Received by e-mail: Mon, 15 Feb 2010
Folks
Very sorry to do this, but with the backlog of league matches and some 1st round Plate matches not having been played yet...I am having to take the decision to put before the Ulster Hockey Board to leave this season's Plate competition uncompleted....there are not enough weeks to finish both Plate and League ...pitches are already being used midweek for previously cancelled league matches and there are not enough pitches to allow Plate and League to both be played......also many Ladies teams have schoolgirls playing late evening matches....for the league they will be already playing midweek and I don't wish any more midweek matches than necessary...they impinge on the whole club with cancellation of training and Junior sections.
From this week onwards (20 Feb) the Plates begin to need to cancell league matches, this will only increase the backlog...(there are always 2 rounds set aside for the Plates and Cups , and then those teams that should be at quarter final stage (max 8) have to re-arrange matches), unfortunately this year that has not happened and rather than quarter finals we are still at 1st Round.
I will follow this up this evening with full confirmation, I just wanted many of you informed as to this problem before you leave work (in case it is work e-mail you are using) I have informed Angela Platt, who will put my application to the emergency Board Members, but I do not forsee any way of getting Plate matches played within a reasonable time frame.
Thank you all for your hard work and perserverance and my apologies for this decision.
Ann Shiels
(Hon Match Secretary)
13.1 Mandatory Experimental Rule
Location of a free hit:
a A free hit is taken close to where the offence occurred
‘Close to’ means within playing distance of where the offence occurred and with no significant
advantage gained.The location from which a free hit is taken must be more precise inside the 23 metres area.
b A free hit awarded within 5 metres of the circle to the attack is taken at the nearest point 5 metres from the circle
c A free hit awarded outside the circle to the defence within 15 metres of the back-line is taken up to
15 metres from the back-line in line with the location of the offence, parallel to the side-line
d A free hit awarded inside the circle to the defence is taken anywhere inside the circle or up to 15 metres from the back-line in line with the location of the offence, parallel to the side-line.
13.2 Mandatory Experimental Rule
Procedures for taking a free hit, centre pass and putting the ball back into play after it has been outside the field :
a The ball must be stationary
b Opponents must be at least 5 metres from the ball
If an opponent is within 5 metres of the ball, they must not interfere with the taking of the free hit or
must not play or attempt to play the ball. If this player is not playing the ball, attempting to play the ball or influencing play, the free hit need not be delayed.
c When a free hit is awarded to the attack within the 23 metres area, all players other than the player taking the free hit must be at least 5 metres from the ball
d The ball is moved using a push or hit
e The ball must not be raised intentionally directly from the free hit
f If the player taking the free hit is the next player to play the ball, the actions of taking the free hit and of next playing the ball must be two separate actions
g Before another player of the team which took the free hit is allowed to play the ball, the ball must move at least 1 metre
The ball does not have to move 1 metre before the player taking the free hit may play the ball again.
h From a free hit awarded to the attack within the 23 metres area, the ball must not be played into the
circle until it has travelled at least 5 metres or has been touched by a player of either team other than the player taking the free hit.
If the player taking the free hit continues to play the ball (ie no other player has yet played it) :
– that player may play the ball any number of times, but
– the ball must travel at least 5 metres, before
– that player plays the ball into the circle by hitting or pushing the ball again.
Alternatively :
– another player of either team who can legitimately play the ball must deflect, hit or
push the ball before it enters the circle, or – after this player has touched the ball, it can
be played into the circle by any other player including the player who took the free hit.
All parts of Rule 13.2 apply as appropriate to a free hit, centre pass and putting the ball back into
play after it has been outside the field.
Roger Webb
Secretary,
Hockey Rules Board