English Ice Hockey Association 2021-2022 - WOMENS NATIONAL ICE HOCKEY LEAGUE RULES OF COMPETITION
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English Ice
Hockey Association
WOMENS NATIONAL ICE HOCKEY LEAGUE
RULES OF COMPETITION
2021-2022ENGLISH ICE HOCKEY ASSOCIATION
WOMENS ICE HOCKEY LEAGUES
RULES OF COMPETITION 2021-22
1. Management of the Women’s Ice Hockey League
The Women’s Leagues are managed by the WNIHL Programme Team, who are comprised of the
following persons
• EIHA Directors responsible Faye Andrews, Andrew Miller
• Programme Team Lead WNIHL Elite TBA
• Programme Team Lead WNIHL Premier TBA
• Programme Team Lead WNIHL D1N TBA
• Programme Team Lead WNIHL D1S TBA
• Programme Team Lead WNIHL U16 Girls TBA
• Fixtures Secretary Sharon Khan
• Registrations Secretary Seniors: Liz Moralee
Juniors & U18’s: Val Wilkinson
• Discipline Secretary Lynn Millard
• Statistician Sharon Khan
The WNIHL Programme Team is charged by the Board for the management of the WNIHL. The
Programme Team will take account of the suggestions and comments of teams within the
Women’s Leagues but is ultimately responsible for managing the Leagues and its competitions for
the successful completion of those competitions. It will not be bound or coerced by the comments
and suggestions of the teams individually or jointly. The Programme Team may, if required, refer
to the Director responsible for the WNIHL for final decisions on any matter pertaining to the
running of the league.
Participation in any game or competition under the oversight of the Programme team means that
the participating team (and its owners, officers and players) acknowledges that the Programme
Team is the decision-making body for that competition or game, with any appeal against decisions
of the Programme Team being to the Directors responsible for the WNIHL (Faye Andrews and
Andrew Miller)
2. League Identity and Format – Senior Women
There will be four Senior Divisions of WNIHL competing under the EIHA:
WNIHL – Elite
WNIHL - Premier
WNIHL – Division 1 North
WNIHL – Division 1 South
All competing teams have been confirmed and included in the finalised league structure. No
further changes or additional teams will be accepted beyond the deadline of 31 st August 2021.
WNIHL Elite Teams will play each other home & away twice, all other leagues will play home &
away once unless otherwise stated. To complete the season, Women’s Trophy Weekend willinclude games to decide the National Champion at all leagues along with play offs to determine promotion and relegation and confirm the league structure for the following season. 2.1 - U16 Girls There will be Two Junior Divisions of WNIHL competing under the EIHA: WNIHL – U16 North WNIHL – U16 South 2.2 - League Structure WNIHL - ELITE Queen Bees Solihull Guildford Kingston Streatham Whitley Bay WNIHL - Premier Each team will play each other home and away once Bristol Chelmsford Milton Keynes Kingston Fire Bees Slough Sheffield Widnes Nottingham WNIHL - Division 1 North Each team will play each other home and away once Whitley Bay Telford Solway Sheffield B Grimsby WNIHL - Division 1 South Each team will play each other home and away once Cardiff Streatham Solent Oxford
Peterborough
Swindon
Coventry
Applications for a 2nd team at Widnes to play in WNIHL – Division 1 North was withdrawn.
WNIHL – U16 North
Each team to play home and away twice
1. Sheffield
2. Kingston
3. Whitley Bay
4. Manchester
WNIHL - U16 South
Each team to play home and away twice
1.Ice Bees
2.Chelmsford
3.Swindon
4.Haringey
3. Game Length
All Senior WNIHL league games will be played over 3 x 20-minute periods. In the event that this is
not possible the team can apply for dispensation to the Women’s Section Programme Team to
play 3 x 15-minute periods in extraordinary circumstances. Teams must notify the fixtures
secretary immediately when supplying their fixtures if they are unable to meet the requirements
for 3 x 20-minute periods and the reasons why. This cannot be changed once the season has
started.
4. The League Season
The recognised league season will run from Saturday 2nd October 2021 to Sunday 29th May 2022.
All teams should be prepared to play every weekend between 2nd October 2019 and 29th May
2022, Trophy Weekend will take place on 4th and 5th June 2022 @ Planet Ice Widnes.
5. Fixtures administration
Teams will submit their fixtures to the League Fixtures Secretaries as soon as possible but no later
than 31st August 2021. Each will make available sufficient home game dates to complete the
League schedule within the time constraints.
6. Commitment
All clubs entering any WNIHL league will be required to agree with and abide by the rules of
competition as set out herein as well as the EIHA Rules and Regulations (copies of which are
available from the EIHA website ([http://www.eiha.co.uk]). Withdrawal from any League or any
other officially sanctioned competition prior to its completion will render the team liable to a fine
as set out in the EIHA Rules and Regulations. Clubs wishing to participate shall be expected tomake themselves available on any Saturday or Sunday during the specified season. Dates to be
excluded from the schedule must be notified to the League Fixtures Secretary as early as possible
at the latest at the time of submitting your fixtures. The Fixtures Secretary will accept no more
than 3 individual weekends that you are not able to play.
6.1 - In addition:
▪ Clubs will not be asked to play midweek games unless by agreement of both teams
concerned.
▪ Clubs will not be asked to play games on dates where the fixtures secretary has prior
knowledge that ice is not available.
6.2 - Consideration will be given to requests to change a league fixture based on the following
▪ another team playing out of their rink at a higher level takes the ice time allocation,
▪ ice plant failure
▪ ice allocation is withdrawn by the facility management.
▪ 3 players or more unavailable due to selection for an GB team. (Cancellation subject to
agreement of the fixture secretary and Programme Team Representative) Only players
solely registered to the requesting team will be considered – players with dispensation
from another club will not be included.
All properly scheduled league matches approved by the League’s Fixture Schedule will take
priority over games in any other competition.
6.3 - Latest times for Face Offs: Saturday 19:30pm and Sunday 19:30pm
7. Minimum Squads
7.1 - Minimum Number of Players Required to enter a team into any WNIHL division:
1 Team 10 + 1 Minimum (Netminders must be fully registered)
2 Teams 20 + 2 Minimum (Netminders must be fully registered)
NOTE when applying for two teams the first 10 + 1 must be registered to the first team.
One level 2 bench coach to be responsible for team*
One level 1 coach or Bench Manager**
*Level 2 can be registered elsewhere or shared with another team within the same club.
**Must have completed the EIHA Bench Management course in order to be responsible for
the team bench during games.
7.2 - Minimum Number of Players Required to complete any WNIHL fixture
8+1 Minimum – Dispensation for less than 8+1 must be obtained from either your
Programme Team Lead or responsible EIHA director no less than 72hrs before the
scheduled face off time. Dispensation will not be given for less than 7+1 players.NOTE 1 – PLAYERS ON DISPENSATION WILL NOT COUNT TO YOUR TEAM NUMBERS AS OF 31ST
AUGUST 2021 AS THEY ARE NOT SOLELY REGISTERED TO YOUR TEAM AND AS SUCH MAY NOT BE
AVAILABLE.
NOTE 2 - players on dispensation will be included in your game day totals to make up your
minimum of 9 players.
7.3 - Minimum number of players to enter a team (10+1) must be registered by 31st August 2021.
Failure to register your minimum number of players by the deadline will result in your team being
removed from the league structure*. Additional players over and above the minimum number can
be registered prior to the transfer deadline of 31st January 2022.
*clubs that have entered a 2nd team will have the 2nd team suspended from the league structure if
the minimum player requirements for 2 teams are not met by the deadline.
7.4 - The minimum bench strength is 9 players. However, in the event of players arriving late, a
game can be started with 6 (six) players (as per the EIHA In House Rules) but the full minimum bench
requirement of 9 (players) must be reached by the start of the second period. These players must
be dressed and at the team bench ready to participate by the start of the second period. If the
required number of players have not joined the bench by the start of the second period the game
will be awarded to the non-offending team and completed as a challenge game.
7.5 - If a game is to be played with less than 8+1 (players) dispensation must be sought from the
Women’s Programme Lead or EIHA Director, and confirmed via email from the authorising
individual to the Club, Fixture Secretary and statisticians. (Minimum number of players dispensation
will be granted for is 8 players including netminder)
7.6 - If a game goes ahead without the required number of players and no dispensation has been
given, the result stands if the non-offending team wins. If the offending team wins, the game is
then awarded 5-0 to the non-offending team.
7.7 - If neither team has the required number of players and no dispensation is given, the game is
played as a challenge game and recorded as void on the fixture schedule. Zero points will be
awarded to either team.
7.8 - Each team is to provide a home and away Jersey. Communication between clubs prior to the
scheduled fixture is required to ensure that there is no clash of jerseys. In the event of a clash
between the home and visiting team jerseys, it is the responsibility of the home team to play in
their alternate jersey. Refusal to do so will result in the away team being awarded the game result
5-0. This must be communicated no less than 7 days before the scheduled league fixture, and
failure to do so will result in the home team being awarded the game result 5-0.
a. In the event that a team can only provide one colour jersey, this is to be clearly
communicated to the opposition team to prevent any clash no less than 7 days
prior to the scheduled fixture. Failure to do so will result in the non-offending team
being awarded the game result 5-0.
8. Coaches
Coaches whose primary registration is to a WNIHL team will be permitted to coach within all other
sections, but if no other coach is available to replace them for a WNIHL fixture, priority is given to
WNIHL fixtures.Should any WNIHL game be called off due to insufficient players or lack of coaching staff, the
players and coaches registered to the responsible team shall not be allowed to participate in any
other domestic fixture that day in any other section. In the event that a team coach is not
available, due consideration should be given to borrowing a coach from another team in your club
or borrowing a coach from the team you are playing.
9. Movement between teams within a Club is permitted subject to the following
restrictions:
9.1 - Registered players having attained their 14th Birthday prior to 31st December 2021 can play
up as many times as required subject to meeting the requirements set out in this document
9.2 - Registered senior players aged U23 prior to the 31st December 2021 can play up as many
times as required by the Parent Club.
9.3 - Players aged U23 prior to the 31st Dec 2021 may seek dispensation to play in a higher division
at another club:
a. D1 player U23 may seek dispensation to play at a higher level than is available to
them at their parent club
b. WD1 U23 can request dispensation to play up to Premier OR Elite (NOT both)
c. A fully registered U23 WPL player can request dispensation to play up to Elite ONLY
9.4 - The WD1 or WPL team must give written permission for any dispensation request to be
authorised.
9.5 - The WD1 or WPL team will have priority over the said player in the event there is a clash of
fixtures.
9.6 - Registered senior players 23 and over can play up a maximum of 3 times. On the fourth
occasion they will be automatically transferred to the higher division team. This is only applicable
to WPL or WD1 players that have Elite or WPL at the same club. They cannot play down from Elite
to WPL or WD1, nor can they play down from WPL to D1.
9.7 - Over 23’s playing WD1 at one club will NOT be given dispensation to play three times for WPL
at another club.
9.8 - Dispensation for netminders may be considered on a case by case request in the event of
injury or emergency grounds. Any netminder being requested must be registered with EIHA Junior
leagues, or the same WNIHL Division as the requesting team OR lower. You cannot request the
loan of a netminder from a higher WNIHL league, Rec or NIHL league team
10. U16s Girls Division 1
10.1 - To be eligible for U16s Division 1, players must have attained their 10th Birthday prior to 31st
December 2021.
10.2 - Players registered with a junior club at one location can request dispensation to play U16s
girls at another location, provided the parent club does not already have a U16s girls team in
place.10.3 - Player age is determined as at 31st December of the current season. 11. LEAGUE TABLE POSITIONS 11.1 - The positions of teams in league tables will be determined by the League statistician using the following primary criteria: a. Points b. Points in games between the tied teams c. Goal difference in games between the tied teams d. Goal scored in games between the tied teams e. Overall goal difference f. Overall goal scored The split is done ONCE only, so if more than two teams are tied on points a mini table is created using only the results between those teams. In the event of further criteria being required, the League statistician will provide additional criteria according to IIHF rules. All game results are to be recorded using the Electronic Game Sheet. Any failure to do so will result in a deduction of 2 points from the offending team. 12. - Failure to fulfil a fixture without acceptable cause once fixtures have been agreed 12.1 - Any Team failing to complete a pre-agreed fixture without prior authorisation from the WNIHL Programme Team Leads, or outside of any of the accepted circumstances laid out in 6.2 of this document, will be deducted 2 points, and the non-offending team will be awarded the game. Each offending team may be liable to a fine of up to £200. This amount, or part thereof, may be claimed as part of any compensation charge requested and justified to the Programme Team Lead and EIHA Director by the non-offending team. Any amount of compensation above and beyond this should, in the first instance, be negotiated between the clubs concerned. If they fail to agree, the matter may be referred to the EIHA Director responsible for the Women’s Section, namely Faye Andrews, for consideration by the Women’s Programme Team at a claims assessment panel. Each team will be required to supply information justifying the amount they have claimed /offered and reasons why it has been rejected/declined. Raising an objection/claim is free of charge, however, should any claim be assessed as unreasonable and dismissed, the claimant will be charged an additional cost of £50. 12.2 - Any team failing to fulfil a fixture twice in one season without acceptable cause as determined by the WNIHL Programme Team Leads, outside of any of the accepted circumstances laid out in 6.2 of this document, will be subjected to a further fine and/or deduction of points. They will also have to submit a formal request to be accepted back into the league for the following season. This will be decided via a vote from all member clubs. 12.3 - Teams will commit to supply sufficient players and coaching staff for all league games, including the Trophy Weekend fixture.
13. WNIHL Trophy Weekend
13.1 - Trophy Weekend Eligibility
All players must have taken part in approximately of 25% of league fixtures.
ELITE = 4 Games
PREMIER = 3 Games
WD1S = 2 Games
WD1N = 2 Games
13.2 - Trophy Weekend Format
The top four placed teams from WNIHL Elite will attend.
The top four placed teams from WNIHL Premier will attend.
The top two placed teams from WNIHL Division 1N and WNIHL Division 1S will attend.
The top placed team from U16 North and U16 South will attend.
A: WEL1 vs WEL3
B: WEL2 vs WEL4
Final – Winner A vs Winner B = WNIHL Elite Trophy Champions
A: WPL1 vs WPL3
B: WPL2 vs WPL4
Final – Winner A vs Winner B = WNIHL Premier Trophy Champions.
A: WDN1 vs WDS2
B: WDN2 vs WDS1
Final = Winner of A vs Winner of B – Playoff promotion to WNIHL Premier.
A: U16N vs U16S
Winner – U16 Trophy Winner
13.3 - Failure to attend Trophy Weekend
Any team failing to attend the Trophy Weekend will start the following season with a 10 point
deduction, and forfeit any right to promotion they may have earned as league winners.
14. The promotion/relegation of teams between divisions will be applied as follows:
14.1WNIHL – ELITE: Bottom placed team at the conclusion of the season once all league fixtures have been completed will be automatically relegated to WNIHL – Premier. WNIHL – Premier: Top placed team at the conclusion of the season once all league fixtures have been completed will be automatically promoted to WNIHL – Elite*. Bottom placed team at the conclusion of the season once all league fixtures have been completed will be automatically relegated to their appropriate WNIHL Division 1 region. WNIHL – Division 1: Top two placed teams from both Division 1 North and Division 1 South at the conclusion of the season once all league fixtures have been completed will compete for promotion to the WNIHL Premier at the Women’s Trophy Weekend. The winner of this game will earn promotion to WNIHL Premier* *Any winning team that fails to accept automatic promotion to WNIHL Elite from Premier will start the following season with a 10-point deduction *Any winning team that fails to accept promotion to WNIHL Premier from Division 1 following a promotion/relegation final victory will start the following season with a 10-point deduction. 14.2 - In the event that the 1st eligible team fails to accept or is withdrawn from promotion to a higher division, the promotion opportunity will be offered to the next eligible club. 14.3 - Any club that already has a 1st team entered into the next division will not be eligible for promotion. It is not permitted to have 2 teams from the same club in the same division. 15. Formation and acceptance of new clubs and teams into the WNIHL Structure 15.1 - Any newly-formed club wishing to enter the WNIHL league structure must be accepted by vote by all currently existing member clubs. All newly-formed clubs, once accepted, are required to complete their first season in WNIHL Division 1. 15.2 - Any currently existing club who wishes to enter a second team into the WNIHL league structure, must be accepted by vote by all currently existing member clubs. Any 2nd team is considered a ‘new’ team, and, once accepted, are required to complete their first season in WNIHL Division 1. 16. EMPLOYMENT POLICY The EIHA policy so far as teams’ employing individuals (in whatever capacity) is simple and straightforward: EIHA POLICY STATEMENT - EIHA MEMBERS AND EMPLOYMENT OBLIGATIONS The English Ice Hockey Association (the Association) takes on board all aspects of British and European law in its effort to be fair and equitable to both members Clubs/Teams and players registered with the EIHA in the proper manner. It is the policy of the Association that any situation whereby a member Club/Team employs a person or persons (as players, coaches, management or other positions) that that employment situation should be covered by an adequate employment contract which meets the obligations of employment and other laws in England. The Association strongly recommends the use of a
suitable qualified legal advisor in the development and implementation of such a contract. The Association will not recommend any one source of such advice; the employer in any such situation needs to resolve their own employment issues and there will be no recourse to the Association as the employment contact will be solely between the Club/Team as the employer and the player or other person as the employee. The Association strongly recommends that the employee should seek legal advice on the structure and contents of any contract prior to signing acceptance of it and its obligations. The employment situation also needs to pay regard to the health and safety, insurance and other issues which arise from such a contractual position as would any other employment situation within the country. 17. DISCIPLINE The League will maintain adequate statistics to determine League positions and results tables as well as the disciplinary position of individuals and of teams. It will, however, remain the responsibility of teams themselves to maintain their own disciplinary position and the disciplinary position of its team members. Teams will be penalised for not instituting bans and suspensions brought about through the disciplinary system. Details of the disciplinary system, along with the points to be awarded for penalties given during games, will be circulated to all teams by the Disciplinary Secretary prior to the first game of the season. 18. SOCIAL MEDIA AND ONLINE COMMUNICATIONS POLICY All clubs, players and team staff have a responsibility to manage their club and personal social media accounts in a responsible and professional manner, as well as manage any online communications in the same fashion. Any team or individual registered with the EIHA in any capacity, that is reported to be conducting themselves online in a manner deemed to cause offense, alarm or distress, using abusive or threatening language or hate speech, or is reported to be acting in such a way that contravenes the EIHA Safeguarding or Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy, will be immediately referred to the EIHA Safeguarding and Discipline Section for investigation. By applying to compete in the WNIHL for the 2021/2022 season, all registered clubs, players and team staff at all divisions agree to comply with the terms of the Social Media and Online Communications Policy.
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