1. IRISH HOCKEY LEAGUE – Full Season Option
Stakeholder Consultation – Leinster Variation
February 2014

2. Content Provincial League Considerations Key Issues
Background/Purpose of this paper
Key Stakeholders
Full IHL Key Considerations
Regional Representation
Promotion/Relegation
European Qualification
Logistics/Scheduling
Ulster/Munster Logistics
Provincial League Considerations
Key Issues
Summary – Key Points
Appendix 1

3. Background/ Purpose Background
IHL Working Group (IHLWG) are reviewing format of IHL
IHLWG are exploring possible full IHL as part of strategic review
IHLWG are seeking feedback /views from key stakeholders (including Branches/Clubs/Players/Umpires) via a process of consultation (see Appendix 1 for process and progress so far)
Purpose of this paper is to:
Inform on what a full IHL might look like
Provide a “framework” to allow debate on key considerations including impact on Provincial Branch leagues
Continue the dialogue to gather input on wider implications of any move to a full IHL

4. Key Stakeholders – High Level View of Full Season IHL (1)4

5. Key Stakeholders – High Level View of Full Season IHL (2)

6. Full Season IHL Format How might this look like/ fit together?

7. Full IHL – some key considerations (1)
1. Regional representation –based on current approach
Men & Women – Ulster (5) Leinster (5) Munster (2) = 12 Teams
12 Teams = 22 games in season ; 11 home / 11 away* (see next slide)
*Most away out of province games are day trips except for
Ulster/Munster/Connacht (decision on Connacht women required)
2. IHL Promotion /relegation – same Regional representation maintained?
Option:- Club finishing lowest from each Province in IHL has some form of “Regional IHL Play Off” with play off format to be decided e.g.
Play-off with (own) Provincial League winner
Play-off Tournament with top 3 in Provincial League etc

8. 8

9. Full IHL – some key considerations (2)
3. European Qualification: (Options)
IHL winner takes top Irish spot or……
IHL winner guaranteed at least 2nd spot and……..
- some form of end of season Irish Championship (top 3-4 IHL teams?) with winner of this taking top Irish European spot
- suggestion that winner of Irish Senior Cup also plays in the Championship and therefore retains route to European Competition
4. IHL Review period – if introduced - reviewed after 2 years or 3?
5. Logistics/Scheduling /Club costs
- Leinster Clubs are well situated geographically for Ulster/Munster travel
- main logistical issue would be Ulster Vs Munster/Connacht matches
- double weekends would be required
Example: 4-6 double weekends for Ulster/Munster then could widen to
entire schedule so 22 matches are actually played over weekends for all to ensure season moves forward in sync/ ease fixture congestion? (see sample schedule Appendix 2)

10. Ulster/Munster Logistics – via Double weekends

11. Full IHL - Provincial League Impact?

12. Provincial Leagues – IHL Impact - Opportunity to realign
Any move to a full IHL will require Leinster Branch leagues to realign as (5) Leinster teams join IHL
Initial consultation held with Leinster Leagues representatives in December
Feedback indicates that if a full season IHL were to proceed then a full review of the leagues will be required to agree criteria/structure for “new” Division 1 and knock on effects on rest of leagues

13. Provincial Leagues – Opportunity to realign -example

14. IHL – Some key issues recognised – to be mitigated

15. Summary – Key Points
22 IHL games/season (compares to existing c.18 Provincial League games + 5 IHL games Rounds 1-5) with end of season Championship
Full IHL provides a more (season long) competitive programme for top Irish Club hockey
Allows opportunity to realign/rebalance Provincial leagues
Provides opportunity to create a clear pathway to IHL from Provincial Leagues – “Regional IHL Play-Offs”
Decongests the annual IHA and Provincial Calendar as fewer weekends (see sample calendar Appendix 2)
The issue of costs /time/travel recognised but with appropriate scheduling can be mitigated

16. Appendix 1 – Full IHL Consultation Process
No.
Step
By When
Completed 1
IHLWG to each Branch outlining the planned engagement and seeking confirmation on the person(s) from the provincial Competitions Committee that are to be included in the process.
Ensure that Branch Executive Committees are aware of the process being followed and have their nominated people involved
8-Nov 2
National Coaches input to be gathered
22-Nov 3
Nominations /names of Competitions person(s) received from each Province 4
IHL WG to meet separately with each Province to work through an outline proposal and take detailed input from the Provinces to shape the proposal.
May be one or more meetings in each Province.
25-Jan 5
IHL WG to meet separately with IHA Umpires Association to gather input
25- Jan
Proposal to be pulled together and schedule for local Provincial fora drawn up
1-Feb 6
Open fora to be held in each Province, led jointly by IHL WG and the Provincial Competitions person(s)
Important that Provincial representative involved to cover the detail of any knock on local impact
1-Mar
Current stage 7
IHLWG Finalise proposal following Provincial fora feedback
15-Mar 8
Proposal sent to the IHA Board for consideration
1-Apr 9
IHA Board Decision
30-Apr

17. Illustrative Calendar Appendix 2 2013/14 this season
Yellow is branch league, blue is IHA competition
Versus
Same year, showing an IHL program and a branch league (pink) 17

18. Questions / Next Steps