A notice has been sent to everyone's personal area for those umpires involved or maybe involved in IHL 2.

There is a written rule within ALL Irish Competitions that HOME clubs must provide post-match hospitality, including a post-match meal, to visiting match officials who are travelling from another province.

HOWEVER - Please do your utmost during all pre-match communication to advise the HOME club that you are travelling from another province, if that is the case and ask if a post-meal was being provided. It will be very helpful to the home club and will ensure that everything runs smoothly and you are 'catered' for!

Please don't feel embarrassed about making this known or asking as the home club is unlikely to know where you are travelling from, on many occasions.

Here are a few reminders before the Cup Competition matches this weekend: -

*The home club MUST contact BOTH UMPIRES to confirm arrangements by 8.00pm on the Monday prior to the match. Travel arrangements, time of departure and any pick-up requirements should be confirmed.

*Home clubs must provide post-match hospitality, including a post-match meal, to visiting match officials where travel is from outside of the home Branch.

(Failure to comply with the above should be reported to irish.umpires@gmail.com ASAP).

Duration of matches: Matches are of 70 minutes duration (2 x 35 min). There is no extra time.

In the event of a match ending in a draw after 70 mins a Shootout competition will take place under FIH rules (see below). The home side must provide a time keeper (See Appendix A on the attached Rules & Regulations).

Maximum of 18 players provided two fully kitted goalkeepers are included & present. If fewer than two fully kitted goalkeepers present, then ...

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Two new documents published by the FIH on 1st June 2018 have been added to the Irish HUA Information Section under 'FIH Information and Guidance'.

The 'Grading of International Officials' shows the new FIH panel structure. Note: the FIH has placed all FIH international umpires into a specific panel - this can be viewed on their website.

The 'Guidelines for Fitness of FIH Umpires' shows the new fitness testing standard required for all umpires for their respective panels. Note: the fitness levels are no longer representative of age!

The Irish Hockey Umpires Association (IHUA) remains seriously concerned about the shortage of qualified umpires and the general acceptance of this ever deepening problem. IHUA has therefore launched its 4 Year Plan, in conjunction with the Provincial Umpire Associations/Working Groups, for umpiring at both national and provincial level and this framework document provides a number of strategies for addressing the current crisis in respect of the recruitment and retention of umpires at all ages.

We recognise the substantial umpiring problems that continue to exist particularly with our provincial umpiring colleagues week to week. It was therefore vital that any national umpiring strategy had the involvement and support of our provincial colleagues and we welcome their contribution to the final product.

The strategic objectives outlined in our 4 Year Plan basically provide us with an essential foundation for moving forward with hope. However, IHUA and the Umpire Associations ...

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