Category: Rules & Regulations

Confirmation of Points Following Meeting About Issues on the Field 30 Nov 2023

Dear Fellow Members,

Thank you to all those who attended the meeting on Thursday 30 November 2023 and for your support and encouragement.

Western Province Grand Masters Hockey Association (WPGMHA) aims to promote the highest standards of hockey, behavior, and conduct for its members and participants, both on and off the field of play. To this end, all participants (players, umpires, coaches, physios, and administrators) are bound to comply with the FIH rules of hockey, the WPGM Constitution, and the WPGM Code of conduct. The committee wishes to confirm a number of salient points discussed in the meeting.

  1. PLAY TO THE RULES:
    1. Play to the rules of FIH Hockey as amended from time to time. See copy here.
    2. The rules will be enforced.
  2. EACH TEAM TO APPOINT A CAPTAIN:
    1. Each team must appoint a captain and a replacement captain (for when the captain is off the field of play).
    2. Captains must wear distinctive armbands.
    3. Captains are responsible for the behavior and conduct of ALL the players in their team, both on and off the field of play.
    4. If a captain does not exercise these responsibilities, a personal penalty may be awarded to that team’s captain.
  3. QUESTIONING AN UMPIRE’S DECISION:
    1. Only captains may question an umpire’s decision.
    2. No captain, nor team player may
      • Charge the umpire.
      • Show hand gestures towards the umpire.
      • Use intimidating, abusive language, or derogatory tones towards the umpire.
      • Use or throw a stick in an aggressive manner.
    3. Any transgressions of the above will result in a personal penalty, the severity of which is stated in the FIH rules of hockey and the FIH Code of Conduct.
  4. BEHAVIOR AND CONDUCT:
    1. Each participant is responsible for their own behaviour and conduct.
  5. ACCUMULATION OF PERSONAL PENALTIES:
    1. Personal penalties (cards) as issued will be cumulatively recorded. Players who cross the FIH recommended threshold in a season may be upgraded to a higher level, possibly resulting in suspension.
  6. FAIR PLAY INCENTIVE:
    1. A team fair play incentive is to be introduced, where teams will be judged after each match as to the spirit in which the game is played, cooperation, aggression, etc. Full details will be released by the committee shortly. An incentive award will be given to the team with the highest rating at the end of each season.

FOR THE LOVE OF HOCKEY,
YOUR COMMITTEE

Chairman’s festive news letter 2022

WPGMHA

CHAIRMAN’S FESTIVE NEWSLETTER 2022

YOUR COMMITTEE WISH ALL OUR MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES A FESTIVE SEASONS GREETING. FOR THOSE RECOVERING FROM OPERATIONS, INJURY AND/ OR REHABILITATION, WE WISH YOU A SPEEDY RECOVERY. FOR THOSE MEMBERS TRAVELLING, WE WISH YOU BON VOYAGE AND A SAFE RETURN TO START 2023 WITH A BANG.

ROADMAP TO THE WPGMHA MARCH IPT IN CAPE TOWN

  1. We will begin the new year with two voluntary IPT practice sessions on Sunday, starting on Sunday 08th January 2023, to be held at Bergvliet Sports Association starting at 10h30. These will concentrate general skills, maintaining fitness, followed by a shortened game. The second session will take place on the 15th January 2023.
  2. Our Second half of the GM Summer League will start on the 12th January 2023. This will be a shortened season, due to the IPT in March. It will take place over five weeks, so each team will play four matches with one bye. The teams will not be re-shuffled. This will happen for the Winter League season following the March IPT.
  3. The WPGM trails for IPT teams will take place over two dates. These will be held at WPCC on Sunday 22nd and Saturday 28th January 2023. Times and fields for the various age groups will be posted early in January. Player Registration forms for IPT availability will be circulated for completion and return by 19 January 2023.

    The expected financial commitment will be as follows:
a)Capitation FeeR110.00 for players up to 60 years old in 2023.
R330.00 for players over 60, but below 75 years in 2023.
Players who turn 75 in 2023 pay no capitation fee.
Capitation fees will need to be paid before the March IPT – NO PAY, NO PLAY.
b)Winter LeagueR240.00 per player, for field hire, lights, physio and umpires.
c)IPT Trails, practices and matches.Field hire, lights, physio and umpires for Trails, Sunday practices + short matches and Thursday night IPT team age group matches up till the IPT – R720.00
d)IPT Levy.17 to 20 March 2023 (four days) – R650.00. This year, the GM tournament will include the team/ player management platform “ALTIUS”. The second IPT newsletter will be circulated soon. Please watch out for the update.

WPGMHA CONSTITUTION, CODE OF CONDUCT AND DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURE.

Following a number of heated “on field” differences of opinion, disciplinary meetings and committee discussions in the later half of the Summer League, it was decided to post the above documents on the WP website (wpgm.co.za).

The Committee wishes to make members aware of the following extracts from the WPGM Code of Conduct.

  • “All Members of the WPGMHA are responsible for their own behaviour and conduct, and as such, accountable”.
  • “The following shall be regarded as conduct, which is improper, unfair and unacceptable:
    • Verbal and physical abuse or hostility towards any other participant, person or member of the public.
    • Disputing/protesting, reacting in a provocative or disapproving manner towards any decision made by an umpire or official inappropriately”.

Not to dampen the Grands Masters and Christmas Spirit, the Committee feels that unacceptable behaviour must be dealt with appropriately. As a reminder, the FIH rules only allow the Captain of the team to query the umpires decision. To assist the umpires, captains will be issued with arm bands at the start of the Summer League and for the IPT. As a build up to IPT and in an effort to make players aware of “on field” discipline, the umpires have been instructed to card all unacceptable behaviour.

WPGMHA ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The WPGMHA Annual General Meeting is scheduled to be held on the 2nd March 2023. The notice, agenda and committee election forms will be sent out in due course.

As always in good faith, your Chairman and Committee wish you,

FELIZ NAVIDAD, FROHLICHE WEIHNACHTEN, PRETTIGE KERSTDAGEN, JOYEUX NOEL, BUON NATALE, FELIZ NATAL AND MERRY CHRISTMAS.

Christmas

WPGMHA is affiliated to SAGMHA
 Committee – Karl Luff (Chairman), Warren Machanik (Secretary), Noreen Wonnacott (Treasurer), Rob Birt, Chris Hayley, Gary Barrett and Deon Maart.

WPGM Hockey AGM announcement 2022

The AGM will be on 24 Feb 2022, after the games have been played at 19:45. Both games league games that day will be played at 18:15, rather than the usual 18:30. This should give players who want to attend enough time to shower and grab a refreshment before joining us.

If you want to attend, please email secretary@wpgm.co.za

The AGM agenda, nomination forms and notice to amend the constitution are available below:

NOTICE-OF-THE-AGM-OF-THE-WPGMHA-24-February-2022Download
Nomination-form-for-WPGMHA-committeeDownload
WPGMHA-Notice-to-amend-the-constitution-25-JANUARY-2022Download

Summer league payment, capitation fee and IPT reminder

It was great to resume the Grand Masters Summer League last Thursday. The game this week will be the final catchup game from last year.

Summer league payment

With the second half of the league starting 27 Jan 2022, we request that all members pay for the league via EFT upfront. Also, since this is a new year, the capitation fee is due.

As per the GM constitution:

“Capitation Fee: Players in the 60+ and older age group are required to pay their annual capitation fee of R330 while players in the 55+ age group pay R110.00 capitation fee. These fees are then paid directly to their Provinces. Players in the +75 age category are exempted from paying capitation fees.”

Hence, if you are between 60 and 75 as of 31 Dec 2022, you need to pay the R330 now. If you are less than 60 as of 31 Dec 2022, the fee is R110. 75 or older as of 21 Dec 2022, no fee.

Please pay the capitation fee and the R220 for the league as soon as you can. Email Noreen Wonnacott at nwonnie@gmail.com proof of payment.

Note about team selection

All team managers, please note the rule for using players from other teams to ensure you have a squad on the park.

The rule is simple—age for age, position for position. So, a player can only replace a player that is close to the player’s age that is not available.

Additional Note: Regular players take preference over players that only play when available.

IPT reminder

By evening of 16 Jan, I have only received 29 responses about availability for IPT 29 out of 91 members is disappointing, to say the least. To those 29, I say thanks. To the other 62 of you, and you should know who you are, please email secretary@wpgm.co.za with the subject: “Durban IPT March 2022” with a simple Yes or No.

PS. All 55 or older (by 31 Dec 2022) qualify for IPT in Durban selection; we can apply for dispensation if you are 54 or younger and are keen anyway.

PPS. IPT dates are also 25-27 March 2022; unless you are in the World Cup squad, then you need to be there the morning of the 24th or apply for dispensation.

Update to all members, 24 June 2021

Continuation of Winter League, 2021

After considering all the options on the table, the WPGM committee has decided the following:

  • The League will continue without any break, so the first game of the second half of the Winter 2021 league will be Monday, 5 July.
  • Play will continue as usual within the restrictions of Lockdown, load shedding and WPCC rules.
  • As before, 5 teams will participate in the second half of the Winter 2021 League.
  • The League will end 13 Sept 2021, giving us 10 game days on a Monday. Note: no game is scheduled for Women’s day 9 Aug (which is a Monday).
  • New fixtures will be posted on the wpgm.co.za site this weekend.

GM IPT 2021 Preparation

Additional to the League is preparation for the GM IPT 2021 will begin Sunday 5 Sept 2021, with practice on Sundays until the IPT (that gives us 6 Sundays). Then, from 20 Sept, a 4 game League where teams will be selected by age group will commence. IPT is from 15-17 Oct, COVID-19 permitting.

Data concerns

With the new Protection of Private Information Act (POPIA) coming into effect on 1 Jul, we would like to note that all communications are opt-in. The Google group you have received this from is opt-in, and so is the WhatsApp group. Both of these are POPIA compliant.

If you do not want to be part of these groups, you can still get updates via the website https://wpgm.co.za.

The database of members is stored on a secure cloud drive. Recently, the member database was shared; please can you ensure your details are correct in the sheet and any errors email to secretary.at.wpgm.co.za.

Baring human error, this database will not be shared with anyone, not on the committee or the committee that has nominated to have access to the data (like the SA GM selection committee).

WPGMHA Winter Season 2021

The WPGMHA wishes to develop and explain team roles and responsibilities for the 2021 Winter Season.  Members, must be able to understand their role and the roles of other team members for the 2021 Winter league.

  1. The Grand Masters Winter League will consist of five (5) selected teams with matches scheduled on Monday evenings at the WPCC – “B” field.
  2. Teams will play in colour’s of the South African flag– namely red, white, blue, yellow and black. Hopefully when we get to a sixth team, green will be included.
  3. Four teams will play each Monday, with the fifth team having a bye. Match one 18h30 to 19h30 and match two 19h30 to 20h30. In this manner, by rotating the teams, each team will play eight (8) matches in a ten (10) week cycle. The season will be played in two halves with a total of twenty match days for the Winter league. Each team is scheduled to play sixteen (16) matches for the Winter league.
  4. Match results will be recorded and a league table published weekly. Points will be allocated as follows:- 3 points for a win and 1 for a drawn match. The winning team at the end of the Winter league will be awarded a trophy.
  5. Goal scorers will be recorded on a weekly basis. The top goal scorer at the end of the Winter league will be awarded a trophy.
  6. Each team shall have a captain, a coach and an administration coordinator.   Collectively they form the selection and management committee of their team.
  7. The coach defines the system and pattern of play and tactics in consultation with the captain.
  8. The captain controls all aspects of play, including player discipline, warmups, coaching plan implementation, short corners, bench movements and warm-downs.  Ideally, his voice should be the only one heard on the field.
  9. Team warm-ups should be done 20 minutes before the start of a game and take no longer than 10 minutes.   The remaining 10 minutes should be used for team talk and organization managed by the captain.
  10. Should a team be short of players for a match, that team administrator must either:
    • Recruit a ‘new’ player (i.e. unregistered with WPGMHA) who meets WPGMHA age requirements, or
    • Consult, in advance, with the team administrator of the ‘bye’ team.  The latter will arrange for fill-in players for the playing side.
  11. New players are encouraged.  Should a new player be recruited to a side, that team administrator must inform the relevant WPGMHA committee member (currently Chris Haley or Gary Barrett) as soon as is practically possible.
  12. Players playing in two matches of an evening is strongly discouraged.
  13. Umpires must be ready for the match on time, suitably attired and adequately prepared.  Matches must start on time.
  14. The WPGMHA code of conduct and the FIH hockey rules must be applied.  This includes the use of cards and awarding penalty flicks.
  15. Matches will be restricted to a maximum of 60 minutes (25minutes per half), as agreed with WPCC.
  16. The cost per 10 match cycle will be R480-00. Members are encouraged to pay by electronic fund transfer (EFT). A discount of one match will be given to members who elect to pay by this option (R420 payable).
  17. Players who fill in for another team, when their team has a bye, will be eligible to pay R60-00 per match. Money to be collected by that teams administrator.