Umpiring

Various levels of umpiring are used in the East Leagues, and each one involves responsibilities for participating Clubs.  Where it is reasonable to do so, the East Leagues support rules that prompt and assist Clubs to contribute to the development of umpires generally.   Details of the Rules can be found via the Umpiring Rules link.

Top Divisions:  In East Men Divisions Prem A, Prem B, 1, 2N and 2S and in East Women  Divisions Prem, 1N and 1S, umpires are provided by either the East Regional Umpires Association or County Umpires Association Pools.  Details and contacts can be found via the Pool Umpires link. Clubs receiving pool umpires are required to supply a qualified umpire weekly to either the East or their County Pool on a one-in one-out basis.  Failure to do so will lead to wihdrawal of pool umpires from the club, and matches in top divisions without two pool umpires will be awarded 0-3 against the team failing to comply.

Other Divisions:  Clubs must supply their own umpires to all other matches. This need not be one each, and two home umpire arrangements are often used by mutual agreement. Some teams in lower divisions may receive two home umpires from their County Umpiring Pools under local arrangements, and the visiting team must accept this and must supply both umpires for the other match.  Club Umpires must be Level 1 or higher in EWL Divs 2 or in EML Divs 3NE, 4NW, 6SE, and 4SW upwards. In lower Divisions, umpires can also be of Probationer or Candidate Level 1 standard, i.e. having passed the Level 1 exam but not yet having been assessed at a match.  Clubs are expected to have a total of Level 1 umpires that is at least double the total of teams they have in the East League, of whom at least half must be full Level 1.   Clubs are expected to maintain an up to date list of all their umpires on the East website - and should follow this link to do this:  Club Umpires System. The East Leagues do not differentiate between active and inactive Level 1 umpires as defined elsewhere.

Discipline and Appeals

Red cards and Match Day Misdemeanour Offences (MMOs) issued by umpires are dealt with by the England Hockey Disciplinary Procedures involving County and Regional Disciplinary Officers.  The League does not become involved in this.  However a player, team or club may be subject to discipinary action by the League under some circumstances. Such disciplinary action usually, but not exclusively, arises from incidents that are beyond the England hockey disciplinary code, for example persistent misbehaviour by individuals or teams over a period. Yellow cards are monitored by the League and players receiving three or more yellow cards in League matches in a season are subject to bans from one or more League matches.  It is the responsibility of the player and the club to activate the ban.  The league will check teamsheets to ensure that the appropraite number of games suspension have been served.  Failure to wthdraw the player from selection will lead to team penalties. Red cards and MMOs may be the subject of appeals using EH Disciplinary Procdures. All decisions by League Managers and the East League Committee are subject to appeal using the procedures set out in the League Disciplinary Rules. All of these processes and rules can be found by following the appropriate links on this page.