As a county hockey association, Nottinghamshire have been approached by a number of ladies hockey clubs/teams to voice their concerns regarding the allocation of teams based in the Northeast region of the Midlands leagues into Southeast divisions for the 2023-24 season, and to write to you in order that you might fully understand the potential consequences, as they see them.
We understand that league matters are an area responsibility but, as a county hockey association, at no stage have we been informed, consulted, or involved in this matter, so the details outlined below are a consolidation of information provided to us by those clubs.
We also understand that the density and standards of clubs and teams in the Northeast region of the area makes divisional allocation difficult, as it has historically in the men’s game, but to believe the assumption that the environments around the men’s and ladies’ game off the pitch, especially in areas of availability and ability to travel, are the same, is, in our opinion, a potentially dangerous one from a playing numbers perspective.
Their first concern was the invitation to a clubs’ forum, apparently sent to clubs earlier in the year (as we were not invited, we cannot confirm this) where, we have been told, this subject was subsequently discussed. Of the clubs that have contacted us, over 50% say this invite was not received. There are also indications from the remainder that the subjects to be discussed were not indicated, thus its importance was not fully inferred. We, and the clubs, are mostly volunteers with full time jobs and family commitments, so, if this is the case, we believe that full disclosure of items to be discussed and therefore their importance should, in our opinion, be shared in advance to all potential participants.
Moving on from this, the ladies’ teams in question cite the following issues this upcoming season will almost undoubtedly bring them if the divisional allocation remain as is.
- A major decision around the reallocation of divisions is supposed to have been minimising travel, but investigations by one concerned club into their away travel (and associated costs) this will increase by approximately 300-400%. With the cost-of-living crisis in full swing, for the smaller clubs this will almost certainly be unsustainable.
- The teams are populated by women who enjoy playing hockey, but, as they juggle playing alongside other family commitments, generally cannot justify a full day for hockey, limiting the time available for travel.
- They are also, in many cases, partners of hockey players who may also be trying to juggle playing and family commitments on a Saturday.
- They generally have a disproportionate number of junior/non-driver members meaning that the away travel will almost certainly become the responsibility of the same, few members every time.
- A large number of involved juniors also have school etc. on a Saturday which limits their availability to travel.
- Teams will therefore ultimately be selected based on availability to travel, rather than playing standard and, for some small clubs, matches forfeited completely.
Because of this allocation there is a real feeling that some teams, and in some cases, whole clubs, could become unviable.
There has been mention of a ‘small/ single team clubs forum’ being hosted by EH recently, at which “community hockey and supporting the diversity of local leagues by supporting the smaller single team clubs” was discussed and declared a priority. This divisional allocation does not appear to be supporting that. There is also concern about the environment and sustainability, by adding such extended travelling at these lower playing levels.
We are supposed to be increasing the hockey playing family, this would, on the face of it, appear to be having the opposite effect. History has shown us that when a club folds, only approximately half of its playing members move on to other clubs. This does appear to be penalising Nottinghamshire clubs for their successes in increasing participation with the penalty appearing to be it is likely to subsequently reduce it. Why should clubs continue to try and grow when they appear to be penalised? Could perhaps the lowest Northeast tier (mainly populated by development teams) be a six-team division where everyone plays each other home and away twice?
We are also concerned with the timing of the structure release. Whilst we realise that the AGM is not necessarily the forum for these types of discussion, the timing of its release does not allow the required 14 days’ notice for it to be included as ‘Any Other Business’.
We hope you take the time to consider these points, along with all the other responses we feel you may have received directly around this reorganisation and try to address some of these concerns before grass roots hockey becomes less varied because of the disappearance of small and single gender clubs. These are the clubs which give the game a diverse nature and a different entry into the game for many young, and low ability individuals who just want to play for fun. Many also serve communities outside of the cities but which therefore by nature leave them big travel distances already without having to pass several teams of similar ability to reach their allocated fixtures.
Hockey for all is crucial for the game to grow.
We do hope that the above information has indicated just how desperate some clubs are envisaging this forthcoming season and hope that some further compromise on divisional allocation in the Northeast region of the area can be considered.
Best regards
Jon Lane & Gareth Parr
Hon. Chair & Secretary Nottinghamshire Hockey Association
On behalf of Nottinghamshire Clubs
