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1. The Committee will meet at a venue to be decided by the Committee, where all business connected with the League will be transacted. All questions of eligibility, qualification of players, and interpretation of the rules, protests and disputes, shall be referred to this Committee whose decision shall after wards be subject to the confirmation of the Bolton Sports Federation Executive. Should any member of the said Committee be interested or concerned in any dispute, claim or protest, he or she shall not remain in the room whilst such case is being decided.

2. This league shall be subject to the Fundamental Rules of the Bolton Sports Federation.
    All current rules as laid down by the Hockey Rules Board will be Strictly adhered to.
    Any point not covered by these rules shall be decided and dealt with by the Committee,
    and afterwards be subject to the confirmation of the Bolton Sports Federation Executive.

3.The Committee shall have power to divide the League into sections as and when deemed advisable.

4.The competing teams shall play each other twice, unless amended by the Committee.

5. The points to decide the competition shall be as follows:  3 points score win,  2 points score draw,  1 point no-score draw.

6. In the event of a tie in points for the championship or relegation between two or more teams, there will be a play off to decide the finishing league positions with matches going to extra time if needed then a penalty shoot out if there is still a deadlock. The top team in a section shall be promoted and the bottom team shall be relegated. The Committee may alter the number of teams promoted or relegated.

7. The Committee shall have the power to withhold the trophy and mementoes from any club at their discretion.

8. All matches must be played on the dates arranged unless the Match Secretary has informed teams that the matches have been cancelled.
    Any club unable to complete a fixture for any reason must:

	a)	inform their opponents and umpire
	b)	inform the Match Secretary
	c)	pay their own and their opponents' pitch fees, plus Umpires fees were earned.
	The defaulting team will forfeit the match to the opposition and will be reported to the Committee who may apply additional sanctions. Note: Any club desiring an open date must give at least 4 weeks notice in writing to the Match Secretary.

9. Should any question arise as to the ground being unfit for play, the decision shall be left to the umpire.
     If a match is abandoned, it shall be rearranged for a later date.

10. All playing members must be registered in writing with Match Secretary at least seven clear days before participating in a match.

12. Any player must have played a minimum of 3 matches for that club to be eligible to play in any Cup Final.

13. Any club found guilty of playing an ineligible player should be deemed to have lost any match in which the player took part.
      The Committee may also impose a fine.

14. Each club must register its colours at the time of making application for admission to the League.
      Where two teams having the same colours are in opposition, the first named team shall change colours.
      If first named team do not change, a £5.00 fine will be imposed.

15. Each team must provide an umpire for all matches. In the event of there being no umpire for the start of the match,
       a player must be dropped from the team to act as umpire for the whole match.
      The Committee will deal severely with any team in breach of this rule.

16. The umpire’s fee for all matches shall be decided by the Committee at the commencement of each season.

17. Matches must commence on time.
       Maximum time =30 minutes each way.  Minimum time = 25 minutes each way.  Interval = 5 minutes.
       Should any team fail to start at the appointed time, they shall be fined £5.00 .
       Umpires and teams must report on the match card, all late starts and state who is at fault.
17. a)  Goalkeepers must wear the minimum protection kit.  These are Helmet, Kickers and Pads.

18. The fully completed Match Card must reach the Match Secretary by Wednesday’s post.
       The filled in Match Card must be handed to the umpire before the game (this includes Cup Finals) is started
       and both captains must sign it before it is posted by the first named team.
       Failure to comply with this rule will result in the imposition of a fine at the discretion of the Committee.

19. In order to ensure the League is conducted in a sportsmanlike manner, any irregularities on the part of any team/club should be immediately reported to the Secretary. This does not necessarily mean a protest.

20. All protests and appeals must be made and placed in the hands of the Secretary within seven days of the match in question.

21. The name of any player disciplined or carded by an umpire should be noted on the match card. If a red or yellow card is received, the umpire shall send, within 7 days, a written report to the Match Secretary. The Committee have the power to impose a fine and/or ban.

22. All teams must complete their matches. If teams cannot reach agreement on a date for rearranged matches, the Committee shall decide on a date on which the game must be played. The Committee reserves the right to cancel outstanding matches at the end of the season provided it does not affect the promotion/relegation positions.

23. A fee set by the Committee to be paid by all teams. This covers Competition Fee, Accident Fund, Registration Fee and 12 Fixture books. Monies are payable at the start of the season, but not later than the October meeting. Failure to pay by that date will incur an additional fee of £3.00. Non payment of fees by the November meeting will be dealt with by the Committee.

24. Any team not represented at the Monthly Committee meetings shall be fined £5.00 per team registered.

25. Players chosen for representative games may be asked to contribute to the expenses of the game for which they are chosen.

26. Each team must purchase four dance tickets, the monies for these tickets to be submitted with the application to join the League at the start of the season. All other admittance will be payable on the door.

27. Any matter not provided for in these rules, or in the Cup Competition rules, shall be dealt with by the Committee as they deem fit.

28. At the end of the season 12 mementoes will be presented to each winning team and runner-up in the League, Cups and Tournaments. The amount allowed for the mementoes will be decided by the Committee. Teams who choose mementoes at a higher cost than the agreed allowance, and teams who require more than 12 mementoes, must pay the additional expense to the League Treasurer before the Annual Presentation Dance. Any other team requiring mementoes must pay the full amount before the Dance. Unpaid trophies will not be presented and a fine will be imposed.

29. Clubs with outstanding fines or fees from a previous season will not be accepted into the League until all debts are paid.

30. Any accidents or injuries to be reported on match card.

31. Any team or individual entering into an appeal against any decision must pay a fee of £10, refundable on successful appeal. if unsuccessful, monies to go to League. No appeal allowed until money is paid.

32. In the event of an appeal to the Committee, the club may be represented by ONE additional member to that of the regular Committee.

1. The Hockey Committee shall have complete control of the knockout cup competitions.

2. Teams playing in League Section ‘A’ shall play annually for the J.S. Steele Challenge Cup.
    Teams playing in League Section ‘B’ shall play annually for the Davenport Challenge Cup.
    All Section 'B' and Section 'A' teams knocked out in the first and preliminary rounds of the Steele Cup shall play annually for the Cleworth Cup.

3. Hockey League rules will apply to cup competitions except as varied by these cup rules.

4. A club shall not withdraw from any round unless it has obtained the consent of the Committee at least seven days prior to the match.
    Any club withdrawing from the semi-final or final ties shall not be eligible to receive mementoes and be liable to a fine
    at the discretion of the Committee.

5. All cup matches shall be played as and when the Committee decides. Any drawn game must play extra time of 10 minutes each way. Should it be a drawn after extra time, the best of three penalties will take place (toss for who goes first). If still no result, then sudden death - a player from each team takes a penalty. Should one player score and the other miss, the scorer’s team will win. Should both players miss or score, the sequence continues with two other players until there is a positive result.

6. The teams shall be drawn in couples.

7. The winning team in the final tie shall be presented with the cup and a set of mementoes.

8. Expenses of all rounds shall be shared by the clubs.

9. A player having played with one team in a cup competition shall stay with that team in all cup matches in that competition.
    Cleworth and Steele Cups are to be regarded as one competition for the purpose of this rule.

10. Neutral umpires shall officiate at all Finals and Semi Finals.

1. An annual competition shall be held on a date decided by the Committee.

2. An entrance fee (decided by the Committee) shall be paid by each team prior to the day of the tournament.
    One person per venue will be nominated to pay pitch fees and obtain a receipt.

3. Any team unable to enter a tournament must give four weeks notice. Failure to do so will incur a fine.

4. Any team dropping out of these competitions with less than four weeks notice will forfeit their entrance fee and be subject to a fine determined by the Committee.

HOSPITAL CUP - SPECIFIC

1. Teams shall be divided into four league sections by the Committee.

2. Each team shall submit the names of not more than 16 players to the Match Secretary before the tournament on previously supplied team sheets.

3. Each team shall play the others in their section once with three points for a win, two points for a score draw and one each for a no-score draw. The team with the greatest number of points shall go forward to the knockout stage.

4. In the event of a tie for first place, goal difference shall decide.
    If still a tie then un-scored penalties and short corners in that order shall be used to decide.

5. If still a tie remains, a penalty shoot out will be held (see Cup Rules 5)

6. Each match in the league section shall be of twenty minutes duration (10 minutes each way).
   The Final will be 30 minutes each way and if this is drawn then extra time of 10 minutes each way and if still a draw,
   then the best of three penalty flicks and then sudden death.

REYNOLDS-COWELL TROPHY - SPECIFIC - 2008

1. All matches will be 60 minutes. In the event of a tie after full time, half the time and half the handicap will be played. f a tie remains, a penalty shoot-out will take place (see Cup Rules 5).

2. Goals scored shall count 4 points, un-scored penalties 3 points, if converted a further 4 points shall be awarded. Short corners 2 points, a further 4 points shall be awarded if a goal results from the corner, and long corners 1 point.

3. Umpires must not play advantage in the circle.

4. Neutral Umpires shall officiate in the Final and Semi Finals.

5. Players must have played at least one match before playing in this Tournament and must have been registered with their team from the beginning of the season.

PLAYERS AND UMPIRES ACCIDENT FUND

1. The object of the fund is to raise a sum of money which will be devoted to paying a weekly allowance to registered players and umpires who are incapacitated through injury or accident caused by playing hockey in a match under the control of this League. The fund will be vested in the Committee who will not be liable for any injuries.

2. All competing clubs must be members of the Fund and shall contribute 10% of fees to be paid at the start of the season.

3. A registered player or umpire injured whilst taking part in any match, will be paid the sum of £20.00 per week for a period of 6 weeks, provided that s/he is incapacitated for the whole of that time.

Players and umpires must be incapacitated for a whole week before claiming.
After the first week, players or umpires commencing work before the completion of a full week shall be paid pro rata for the odd days.
Five working days = one week.

4.The fund will contribute towards dental expenses at the discretion of the Committee.

5. All claims must be lodged in writing with the Accident Fund Secretary within two days of the match (Sunday excluded) and a medical certificate must be sent within 7 days of the accident.

6. A player or umpire in receipt of benefit shall not follow any kind of employment or physical activity which would retard recovery.
    Breach of this rule means forfeiture of benefit.

7. When the recipient commences work after an accident, notice must be given to the Secretary the same day of withdrawal from benefit.
   If having resumed work and being unable to continue, an immediate application for benefit must be made
   and dealt with as the Committee thinks best.

8. Any club through any circumstances withdrawing or being expelled from the B.S.F. shall forfeit all claims in respect of this fund.

9. Any matter concerning accidents not dealt with here shall be dealt with by the Committee as they think fit and their decision as in all cases is final.

10. Tooth fund monies to be kept to a minimum of £500 and the remainder to be accessible to general funds.

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