News and Announcements

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As of Jan. 1, 2015, the Vancouver Island Ladies Field Hockey Association (VILFHA) will be adopting the newly-announced changes and additions to the rules as outlined by the International Hockey Federation (FIH). As per the VILFHA Christmas Council Meeting, on Dec. 8, VILFHA has agreed to adopt the new rules beginning January 2015.

An OPEN rules briefing and education session will be held on both Jan. 5 and 8. All existing umpires must attend one of the sessions, while it also strongly encouraged for team captains and any VILFHA members to also attend. This will be a gradual learning process for everyone involved and the more people that attend a briefing, the quicker the education process.

WHAT: 2015 Rules Briefing
WHEN: January 5 and 8, 2015 from 7-9 p.m.
WHERE: Pacific Institute for Sport Excellence (PISE), Room 329A (4371 Interurban Road)
WHO: Lead by Chris Wilson

Please review the latest rule change publication PRIOR to attending the session here:
http://www.fih.ch/files/Sport/Umpires/2015%20FIH%20Umpires%20Briefing%20V1%20as%20at%2016%20December%202014.pdf

Please direct any questions prior to the session to Denise McGeachy at denise.mcgeachy@gmail.com

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Long-time Victoria native, team Canada standout, UBC Grad and Oak Bay field hockey club member Shelley Winter Andrews is one of many great names to be inducted into the BC Sports Hall of Fame in May 2015. Andrews joins speed skater Denny Morrison, NHL all-star Paul Kariya, wheelchair rugby star Garrett Hickling, middle distance runner Leah Pells and the 2012 women’s soccer team who won bronze at the London Olympics, for the class of 2015.

Going into the Hall as builders are baseball’s John Haar and Denny Veitch, who was co-founder of the Vancouver Whitecaps and who spearheaded amateur football development in B.C. while an assistant general manager and later general manager of the Lions. J. P. McConnell, long-time radio voice of the B.C. Lions, will be inducted into the media wing.

Following an outstanding Oak Bay high school career in Victoria, BC, where she was selected the school’s outstanding athlete of 1971, Shelley played five years with the UBC field hockey team from 1971/72 until 1975/76. ‘Bim’ Schrodt was her coach the first three years while Gerry Gilmore coached her last two. In four of those five years UBC was Canada West champion in large part through the work and skill of Shelley Winter. With UBC in 72/73, she was the Vancouver Field Hockey Assn. MVP (Watson Trophy) the same year she was awarded the Joan Livesey Memorial Sportsmanship Award. In her final year at UBC, 1976, Shelley was presented the Marilyn Pomfret trophy as UBC’s Female Athlete of the Year. Her UBC teammates remember her as an “incredible athlete” and a “quiet leader.” She was “very reliable, hard working with a good attitude.”

In addition to leading UBC in both Canada West and City League competition, Shelley was embarking upon an impressive career as a player on Canada’s National Field Hockey team. Starting while at UBC in 1975 through to 1986, Winter was selected to play on Canada’s team each of those twelve years. She is one of only three women in Canadian field hockey history (and the only one from BC) to play more than ten years for Canada’s team – her 12 years being more than twice as many as the next highest UBC representative. She also has the distinction of being the first Canadian female player to appear in more than 100 international test matches.

Well into the 2000s she was still playing club hockey in Victoria, where she had been a league All-Star every year since 1976 and five times selected the league’s outstanding player. Andrews was also inducted in to the UBC Sports Hall of Fame in 2003.

Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/Denny+Morrison+Paul+Kariya+headline+call+Sports+Hall/10460390/story.html#ixzz3LcY6Gssy

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FIH has published the latest Rules of Hockey agreed at the Executive Board meeting at the FIH Congress on 30th October 2014. They are available for worldwide adoption and effective at international level from 1st January 2015. The two Rule changes are as follows:

• The ability to take attacking free hits, awarded within 5 metres of the edge of the circle, from the point of the offence. The change states that the ball still has to travel at least 5 metres before it can be played into the circle, or alternatively has to be touched by another player of either team, other than the player taking the free hit

• The second change concerns the re-start, after the ball has unintentionally been played over the back-line by a defender or deflected by a goalkeeper or player with goalkeeping privileges, and no goal is scored. Play will now be re-started with the ball on the 23 metres line and in line with where it crossed the back-line. Taking the re-start from the 23 metres line will open up the play and give more passing options

Other rule changes to help improve player safety have also been made, including the rules governing the wearing of facemasks to defend penalty corners which have been amended to increase player safety. A wider range of masks, including metal grill masks, will now be allowed to be used.

As part of FIH’s drive to increase following and create entertaining events, FIH is aligning the Rules of Hockey with the Tournament Regulations that govern playing conditions wherever possible. The aim of this move is to reduce the number of variations between the Rules of Hockey and the Tournament Regulations, avoiding unnecessary confusion for players and fans alike.

The latest Rules of Hockey will incorporate the following Tournament Regulations:

1. Green Card – two minute suspension
The two minute green card will now provide an additional management aid to umpires at all levels

2. Stick above the shoulder
The skill adds another dimension to the sport and provides excitement for fans and players alike

3. Maximum length of Stick
The length of stick, as measured from the top of the stick to the bottom of the head, shall not be more than 105cm

4. Breaking of a Penalty Corner
The breaking at penalty corners Regulation has effected a significant reduction in the number of breaks at Tournaments, by both attackers and defenders

In general, all current Tournament Regulations governing playing conditions have been adopted into the Rules of Hockey with the exception of regulations that require specialist equipment or officials that might not be available at all hockey pitches. These currently include Match Periods (4 × 15 Minute Quarters and time stoppages for the award of Penalty Corners and Goals), the Penalty Corner Countdown Clock and Video Umpire, which will only be used at FIH World level Tournaments where the contracted full television coverage and facilities enable a viable system.

FIH CEO Kelly Fairweather explains the approach: “FIH is taking this action to remove unnecessary confusion for fans, players, coaches and officials. Our ambition is a global game that is relevant to the next generation and to achieve this ambition we must make it as easy as possible for fans to be fans and for players to enjoy playing”.

For a full overview of all changes and to view the FIH Rules of Hockey, please visit: http://www.fih.ch/files/Sport/Rules/FIH-Rules%20of%20Hockey%202015-interactif.pdf

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Several members of Field Hockey Victoria were honoured at the Annual Field Hockey BC Awards ceremony this November. Former UVic Vike Danielle Hennig was named the Senior Female Player of the Year, while Claremont graduate and Lynx member Kristina Walters-Shumka was named Under 18 Female Athlete of the Year. Cowichan Secondary and Flickers team member Sara Goodman was named Under 15 Female Player of the Year, while several other members of the community were honoured including Gail Williams with the Barbara Schrodt Award, Harbir Sidhu, as a member of the 2014 Youth Olympics Silver medallist team, and Cowichan contributors Heather Goodman and Anne Smith.

For a full list of Award winners visit:
http://fieldhockeybc.com/Home/FHBCAwards/FHBCAnnualAwards/AnnualAwards2010/tabid/545/Default.aspx

For a full list of Volunteer Recognition Awards visit:
http://fieldhockeybc.com/Home/FHBCAwards/VolunteerRecognitionAwards/VolunteerAwards2010/tabid/547/Default.aspx

Vancouver Island Winners:

Kristina Walters-Shumka, U18 Female Player of the Year
Kristina’s Team BC Coach writes, “Kristina was our unsung hero. She showed the ability to play as part of a team, and as an individual to be able to influence the game. She showed her professionalism to work hard at each and every practice, even after the long ferry rides from the Island. She led by example and was extremely coachable. In the National Championship final, Kristina controlled the backfield as wave after wave of the opposition attacked while making critical interceptions and tackles. Kristina was a credit to her team and fully deserves this recognition as U-18 Female Player of the year.”

It is Field Hockey BC’s pleasure to announce Kristina as this year’s U-18 Female Player of the Year.
This Award was presented along with a $300 clothing voucher from Kukri Sports Canada.

Sara Goodman, U15 Female Player of the Year
Sara was a leader for the Under 15 BC Blue team that captured Silver medal at this year’s U16 National Championship. Her Team BC Coach writes, ‘Sara is a young athlete who leads by example, has a competitive drive, excellent work rate, and a team first mentality. This helped bring the team together both on and off the field. She continually asks for feedback and understands there is always more work to be done. Sara fully deserves this recognition as Under 15 Female Player of the Year’.
It is Field Hockey BC’s pleasure to announce Sara as this year’s U-15 Female Player of the year.
This Award was presented along with a $300 clothing voucher from Kukri Sports Canada.

Gail Williams, Barbara Schrodt Award
The Barbara Schrodt Award is presented to Gail Williams for 2014 and is an award presented to “someone who has made a difference to women’s field hockey in BC”.

Over the last 6 years, Gail has been technical advisor, judge, officer and director for a multitude of local, regional, provincial, and national events across BC. Technical officiating across the World is still very much a voluntary occupation and Field Hockey BC is extremely fortunate to have a number of dedicated and extremely knowledgeable technical officials. Gail is one of a team of individuals committed to giving of their time to create a first-class environment for athletes and their coaches to play and compete. It is fitting that Gail follows other technical officials that have been honored to receive this award.

Field Hockey BC is proud to recognise the commitment Gail has given and continues to give athletes and coaches in the competitive arena.

Heather Goodman, Volunteer Recognition Award
Heather is one of the busiest people we know with an incredible ability to manage multiple Field Hockey BC programs at the same time on the Island. Heather was involved with both Regional and Provincial Programs as a manager last season and has daughters in the Learn to Train, Train to Train and Train to Compete stages!

Heather is a crucial resource for Field Hockey BC as she answers numerous questions from families, sorts out logistics, sends out clear communication, takes beautiful action shots and makes time for the small things that make a big difference. Heather is a perennial champion, we are so lucky to have the opportunity to work with her and we hope in some small way this award shows our gratitude for everything she does.

Anne Smith, Volunteer Recognition Award
Anne has been an active player and junior coach with Cowichan Field Hockey for many years. Anne was our indoor junior coordinator and has been the clubs secretary and registrar for over 5 years – which is a huge undertaking! If we need a volunteer, Anne is there. She has helped on countless committees and at junior, ladies, and indoor tournaments. I can’t begin to add up all of the volunteer hours she has given to the club. Accepting the award on behalf of Anne is Heather Goodman.

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Note: Agenda added

Date: Monday December 8th
Time: 7 p.m.
Address: Robin Hood Motel – 136 Gorge Road East

Agenda:

1. Adoption of Agenda
2. Adoption of previous minutes
3. Matters Arising from minutes
4. New Business
a. FHV update
b. FIH Rules 2015 changes
c. Umpire Allocator report
d. Jan-March Schedule
e. Code of Conduct
5. Adjournment

Please note that we will be donating canned goods to the Mustard Seed again this year so it would be greatly appreciated if you could bring non-perishable food items.

Also, each team/club has been assigned a responsibility for the meeting:

Appetizers

  • Flickers, Cardinals, Kestrels, Stellars, Patriots, Blue Jays, and Renegades

Desserts

  • Lynx I, II, III, Mariners, Sailors, and Pirates

Drinks

  • Demons and Devils

Plates, Napkins, and Cups

  • Ravens

Looking forward to seeing everyone!