60% mark overall. They also presented the way forward until 2012. We had various group discussions, but personally I never felt that they were not prepared to listen to some of the constructive comments/criticism which were made. On a personal note I was of the opinion that the format of the meeting was changed to deflect away from discussion on the loss at the Manchester European Hockey Tournament , and the forward Indoor Hockey event being held in Sheffield in January.

As a result of this meeting it was decided to bring forward the next RCC meeting programmed for 3^rd March 2008 to February 4^th 2008 which Sheila kindly attended on behalf on the EAST as I was away on holiday.

The next RCC Meeting is scheduled for 3^rd June 2008

Bill Felton 6/3/08