National Leagues Summary of AGM feedback and further proposals

Top 4 Play Offs Clubs did not want one off games at any stage Clubs wanted a round robin format Clubs wanted league winner after 18 games and lowest European qualification place Clubs wanted dispensation early season for tournaments

Marketing and Sponsorship Perspective Hockey in Scotland requires vibrant, exciting, entertaining domestic competitions and events to sell to sponsors, media and spectators. Without this, the sport will struggle to attract any commercial investment, media buy- in or spectator interest. Friday Night Lights are not compulsory, but significant advantages to the clubs, e.g. bar revenue, senior players free on Saturday to coach, rest of club players able to watch first team, increase interest from other clubs who can also watch. A two-leg semi-final and final play-off format is exciting, entertaining and keeps people talking and interested, including players, coaches, media and sponsors, until the LAST games of the season (nobody was drifting off into mid-season slumber last season). A two leg SF means home clubs potentially have an event to sell to their members, sponsors, local media, etc. Possibility of clubs deciding to field weakened teams or not to compete in play-offs if league title decided after 18 games and Europe not a consideration.

Round Robin means probability of no fixed event i.e. no Grand Final/Relegation Decider over a weekend, which equals damp-squib dead rubbers and no event to sell to spectators, sponsors and media League title after 18 games devalues play-offs product as a selling proposition to sponsors, media and spectators. Creates possibility of rapid diminishing interest, especially if round robin. We need a league sponsor now; uncertainty and turbulence creates little confidence among sponsors in the sport as a potential investment. We are continuing to seek means of funding regular broadcast of hockey, including play-offs. Something that was a real success last season. A round-robin format with no event would make this incredibly difficult.

Summary of ‘AGM’ format Advantages Every league game counts Could do one home tie and one away tie before central venue for final games Disadvantages Round robin is in fact a one off match against each team No final event if games don’t go to seedings Could be over before final game Teams may settle for just getting into top 4 knowing they play each other again Availability of international players through the season

Proposal 1 v 4 (A) and 2 v 3 (B) in best of 2 Winner of A v winner of B in best of 2 at the GNHC League winner get a Euro spot only Advantages Prize for winning the league Play offs with lots to play for Minimise a big prize going to a team that may have won due to availability of international players We have an event to the last day although the last game could be meaningless if the previous day was a big win Clubs with facilities have a big game at home

Bottom 4 and Top 2 Division 2 Clubs did not want one off games at any stage Clubs wanted a round robin format 5 th and 6 th finish their season at that point Clubs wanted division 2 winner promoted (agreed) Clubs wanted bottom of division 1 relegated (agreed ) Advantages By having 5 th and 6 th safe, teams not in top 4 will play hard for these positions (agreed) Could do one home tie and one away tie before central venue for final games Disadvantages Round robin is in fact a one off match against each team Example - if games go to seedings then the final match will be a one off game between 9 th and 2 nd in div 2 No final event if games don’t go to seedings Could be over before final game Teams will settle for just getting into 7,8,9 if out of top 6

Proposal 7 v 2 nd div 2 (A) and 8 v 9 (B) in best of 2 Loser of A v loser of B (C) in best of 2 at the GNHC Loser of C is relegated Advantages No one off games We have an event to the last day although the last game could be meaningless if the previous day was a big win Clubs with facilities have a big game at home No settling for any position within 7,8,9 so less meaningless games through the season

Dispensation Clubs are given dispensation once for early season top level tournaments No dispensation given for indoor league, cup quarters onwards and play offs Application for dispensation needs to be made by 14 th July Dispensation for weddings need to be made 4 months in advance Rearranged game needs to be played before the fixture date and on one of the slip dates Dispensation for funerals at the CEM discretion