1. NAME
The League shall be called the Cambridgeshire Womens Hockey League and hereinafter will be referred to as the League (CWHL). It shall be open to all clubs affiliated to the Cambridgeshire Hockey Association and other clubs affiliated to neighbouring counties at the discretion of the League Committee. The inclusion of any clubs affiliated to neighbouring counties must be ratified at an 'all club' meeting by majority vote. As a Feeder League for the East Womens League (EWL), all clubs playing within CWHL must affiliate to the East Region Hockey Association.
2. MANAGEMENT/LIAISON
The League shall be managed by a League Committee comprising a League Secretary, a League Press and Publicity Officer and a Treasurer, plus one other member. Additional committee members can be elected to support this committee.
Nominees for these positions will be approved at the League Annual General Meeting.
If all available positions are not filed at the Annual General Meeting all clubs competing in the CWHL must be entered into a raffle and a draw made for vacant positions. Those clubs elected to the League Committee must advise the departing League Secretary within 14 days of the AGM of an individual who will represent them on the League Committee. Clubs will be excluded from the raffle if they were represented on the League Committee during the previous season.
At the beginning of each season, clubs will be requested to provide a readily available contact name and telephone number. The League Secretary shall represent the League at any Management Committee meeting or nominate another representative should the League Secretary be unable to attend.
At least three meetings shall be held per year and a quorum shall be three members.
3. MEMBERSHIP
Clubs will be eligible to take part in the League providing it is affiliated to either the Cambridgeshire Hockey Association or approved East affiliated neighbouring county association and has paid its affiliation fees by 1st October of the relevant year.
4. FEES
All teams participating in CWHL shall pay an entry fee determined by the league committee. Payment shall be made by October 3rd 2003. Any team which has not remitted its fee within two weeks of the due date shall be required to pay double the prescribed fee for that season.
5. SPONSORSHIP
A sponsor of the CWHL may be sought by the League Committee and approved at the AGM.
6. PLAYERS
Each player must be a FULLY PAID UP member of an ERHA affiliated club. Clubs shall register players with the appropriate Divisional Secretary by 26th September 2003. Additions to the lists must be received by the League Secretary prior to the player participating in a game. All verbal notifications must be confirmed in writing with seven days. Clubs playing unregistered players may be fined and have three points deducted, as directed by the League Committee. A player may be registered for only one club for League hockey at any one time. A player wishing to change clubs within the CWHL, or join a CWHL club from outside the CWHL, must give 7 days notice, and confirmation in writing must be sent to the League Secretary from the two clubs involved and must be received before their first game is played for the new club. The player may not play CWHL hockey for more than two clubs in one season. This rule does not apply to players changing clubs between seasons.
A Club having a squad in the EWL must nominate nine (9) of these players to play for the EWL who will not be eligible to play in the CWHL matches and the EWL play-offs. Any team fielding an ineligible player will forfeit the match 0-3 and may be fined £20, at the discretion of the Committee.
A Club having two or more teams in the CWHL must nominate six (6) players per team for each team excluding the lowest team. Any team fielding an ineligible player will forfeit the match 0-3 and may be fined £20 at the discretion of the League Committee. Nominated players should play at least 60% of their games for their nominated team. These nominations should be received by the appropriate Divisional Secretary five (5) weeks into the season i.e. before 7th November 2003. After these nominations have been made only TWO changes can be made upon application to the Divisional Secretary for consideration by the Committee and must be for a good reason. A fine and/or deduction may be made by the Committee for breaking the nominated player rule.
Regular strengthening of the lower teams by players usually playing more than one team higher, contrary to the spirit of the league competition, may result in a fine of £20, or, in persistent cases a deduction of three points at the discretion of the League committee.
The winner of each division will gain automatic promotion. Other promotions and relegations will be dependent upon relegations from EWL and new entrants into the league. Final 2003-2004 Cambs Womens League structure will be dependent on these promotions and relegations and will be decided by the League Committee.
7. SCORING SYSTEM
Points will be awarded thus:
1 3 points for a win
2 1 point for a draw
3 0 points for a loss
In the case of equality of points at the end of the season, places shall be determined by consideration of each in the following order:
1 Goal difference
2 Highest number of goals 'for'
3 Result of the game between teams concerned (2 matches, home and away, on goal difference and the goals scored if necessary)
8. UMPIRES
Teams must provide their own qualified Level One umpire in the Premier Division. Failure to do so will result in the offending team forfeiting the game by a score of 0-3. Any umpire who starts the game must umpire the whole game except in exceptional circumstances (e.g. illness or injury). It is not permissible for two players to umpire half a game each in the Premier Division.
Level One umpires should, wherever possible, be used to officiate Division One and Two games.
Umpires are reminded that they must not coach the team in any way.
Under no circumstances should umpires be asked to or volunteer to adjudicate on league rules.
9. CONDUCT
The EHA Disciplinary Code will be operated for the League.
Teams are expected to study and comply with the "Guidance Notes for Pitch side Conduct" appended to these rules.
Team officials and spectators must not interfere with the progress of the game or intimidate others by action or word. Such conduct may result in disciplinary action being taken by CWHL committee and the transgressing team may forfeit the game 3-0.
10. UNIFORM
Each player must wear an individual number on the back of their shirt which must be clearly visible. This means that each player on the same side must wear a different number.
It is the responsibility of each team captain to ensure that every member of the team is wearing her correct number.
Any team found to be fielding a player without a number may be fined £10 on each occasion this happens.
Captains are to be distinguished by wearing a captain's armband.
In the event of a colour clash of shirt/socks, the away team should change.
Goalkeepers should wear a colour contrasting with those worn by both teams.
11. MATCHES
All league matches shall be played in accordance with the current rules of the game of hockey as published by the Hockey Rules Board. A team shall be entitled to nominate up to 16 players in its squad for each match.
a) All league matches shall be played on Saturdays. If postponed fixtures cannot be played on the earliest possible slip date, they may be played on other days if mutually agreeable.
b) Matches will be 35 minutes each way.
c) It is the responsibility of the home team to confirm the fixture - at least 14 days notice must be given of the start time and the type of playing surface. Matches in the Premier and Division One must be played on an artificial surface. Unless mutually agreed by the two clubs concerned, alteration of a confirmed start time can only be made with the approval of the League Secretary.
d) Matches must start at the agreed time confirmed by the homes team, or within 30 minutes of the agreed time in exceptional circumstances. In the event of a dispute, the outcome will be decided by the League committee.
e) The suitability of the pitch and lighting is the responsibility of the home team.
f) Home teams must provide the match ball.
g) Matches should not be played before 9.30am nor should commence after 4.00pm, however due consideration should be given to the distance the away side has to travel when setting start times for matches. Only in exceptional circumstances, where it is agreed between the two teams, can matches be played outside these times.
12. POSTPONEMENT
No game shall be postponed excepting:
a) When the ground is not available owing to circumstances beyond the control of the home team.
b) In the opinion of the team official, groundsman, or umpires for the match, the state or condition of the pitch or weather condition would make it impossible or unsafe.
c) If the home pitch is known to be unfit by Friday 6pm preceding the game either:
v the home team will provide another venue for the match to be played on the original date at a time mutually agreeable to both clubs, OR
v If the away team is unable to provide a venue, the match should be rearranged for the earliest available slip date.
d) In normal circumstances the away team must be notified as soon as possible on the morning of the match of any cancellation. In the event of both teams being on the field and conditions making play impossible, the umpires shall decide whether play should commence or continue. In these circumstances no points will be awarded unless a game has been in progress a minimum of 15 minutes of the second half.
e) If a game is cancelled due to a club being unable to raise a team, the team cancelling will forfeit the game 0-3 and must inform the League Press and Publicity Officer in the usual way. If a club has a lack of available players, it shall use players from lower teams to make up the deficiency, and so on down the club, so that any necessary cancellation or forfeit of a league match applies to the bottom CWHL team. If a club cancels a league match for lack of players but still fields lower teams, the minimum penalty will be the award of the match to the opposition, either 3-0 or the actual score to nil, whichever is the greater.
f) It should be noted that a financial penalty may be incurred if the astro pitch has to be cancelled. If in the judgement of the League Secretary any allowed postponements cause unavoidable costs to the opposition club the club seeking the postponement must pay these.
h) Postponed or abandoned games must be rearranged utilising the first available slip date. Within 14 days of the original game both teams should agree a new date for the rearranged game. The home team must notify the League Secretary of the rearranged date within 14 days of the original date. Failure to follow these procedures will result in a fine of £10.
13. MATCH REPORT/NOTIFICATION OF RESULTS
A match report/result sheet for each match should be provided by the home team. Each captain is responsible for completing the team sheet relating to any match played by her team. The match sheet should be given to the umpires for the duration of the game. Both captains and umpires must sign the sheet at the end of the match.
It is the responsibility of the captain of the home team to return the match sheet to the League Press and Publicity Officer within three days of the fixture. Failure to comply will result in a £10 fine being incurred.
Results of matches or postponements/abandonment's must be entered on the league website. Detailed guidance (including passwords and deadlines) will be provided to clubs in advance of the first fixture. Failure to enter the result within the required time by the first named club on the result sheet shall incur a fine of £10.
14. DISPUTES
In the event of any dispute which may arise in connection with the rules or other matters relating to the League, the League Secretary should be notified of the details of the dispute within 14 days of the incident taking place. The League Secretary, in consultation with the League Committee, shall determine the action to be taken.
15. EMERGENCY DECISIONS
When issues arise during the season that require prompt resolution, such as issues affecting an imminent match, the club must contact the League Secretary. If the League Secretary is unavailable, the Press and Publicity Officer or another Committee member may be contacted.
16. LEAGUE MEETINGS
Each club in the CWHL shall send a representative, preferable their liaison officer, to any "all clubs" meeting call by the 'Cambs League' League Committee. Failure by a club to send a representative to an 'all clubs' meeting including the Annual General Meeting will result in a £50 fine.
All divisional winners are required to send a representative to the end of season AGM to collect their trophy.
17. CHANGE OF RULES
No amendment either to these rules or to the structure of the Cambs League may be made after 1st September of the season in which either the rules or the structure apply.