A STRUCTURE FIT FOR THE FUTURE

For information about the scheduled changes to domestic Adult Competition for 2021/22 ‘A Structure Fit for the Future’ please click here

Hockey Wales have 3 Men’s and 3 Women’s Outdoor Club Cup Competitions.

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All 6 competitions are tiered with teams who play in the top league divisions eligible to enter the Championship competition, teams who play in the middle league divisions eligible to enter the Trophy competition and teams who play in the lower league divisions eligible to play in the Challenge competition.

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In the Women’s competitions, clubs can enter as many eligible teams as they have in each tier, whilst in the Men’s competition, clubs can only enter one eligible team per tier.

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The Trophy and Challenge competitions start with regional pool rounds - four teams, from each competition, qualify for knock-out semi-finals.

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The Women’s Championship is a traditional knock-out competition - the teams are not seeded but are all entered into an open draw, often travelling the length and breadth of the country to play.

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The Men’s Championship has fewer eligible clubs - our highest ranked England Hockey (National) League team, automatically qualifies for the final, whilst the other eligible teams play in a round robin league, with the winner taking the other place in the final.

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As well as the prestige of winning the Championship, the teams in the finals are also playing for a place in Europe

Hockey Wales have two entries in EuroHockey competitions - the first European Qualifying place will go to the top placed National League team and the second place will go to the winner of the Championship (or the runner-up if the winner is the same team as the top placed National League team).

In addition to the outdoor cup competitions, HW also have a Men’s and a Women’s Indoor Cup Competition.

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The finals can involve a maximum of 6 Men’s and 6 Women’s teams, all of whom have qualified via regional competitions.

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The Cup Winners are invited to represent Wales in the following season’s EuroHockey Indoor competitions.

Club teams are invited to participate in the HW Masters Finals, usually played at the end of the domestic season.

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This competition is for players aged 35+ (women) and 40+ (men) and is probably one of the most keenly contested, and enjoyable weekends of the season.

Ahead of the 2021/22 season, England Hockey is undertaking a restructure of domestic league hockey which will directly impact Welsh clubs that participate, particularly in what was previously called the North Hockey League, North West Hockey League, Cheshire Womens Hockey League, Midlands Hockey League, Verde Recreo Hockey League and West Womens Hockey League.

North Wales Womens Hockey League have opted to run independently of the England Hockey structure and will continue to operate independently outside of this within their own league structure in the North of the country.

South Wales Womens Hockey League will form part of the new England Hockey structure, retaining the format that clubs are familiar with. More information about this will be provided when the new league structure is circulated in the coming weeks.

Hockey Wales has been working simultaneously with England Hockey throughout this process to ensure that the needs of Welsh clubs are appropriately met within the implementation of the new Adult League structure – the section of the Structure Fit for the Future that will directly impact Welsh Clubs. Other elements such as Juniors, Schools, Masters, Cup Competitions and Officiating will remain the responsibility of Hockey Wales.

A number of consultation sessions have been undertaken nationwide over the last 12 months which have contributed to an ongoing, working relationship between England Hockey and Hockey Wales that intends to provide the most suitable, and fit for purpose Adult league structure as possible.

For further information on this topic, please visit the England Hockey website.

Following a club consultation session delivered to South Wales Mens Clubs on 23rd February, Hockey Wales and England Hockey have produced the attached FAQ’s document which is intended to provide some more information about the restructure.

If you would like further information on A Structure Fit for the Future and how it may impact you and/or your club, please contact development@hockeywales.org.uk