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Hockey Ireland Statement regarding EYHL 2020/21 

Hockey Ireland on 9 April announced that the 2019/20 hockey season for all league, cup and all other domestic hockey competitions in Ireland were deemed to have finished.  The EYHL 1 and 2 season 19/20 was stopped and has been declared null and void. In addition, it was stated that there will be no automatic promotion/relegation in the EYHL 1 and 2.

Therefore, going forward to the 20/21 Season the EYHL 1 will start with the same clubs as last season being:

EY 1 Men

Annadale

Banbridge

Corinthian

Glenanne

Lisnagarvey

Monkstown

Pembroke Wanderers

Three Rock Rovers

UCD

YMCA

 EY 1 Women

Belfast Harlequins

Catholic Institute

Cork Harlequins

Loreto Hockey Club

Muckross

Old Alex

Pegasus

Pembroke Wanderers

Railway Union

UCD

The EYHL 2 the 20/21 season will be run using the same format and under the same rules as last season.  In line with the invitation rules the following nominations were received by Hockey Ireland from the branches and these clubs will receive an invite to compete in the EYHL 2:

Connacht Women – NUIG / Galway

Leinster Women – Corinthians / Monkstown / Trinity
Leinster Men – Clontarf / Railway Union / Portrane

Munster- Women – UCC / Cork CofI
Munster Men – Cork CofI / Bandon

Ulster Women – Queens / Ards / Lurgan
Ulster Men – Cookstown / Kilkeel / Instonians

A full review of the EYHL 1 and 2 will take place in the coming months, with a view to finalise details regarding the format and regulations in time for the 21/22 season.

Hockey Ireland Statement regarding EYHL 2020/21

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Sport Ireland Resilience Fund

Recently, Sport Ireland announced a new scheme of funding to help support clubs who have found the pandemic financially challenging.  

This scheme is available to hockey-only clubs:    

Key points: 

  • The grant scheme is designed to support sporting activity only 
  • Multi-sports clubs can apply for funding via their Local Sports Partnership https://www.sportireland.ie/participation/lsp-contact-finder 
  • These funds are not aimed to replace lost income from ancillary activities such as hospitality, sub-letting facilities or other non-sporting commercial activity 
  • Clubs can apply by applying to Hockey Ireland  
  • Hockey Ireland will review applications and those deemed viable will be submitted to Sport Ireland on behalf of each club  

Hockey Ireland has included some guidance notes within the application form and will also run a webinar on Thursday 13th August from 19.00 – 20.30. To register for this webinar, please click here  

To download the application form Covid 19 Grant Scheme Application Forms HI.docx  

Process and Timeline: 

  • Club applications must be submitted to info@hockey.ie before 17.00 on 28th August 2020 
  • Applications will then be collated by Hockey Ireland and submitted to Sport Ireland before Monday 14th September 
  • Sport Ireland will make an initial assessment on the level of request under each scheme. 
  • Final decisions will need to take into account the level of demand across the schemes. 
  • Depending on the level of submissions, the outcome of those deliberations will be communicated to sports organisations in October 
  • Subject to approval and standard Terms & Conditions, the process of payment will begin thereafter 

 

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President’s Newsletter July 2020

Presidents Newsletter July 2020

Following the ups and downs of the International sides in their quest for Olympic Qualification, it was back to domestic hockey for the 2019/20 with the EYHL now in full swing when the Men started in September while the Ladies league started later, on November 9th due to the Ladies Olympic Qualifier in Energia Park, Donnybrook in early November.

Seven rounds were played before year end when there was a winter break during December and January when the Indoor game came to the fore with the provincial leagues taking place and the qualifiers from these took part in the National Finals which were held this year in the Kingfisher Club, NUIG, Galway on February 2nd,2020. There was a feast of Indoor hockey in this magnificent facility where the pitch size was at the maximum allowed and it took some getting used to as all the players previously played their league games in much smaller halls.

At the end of a very entertaining days hockey, the double was achieved by Railway Union where the Men defeated Three Rock Rovers in a shoot-out (1-0) following a 3-3 draw at the end of normal time and the Ladies defeated Muckross on a score-line of 2-0, ensuring both secured a place in Europe for 2021. The finals this year were streamed live on the Euro-Hockey Channel and the commentator was “the voice of Hockey in Europe”, Nick Irvine.

On Wednesday March 4th, I was invited by the Ulster Branch to attend the Final of the Belfast Telegraph Senior Schools Cup Final in Lisnagarvey between Belfast Royal Academy and Friends School Lisburn. It was a bright sunny spring day and we were entertained by two very good hockey teams in an excellent final where BRA excelled and  were deserved winners on a 4-2 score-line. This was the first time that they have won the Cup since 1974.

After this competition things changed in the world with the onslaught of the Covid-19 pandemic which necessitated the cessation of all aspects relating to hockey. First to be hit were the schools with the cancellation of the Schoolboys All Ireland (John Waring), All Ireland Schoolgirls (Kate Russell), June Smith competition and latterly the Junior Inter-pros in May. Both the EYHL and EYHL2 competitions were stopped as per a HI communication on April 9th and declared null and void as there were too many games left to play to determine a fair final ranking for the season. The Champions Trophy was also cancelled.

The Hockey Ireland Annual General was also postponed from May 16 and has now been rescheduled for August 22nd.

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Hockey Ireland Statement Regarding EuroHockey League and Club Championship Positions 2020/21.

Hockey Ireland Statement Regarding EuroHockey League and Club Championship Positions 2020/21.

17 July 2020

On the 9th of April 2020, the 2019/2020 EYHL season was declared null and void by the Hockey Ireland Board due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

This was based on the recommendation of a Competitions Working Group that included the Hockey Ireland Competitions Committee and representation from each of the four provinces. This group, after extensive consultation and consideration, presented a series of recommendations to the Hockey Ireland Board regarding all hockey competitions on the island of Ireland. The Competitions Committee also recommended the representatives for the 2020/2021 European Hockey competitions – the EuroHockey League and EuroHockey Club Championship. It was recommended that the four teams selected to represent Ireland in 2019/2020 season should remain the representatives for 2020/2021.

This recommendation was reviewed by the Hockey Ireland Board at a meeting on 6th May. The Board approved the Competitions Committee recommendation and resolved that the four clubs representing Ireland in the European Hockey competitions in 2021 are:

  • Pegasus Hockey Club Women will retain their position as the representative in the Euro Hockey League Final
  • Three Rock Rovers Hockey Club Men retain their position as the representative for the Euro Hockey League
  • Loreto Hockey Club Women retain their position as the representative for the EuroHockey Club Trophy
  • Lisnagarvey Hockey Club’s Men retain their position for the EuroHockey Club Trophy II

This Board decision was appealed by Lisnagarvey Hockey Club under the Hockey Ireland Bye Laws. An independent Appeal Panel met on Monday 29th June and ruled that the appeal should be upheld. This panel determined that Lisnagarvey Hockey Club should be awarded first place in the nomination for European Competitions for the 2020/2021 season, making them the representative for Ireland in the EuroHockey League.

While accepting the decision of the Appeal Panel, it is Hockey Ireland’s position that the committee focussed on Lisnagarvey Hockey Club’s appeal without any, or insufficient, regard to the consequences of such a change to the broader Hockey Ireland decision. The outcome of the appeal impacts on the decisions, regarding club selections and their ranking, for all of the respective European Hockey Competitions in 2020/2021.

Upon receipt of the Appeal Panel decision, Hockey Ireland considered all available options open to it and decided to refer the Appeal Panel’s decision to Sport Dispute Solutions Ireland as allowed for within the Hockey Ireland Bye Laws.  Sport Dispute Solutions Ireland is an independent specialised dispute resolution service for Irish Sport offering both a mediation and arbitration facility.  As Hockey Ireland’s designate appeal body, a request to Sport Dispute Solutions Ireland for mediation/arbitration is the final solution to an appeal when all processes within Hockey Ireland have been exhausted.

Hockey Ireland has received appeals from other Clubs since the Appeal Panel’s decision was announced. However, due to the complexity of this issue and the potential implications of any Sport Dispute Solutions Ireland ruling on the matter, Hockey Ireland has contacted the other appealing clubs to look into pausing their appeal processes until a ruling is received from Sport Dispute Solutions Ireland.

Hockey Ireland will fully engage with the Sport Dispute Solutions Ireland mediation/arbitration process.

Hockey Ireland Statement Regarding EuroHockey League and Club Championship Positions 202021..pdf

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Hockey Ireland EuroHockey Club Competitions Representatives for 2020/21

 

1 July 2020

On the 6th of May earlier this year, the 2019/2020 EYHL season was declared null and void by the Hockey Ireland Board due to the ongoing COVID-19 situation. It was also decided that the European representatives for the EuroHockey Club competitions were to remain the same for the next season, and in the same order.

This decision has since been appealed by Lisnagarvey Hockey Club under the rules of Hockey Ireland. The appeal panel met on Monday the 29th June with the relevant parties and concluded that the appeal should be upheld.

The Panel determined that Lisnagarvey Hockey Club shall be given the first place in the nominations for European Club Competitions for the 2020/2021 season, which means the club will be the representative for Ireland for the EuroHockey League. With the order changed by this decision the Irish representatives for Europe are as follows:

– Pegasus Hockey Club Women will retain their position as the representative in the Euro Hockey League Final

– Lisnagarvey Hockey Club’s Men are now the representative for the Euro Hockey League

– Loreto Hockey Club Women retain their position as the representative for the EuroHockey Club Trophy

– Three Rock Rovers Hockey Club Men are now the representative for the EuroHockey Club Trophy II

EuroHockey Teams Update.pdf

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Hockey Ireland Statement Regarding EuroHockey League and Club Championship Positions 2020/21.

On the 9th of April 2020, the 2019/2020 EYHL season was declared null and void by the Hockey Ireland Board due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

This was based on the recommendation of a Competitions Working Group that included the Hockey Ireland Competitions Committee and representation from each of the four provinces. This group, after extensive consultation and consideration, presented a series of recommendations to the Hockey Ireland Board regarding all hockey competitions on the island of Ireland. The Competitions Committee also recommended the representatives for the 2020/2021 European Hockey competitions – the EuroHockey League and EuroHockey Club Championship. It was recommended that the four teams selected to represent Ireland in 2019/2020 season should remain the representatives for 2020/2021.

This recommendation was reviewed by the Hockey Ireland Board at a meeting on 6th May. The Board approved the Competitions Committee recommendation and resolved that the four clubs representing Ireland in the European Hockey competitions in 2021 are:

Pegasus Hockey Club Women will retain their position as the representative in the Euro Hockey League Final
Three Rock Rovers Hockey Club Men retain their position as the representative for the Euro Hockey League
Loreto Hockey Club Women retain their position as the representative for the EuroHockey Club Trophy
Lisnagarvey Hockey Club’s Men retain their position for the EuroHockey Club Trophy II

This Board decision was appealed by Lisnagarvey Hockey Club under the Hockey Ireland Bye Laws. An independent Appeal Panel met on Monday 29th June and ruled that the appeal should be upheld. This panel determined that Lisnagarvey Hockey Club should be awarded first place in the nomination for European Competitions for the 2020/2021 season, making them the representative for Ireland in the EuroHockey League.

While accepting the decision of the Appeal Panel, it is Hockey Ireland’s position that the committee focussed on Lisnagarvey Hockey Club’s appeal without any, or insufficient, regard to the consequences of such a change to the broader Hockey Ireland decision. The outcome of the appeal impacts on the decisions, regarding club selections and their ranking, for all of the respective European Hockey Competitions in 2020/2021.

Upon receipt of the Appeal Panel decision, Hockey Ireland considered all available options open to it and decided to refer the Appeal Panel’s decision to Sport Dispute Solutions Ireland as allowed for within the Hockey Ireland Bye Laws. Sport Dispute Solutions Ireland is an independent specialised dispute resolution service for Irish Sport offering both a mediation and arbitration facility. As Hockey Ireland’s designate appeal body, a request to Sport Dispute Solutions Ireland for mediation/arbitration is the final solution to an appeal when all processes within Hockey Ireland have been exhausted.

Hockey Ireland has received appeals from other Clubs since the Appeal Panel’s decision was announced. However, due to the complexity of this issue and the potential implications of any Sport Dispute Solutions Ireland ruling on the matter, Hockey Ireland has contacted the other appealing clubs to look into pausing their appeal processes until a ruling is received from Sport Dispute Solutions Ireland.

Hockey Ireland will fully engage with the Sport Dispute Solutions Ireland mediation/arbitration process.

Hockey Ireland Statement Regarding EuroHockey League and Club Championship Positions 202021..pdf

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Decision regarding EuroHockey Club Competitions 2020/21

With the 2019/2020 #EYHL season declared null and void due to the ongoing COVID-19 situation, the Hockey Ireland Board has made the following decision regarding the representatives for next seasons EuroHockey Club competitions.

The European representatives for the EuroHockey Club competitions shall remain the same for next season, and in the same order.

Therefore;

Pegasus Hockey Club Women will retain their position as the representative in the Euro Hockey League Final
Three Rock Rovers Hockey Club Men retain their position as the representative for the Euro Hockey League
Loreto Hockey Club Women retain their position as the representative for the EuroHockey Club Trophy
Lisnagarvey Hockey Club’s Men retain their position for the EuroHockey Club Trophy II
Hockey Ireland would like to thank everyone for their patience and understanding during this time and appreciates the efforts many of you are going to in order to continue training while at home. Hockey Ireland is following the announcements from the governement(s) regarding roadmaps to ease Covid 19 restrictions and reopen Ireland’s economy and society.

The full statement is available below

Final Statement European Places.pdf

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Hockey Ireland AGM 2020 – Postponed

Hockey Ireland advise that the Hockey Ireland Annual General Meeting (AGM), scheduled to take place on Saturday 16 May 2020, has been postponed until further notice in keeping with ongoing advice from Government on social distancing.

As soon as the restrictions imposed by the current emergency are lifted, Hockey Ireland will organise an AGM as soon as is practicable.

Notification of the rescheduled date will issue in due course.

Take care of each other and stay safe.

Jerome Pels

CEO Hockey Ireland

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Guidelines for Using Virtual Learning Platforms

Hockey Ireland have issued some guidelines for coaches and clubs using online learning platforms during the Covid 19 crisis.

Below is a list of some basic Do’s and Don’ts but for the full document please click here

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Hockey Ireland Coronavirus (COVID-19) UPDATE No. 4

Hockey Ireland Coronavirus (COVID-19) UPDATE No. 4
9 April 2020

Hockey Ireland on 26 March announced that the 2019/20 hockey season for all league, cup and all other domestic hockey competitions in Ireland are deemed to have finished.

The Hockey Ireland Board and Hockey Ireland Branches are acutely aware of the scale of the health crisis facing the island of Ireland at this time, as well as the energetic strain that Covid-19 is currently placing on people in all aspects of their lives. In a time of such uncertainty for everyone, the Board and the Branches are keen to provide clarity, while also respecting the magnitude of effort each player, coach, umpire, volunteer, school, club and hockey entity has invested into this season.

The Hockey Ireland Board, in consultation with the Branches and on recommendation of the Competitions Working Group, have decided the following:

The EYHL 1 and 2 season 19/20 has been stopped and has been declared null and void as there are too many games left to play to determine a fair final ranking by mathematical or other method.

The EY Hockey Champions Trophy is cancelled for the 19/20 season.

There will be no automatic promotion/relegation in the EYHL 1 and 2.

The Board of Hockey Ireland has asked the EYHL Competitions Group to consider options of increasing the number of teams in the EYHL league(s) for the 20/21 season and report back to the Board with their recommendations. The Board have also received proposals to explore a full season EYHL2 concept and the Board have asked the EYHL Competitions Group to look into the viability of implementing this and make recommendations to the Board.

European club competition places will be determined at a later stage by the Board pending the outcome of the current European season and a conclusive decision from the European Hockey Federation (EHF).

The Hockey Ireland Branches will use a percentage equalisation method to complete league standings in their respective province. It is up to each province to make decisions on relegation and promotion and the Branch competition rules apply.

Branch Cup Competitions: If Cups are at Semi Final or Final stage or can be completed, they are postponed. The Branches will look for an opportunity to play these (early) in the 2020/21 season. If no opportunity arises, the Cup competitions will be cancelled.

Hockey Ireland Cups, Hockey Ireland Trophy and Hockey Ireland Challenge Finals and Semi Finals are postponed. Hockey Ireland will look for an opportunity to play them (early) in the 2020/21 season. If no opportunity arises these competitions will be cancelled.

Other Hockey Ireland competitions:

Kate Russell All Ireland Schoolgirls Championships

26th and 27th March

Cancelled

John Waring All Ireland Schoolboys Championship

1st April

Cancelled

June Smith Competition

2nd April

Cancelled

National U15 Girls Championship

9th May

Cancelled

National U15 Boys Championship

10th May

Cancelled

Junior Interprovincials

16th and 17th May

Cancelled

U13 Championships

30th May

Cancelled

 

 

Hockey Ireland would like to thank everyone for their patience and understanding during this time and appreciates the efforts many of you are going to in order to continue training while at home.

Please keep safe. For further information on Covid-19:

https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/coronavirus/coronavirus.html

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

If you have any further queries, please email info@hockey.ie

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