Updated April 2016
- BY-LAWS
- If any circumstances arise for which no provision is made by the By-laws, or;
- If there arises any reasonable doubt as to the interpretation of the By-laws in any circumstances, or;
- If there is any doubt as to the correct procedure to be adopted on any occasion,
- The Executive Committee, having regard for the By-laws in existence may decide the matter and may direct what shall be done in each particular instance or may interpret the By-laws or direct what shall be done in a particular case.
- The correct interpretation of the By-laws shall be decided by the Executive Committee, whose decision shall be final.
- The Riverland Hockey Association clubs, players, officials and spectators are required to abide by both the rules and the spirit of the rules of the game.
- The Executive Committee shall consist of the President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary and Recorder for the time being of the Association.
- FUNDS OF THE ASSOCIATION
- The funds of the Association shall at no time be less than $100.00. Should the balance of the funds of the Association be low at any time, each club shall pay a levy, the amount to be decided upon at a Special General Meeting of the Association.
- Affiliation and registration fees to be reviewed at each Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting as deemed necessary.
- REGULATIONS FOR PLAYERS
NOTE: PENALTY FOR INFRINGEMENT OF RULE 3 SHALL BE A 5-0 FORFEIT
3.1No player shall be allowed to register or play for more than one club affiliated with the Riverland Hockey Association during the season without the consent of the Executive Committee or without the approval of the appropriate clearance.
3.2When one club has more than one team in a grade, that club shall be given the first three rounds to establish their teams. No player shall play for more than one team in a grade or age group without the consent of the Executive Committee.
3.3Under 11/12 players (boys), with a limit of three (per team) may play in an under 14/15 opposite gender (girls) team, only where there are insufficient (under 11) players (girls) available-to a maximum of eleven players named on the scorecard.
3.4Only senior players who have played or are scheduled to play B grade may play A grade in the same round, providing there are no more than eleven players on the A grade card.
3.5Any player who has played or are scheduled to play B grade may also play A grade in the same round provided they do not take to the ground within the first twenty minutes of the A grade game. A maximum of two B grade players only are permitted.
3.6A combination of clause 3.4 and 3.5 is not permitted, unless agreed upon by both coaches prior to the match, and noted and signed on the match card.
3.7Any senior player not already playing under the restrictions of clause 3.4 or 3.5 may be permitted to play more than one match in each round, providing that one match is played exclusively as a goalkeeper, another match played exclusively as a field player.
3.8To qualify for a major round match in any grade, a player must:
3.8.1Be registered and financial within their club.
3.8.2Qualify by playing at least 1/3 of the available minor round games in their age group (Junior players). A junior player can play at a higher level including senior matches at any time, however 3.5 then applies.
3.8.3Have played no less than 1/3 of the available minor round senior matches to qualify for B grade major round but must have played the majority of their senior games in B grade.
3.8.4Have played no less than five minor round senior matches to qualify for A grade major round matches.
3.8.5Players playing under clause 3.4 or 3.5 will only record the B grade game played in that round towards B grade finals qualification.
3.8.6Any player regardless of age, may play in both A grade and B grade final rounds provided clause 3.4 and 3.5 are adhered to.
3.9Any person has the right to address the Executive Committee to be heard, however once a decision has been made and the player and club informed, the case will be considered closed. No right of appeal shall lie or exist.
3.10The age of a participating player is determined on the first of January of the current year.
- REGISTRATION OF PLAYERS
- Once a player has been listed with the recorder, via online registration, that player shall be deemed as registered to that club for two seasons.
- Player registration shall be completed, including juniors, prior to a player taking the field to play.
- Games that are played whilst not registered will not be recorded and will not count towards qualification for major round matches.
- CLEARANCES
- Once a player has been registered with an affiliated club, that player shall not be registered with another affiliated club unless he/she has been granted a clearance from that club.
- A player requiring a clearance shall apply in writing on the appropriate form to the club he/she wishes to play for. The Secretary of that club will obtain the clearance signature of the players’ former club then forward the form to the Secretary of the Association for registration.
- Should the Secretary of the club the player wishes to play for receive no objection within fourteen days of the lodging of the application for clearance, the player shall be deemed to have been registered with the new club on the date the application for registration was submitted.
- Grounds for refusing a clearance by a club or State Association shall be limited to the failure to meet financial obligation or comply with disciplinary ruling by the club or Association.
- Should the club lodge a valid objection to the clearance within the prescribed time (fourteen days), the player shall be notified not to play any further matches with his/her new club until the matter is resolved. The player shall not be deemed to have been unregistered if he/she plays for the new club before having been advised that the application was refused.
- If a club refuses a clearance it shall send to the Secretary, within the prescribed fourteen days, full details of its reasons for such refusal. If the player appeals against such refusal the Independent Authority shall make a final decision on the matter.
- PERMITS
NOTE: PENALTY FOR INFRINGEMENT FOR RULE 6 SHALL BE 5-0 FORFEIT. PENALTIES FOR ANY BREACH OF THE ABOVE REGULATIONS OVER AND ABOVE THE 5-0 FORFEIT MAY BE IMPOLSED BY THE INDEPENDENT AUTHORITY.
6.1Independent Authority
6.1.1The Independent Authority shall consist of not more than two persons as nominated by the Riverland Hockey Association at the commencement of any season.
6.1.2Members of the Independent Authority must not hold membership in any club affiliated with the Riverland Hockey Association or hold membership of the Riverland Hockey Association.
6.1.3Should any member of the Independent Authority be unable (during any season), to continue with their role, the Association shall meet and appoint an alternative member (of the Independent Authority).
6.2Application for a permit
If a permit is required by a club, that club must give notice in writing by 1700 Hrs on the first Monday after the completion of the minor round to the Secretary of the Executive Committee. This notice shall show the name of the player for which the permit is applied for, the team in which the player last played, the team they wish to play for and the reasons in detail for the request.
6.3Grounds for Application for a permit
A player that has not participated in the required number of minor round games to qualify for the major round due to injury (a medical certificate may be required).
A player that has not participated in the required number of minor round games to qualify for the major round due to moving into the region part of the way through the season.
- RULES FOR MATCHES
- Rules can be modified as determined by the committee at committee meetings and advised as per sub document titled Rules Briefing and the season it is covering. The brief is established prior to each season commencing.
- Scorecards
- Scorecards are to be filled out in ink. The team completing the card second is responsible for the scorecard to be handed to the umpires at the commencement of the match.
- Each team is required to write the full name and shirt number of all team members participating in the match, on the card. Goalies shall have a “G” as their number. The team captain must have a “C” placed next to their number. Any player taking the field under clause 3.4 must have the letter “B” placed next to their number. Any player taking the field under clause 3.5 must have the number “20” placed next to their number. Fill-in players must have the letter“F”placed next to the player’s name. Players playing under any permit issued by the executive must have the letter “P” placed next to that next to that player’s name.
- The umpire is to delete the names of any player who does not take the field. The team captains/team officials must check the card and sign it as correct at the completion of the game.
- If the name of a player, with the exception of those taking the field under clause 3.4, 3.5 or 3.7, appears on both the A and B grade cards in the same round, the A grade game the player has played in will be forfeited 5-0.
- The umpire shall not start the game without a complete and up-to-date card. Time lost due to a late start is to be deducted from the total game time.
- At the conclusion of the match the card should show:
(a)A one (“1”) clearly marked against the name of each player for each goal they score.
(b)The final score of each team.
(c)The signature of both team captains/team officials and both officiating umpires to signify the card details are true and correct.
(d)On the card shall be marked:
the name of the player
the type of card issued
the offence committed
the name of the umpire imposing the penalty of any offences that occur during the match
7.2.7The score card must be able to be read (as determined by the RHA recorder).
7.2.8Score cards reported as missing by the Riverland Hockey Association Recorder must be received by 1700Hrs on the Friday of the following week.
7.2.9Best and Fairest vote cards from umpires reported as missing by the Riverland Hockey Association Recorder must be received by 1700Hrs on the Friday of the following week.
7.3 Penalties:
a) A team or teams failing to complete the required details on the score card will be penalised by a $10.00 fine for each incomplete card, payable by each offending team or club, with the exception of ifthe name of a player taking part in a match does not appear on the score card prior to the commencement of the second half, the offending team will be penalised with a 5-0 loss in place of a $10.00 fine.
b) A score card on which details are deemed to be unable to be read under rule 7.2.7 will incur a penalty of a $10.00 fine, payable by the playing teams club.
c) A score card on which scoring details are deemed to be unable to be read under rule 7.2.7 will incur a penalty of a $10.00 fine, payable by the umpires club who recorded scores for that match.
d) Score cards not received under rule 7.2.8 will result in a nil-all draw.
e) Best and Fairest cards not received under rule 7.2.9 will result in votes awarded not being included in cumulative Best and Fairest voting.
8. Uniform and Equipment
8.1 All clubs shall register club uniforms with the recording officer prior to the first game. Any proposed uniform changes must be presented to the Association for review 12-months prior to ordering to allow any clashes with similar uniforms to be identified and resolved.
8.2 Players must wear the official team uniform.
8.3 Goalkeepers must wear a uniform contrasting with that of their team-mates and that of the opposing team.
8.4 All players of the same team except the goalkeeper must wear the same uniform.
8.5 Each player must wear a legible number on the back of the shirt of the uniform.
8.6 No two players shall wear the same number. The shirt number of each player shall be recorded against his/her name on the card.
8.7 An umpire may not allow an incorrectly attired or incorrectly equipped player to take part in any match.
8.8 Captains:
8.9.1 One player of each team must be appointed as captain
8.9.2 A replacement captain must be appointed when a captain is suspended.
8.9.3 Captains must have a “C” written by their number on the card.
8.8.4 Captains are responsible for the behaviour of all players, coaches and supporters of their team and for ensuring that substitutions of players on their team are carried out correctly.
8.8.5 A personal penalty is awarded if a captain does not exercise these responsibilities.
9. Games
9.1 Play shall start no later than five minutes after scheduled starting time. Any team which is not ready to play at the discretion of the umpires shall forfeit the match, unless it is handicapped by the absence of player(s) officiating as an umpire.
9.2 In the event of the appointed umpire(s) not arriving at the game within five minutes of the starting time, respective captains shall appoint an umpire.
9.3 In the event of the appointed umpire(s) not arriving within five minutes of the starting time, refer to by-law fifteen for applicable fines.
9.4 In the event of a team commencing a game without eleven players, such players shall be allowed to take their place on the field. All names are to be written on the card by the commencement of the second half of that game.
10. Forfeits
10.1 A club intending to forfeit a match shall, where possible, notify the opposing teams coach and Club Secretary of those clubs supplying umpires.
10.2 After play has commenced:
10.2.1 A match cannot be forfeited.
10.2.2 A match can only be abandoned upon the agreement of the two captains and umpires officiating. The score at the time of the abandonment shall be recorded as the final result.
10.2.3 Play may be transferred to another field, if necessary, both captains and umpires must agree.
10.3 Postponement of matches can only occur due to bad weather or unsuitable fields, not because of the inability to field a team.
10.4 Postponed matches shall be played at the discretion of the Executive Committee.
10.5 If two opposing teams both forfeit, neither shall be credited with any premiership points.
11. Interchange Players
NOTE: PENALTY FOR INFRINGEMENT OF RULE 11 SHALL BE A 5-0 FORFEIT
11.1 Up to five players may be substitutes. These players may be interchanged during the course of the match. No restriction applies to U11/12 mixed teams.
12. Match Duration
12.1 U11, 12, 13, 14, 15 boys and girls - 25 minute halves
U16, 17, 18 boys and girls - 30 minute halves
Senior men and women - 35 minute halves
13. Finals
13.1 If, at the conclusion of any Semi-final of Preliminary final, the score is equal, the team placed higher on the premiership ladder shall be declared the winner.
13.2 If, at the conclusion of any Grand Final,the score is equal, then extra time shall be played. After five minutes rest, the teams will change ends and the extension of time shall consist of:
13.2.1 U11, 12, 13, 14 boys and girls or mixed – Two x five minutes to be played under sudden death conditions, i.e. the team to score first shall be the winner. If still drawn at the completion of extra time, the premiership is shared.
13.2.2 U15, 16 boys and girls – Two x ten minutes to be played under sudden death conditions, i.e. the team to score first shall be the winner. If time is still drawn at the completion of extra time, a penalty shoot-out shall be played (refer to section 14).
13.2.3 U17/18 men and women, Senior men and women – Two x ten minutes to be played under sudden death conditions, i.e. the team to score first shall be the winner. If still drawn at the completion of extra time, a penalty shoot-out shall be played (refer to section 14).
14. Penalty Shoot-Out Competition
14.1 Five players from each of the two teams, chosen by their respective captains, but excluding any player who has been fully suspended by an umpire during the game, shall take a penalty shoot-out alternatively against the goalkeeper of the opposing team (unless the latter has been incapacitated and replaced), making a total of ten penalty shoot-outs - five for each team.
14.2 The umpires shall choose the goal to be used and then shall toss a coin with the captains to decide which team shall take the first penalty shoot-out. The team having been awarded the highest number of goals shall be the winner.
14.3In a penalty shoot-out the ball shall be placed on the centre of the 25 yard line and the attacker as ten seconds from the time the umpire blows the whistle to score a goal. The goalkeeper shall stand on the goal line and remain there until the striker moves. The striker shall not commence the shoot-out until the umpire is satisfied both players are ready and has blown the whistle. The play continues until a goal has been scored, the ball has been cleared out of play or over the back line (including deliberately) or a breach has occurred by either player or ten seconds has expired. A rule breach by the goalkeeper will result in a penalty goal being awarded. A rule breach by the attacker will result in no goal being awarded.