| WORLD GRAND MASTERS ASSOCIATION |
1. NAME & PRINCIPAL OFFICE
1.1 The name of the body shall be the WORLD GRAND MASTERS ASSOCIATION hereinafter called “the Association”.
1.2 The Principal Office of the Association shall be situated at the same address as the Honorary Secretary as advised from time to time.
1.3 Notice in writing of any change in address of the Principal Office shall be given to each Member at the latest within fourteen (14) days after such change has been made.
2. DECLARATION
By this Constitution the Association declares that:
2.1 It recognises the FIH as the sole governing body of Hockey for men and women throughout the world;
2.2 The FIH has the ultimate jurisdiction in all matters relating to the activities of the Association;
2.3 It oppose discrimination on any basis whatsoever including but not limited to race, gender, politics, religion or creed;
2.4 It will not organise tournaments for any age group of players other than for players aged sixty years and older;
2.5 All tournaments shall be played under the Rules of Hockey. However certain rules may be agreed by the Association to cover its own particular requirements for veteran hockey players (see also Clause 4.5 below).
3. INTERPRETATION
In this Constitution the following
words and expressions shall have the meanings set underneath :
Association
The World Grand Masters Association established under this Constitution.
Affiliated Members
Any non-national group which intends to participate in any WGMA event.
Competition Rules
Competition rules made for competitions and tournaments organised by
the Association.
Delegates
Persons appointed by Full and
Affiliated Members as delegates to
attend Meetings on behalf of the Member.
FIH
The International Hockey Federation of Rue du Valentin 61, 1004
Lausanne,
Switzerland.
Full Members
Any nation, or group representing that nation, which intends to
enter a
representative national team in any WGMA event.
Hockey
The game of field Hockey and indoor Hockey played under the jurisdiction
of the FIH.
Meeting
Meetings of Members including Congress.
Members
Full and Affiliated Members.
Members of Honour
Any person who has made a
significant contribution to the Association
and Hockey who is elected by the Congress.
Officers
A President, an Honorary Secretary,
an Honorary Treasurer and any
other office created under clause 10.2.
Rules of Hockey
The Rules of Hockey established by the FIH from time to time.
Tournaments
Hockey tournaments organised by the Association for players aged
sixty
years and older.
4. OBJECTS
The Association is formed for the following purposes:
4.1 To promote and encourage the playing of Hockey by players, male and female, aged sixty years and older.
4.2 To promote fair play in all competitions and to ensure that all Competition Rules ensure fair play and adequate safety for all players within age divisions.
4.3 To promote and foster the consideration and free discussion of all matters and questions affecting the playing of mature age Hockey.
4.4 To seek and then maintain recognition by the FIH.
4.5 To make rules and regulations for the conduct of tournaments and the administration and organisation of the Association.
5 MEMBERSHIP
5.1 The Association shall have Members in the following categories:
5.1.1 Full Members;
5.1.2 Affiliated Members;
5.1.3 Members of Honour.
5.2 All applications for Full Membership must be in writing on the form prescribed by the Officers from time to time and must be sent to the Honorary Secretary and must be dealt with at the next Congress after the application is received.
5.3 A Member may resign at any time on giving written notice to the Honorary Secretary but any Member who resigns continues to be liable for any fees or dues owing to the Association.
5.4 At any Congress the Association may cancel the Membership of any Member for any reason deemed appropriate by that meeting provided that due notice of the meeting at which the proposal for cancellation is to be considered is given to that Member and the Member is given the opportunity to attend the meeting, hear the reasons for cancellation and given the opportunity to present his/its case.
5.5 Any Member whose Membership has been cancelled may after twelve months from the date of cancellation re-apply for Membership.
5.6 On the recommendation of the Officers, Congress may appoint as a Member of Honour any person who has made a significant contribution to the Association and to Hockey.
5.7 Each Member must have an Hon. Secretary at all times and must inform the Association of the his/her contact details including postal address, telephone and fax numbers and e-mail address and of all changes. All official correspondence from the Association must be sent to the Hon. Secretary of each Member.
6. DELEGATES AND OBSERVERS
6.1 Each Member shall be entitled to appoint a Delegate to attend a Congress or any Meeting of the Association.
6.2 Delegates may vary from meeting to meeting.
6.3 Each Member shall be permitted to have a single observer to accompany their Delegate at any meeting.
6.4 Observers may, with the concurrence of the Chairman, speak at Meetings but are not entitled to vote.
6.5 Each Member must advise the Honorary Secretary of the name and address of its Delegate from time to time.
7. MEETINGS
7.1 Meetings of the Association may be held in person or by correspondence.
7.2 All Full Members (through their Delegates at Meetings held in person) are entitled to attend, speak and vote at each Meeting.
7.3 All Affiliated Members (through their Delegates at Meetings held in person) are entitled to attend and speak, but not vote, at each Meeting.
7.4 The Honorary Secretary must give not less that twenty-one days’ notice of each Meeting to be held in person to each Member, by circulation of an agenda.
7.5 At Meetings held in person the quorum shall be at least fifty per cent of Members.
7.6 Meetings shall be held at times and places determined by the Officers.
7.7 The President or in his absence the Honorary Secretary shall chair all meetings. In the absence of both of them the Members shall elect a person to chair the Meeting from those present.
8. CONGRESS
8.1 A Congress must be held once every two years at a time and place determined by the Officers.
8.2 The Congress must be held in person, not by correspondence.
8.3 The business of the Congress shall be:
8.3.1 To receive a report from the Honorary Secretary of the activities of the Association over the preceding two years.
8.3.2 To receive a financial report from the Honorary Treasurer.
8.3.3 To elect the Officers for the following two years (see Clause 10.1 below).
8.3.4 To elect Members including Members of Honour.
8.3.5 To consider any other business of which not less than 14 days’ notice has been given to the Honorary Secretary.
9. VOTING
9.1 Each Full Member (represented by its Delegate at meetings held in person ) shall be entitled to vote on matters being determined at a meeting or by correspondence.
9.2 Delegates must be present in person to be entitled to vote at Meetings held in person. Proxies are not allowed.
9.3 Each Full Member is entitled to one vote on each resolution.
9.4 The Chairman is entitled to a casting vote.
9.5 Subject to Clause 11.2 , a simple majority shall determine any matter unless the Association decides, by prior agreement, that another voting system shall be adopted for determining a particular matter.
9.6 All decisions of the Association shall be binding on all Members and on all players, officials and supporters.
9.7 Members shall be responsible for the conduct on and off the field of their players and officials.
10. OFFICERS
10.1 The Officers shall be elected at Congress and shall hold office for two years until the conclusion of the next Congress.
10.2 The Association may create any other office and elect persons to the office so created.
10.3 Subject to any directions given by a Meeting, the Officers shall be responsible for the management of the affairs of the Association including the following:
10.3.1 Making rules and regulations for the conduct of the affairs of the Association, not inconsistent with this Constitution;
10.3.2 Making rules and regulations for the conduct of tournaments;
10.3.3 Determining Membership fees, tournament entry fees and such other fees levies and charges that the Officers deem appropriate;
10.3.4 Convening all Meetings; and
10.3.5 Doing all such things as may be appropriate for the good organisation and conduct of the Association and the achievement of the objects.
10.4 The Officers may not incur any financial liability on behalf of the Association, except for reasonable expenses incurred in managing the Association, without the prior approval of a duly convened Meeting.
11. AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION
11.1 This Constitution may only be amended by a Congress.
11.2 All resolutions to amend the Constitution require a two-thirds majority of Delegates present in person and entitled to vote.
11.3 No amendment to the Constitution shall have any force or effect unless and until approved by the FIH.
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1. NAME
The names of the Level 1 tournaments will be the GRAND MASTERS HOCKEY WORLD CUP, GRAND MASTERS HOCKEY EUROPEAN CUP, GRAND MASTERS HOCKEY ASIAN CUP etc. The name of all WGMA tournaments should always include the words GRAND MASTERS.
2. RULES OF THE GAME
2.1 The matches in each Tournament will be played in accordance with the Rules of the game of Hockey as approved from time to time by the F.I.H. (International Hockey Federation) & these Regulations.
2.2 In any case where the Rules of the game of Hockey & these Regulations appear to be in conflict, the following shall prevail.
3. MANAGEMENT
3.1 The Tournament Coordinator (TC) shall be appointed by the Host Nation Organising Committee (HNOC), in agreement with WGMA, for any tournaments planned - The TC will have overall control of the Tournament.
- The TC will give advice, if necessary instructions, to the Host Nation Organising Committee (HNOC), if such aCommittee exists, on all matters covering the Draw, Fixtures, Umpiring, Ceremony, Technical & Player safety & facilities.
- He will be a member of the Match Committee.
3.2 The entire organisation & management of the competition shall be vested in the HNOC and/or TC. They will be responsible for sponsorship and all matters financial, ensuring the securing of all venues, player support & safety, adequate facilities for players, umpires, officials & supporters.
3.3 The running of the competition in accordance with these Regulations & the supervision of all games shall be the responsibility of the Match Committee (MC), who shall consist of:
- Tournament Director (TD)
- Assistant Tournament Director(s) (ATD)
- Umpires Manager (UM)
-Tournament Coordinator (TC)
- Up to two others appointed by HNOC.
At any MC meeting, three (3) shall form a quorum and the
Tournament Director shall be Chairman, or in his absence the Tournament Coordinator.
3.4 Briefly, the responsibilities of the MC shall be as follows:
-
Ensuring adherence to these Regulations
and method of competition.
- Appointment of Umpires & Technical Officials (Judges)
- Time-keeping of the games.
- Maintenance & promulgation of proper records.
- Handling of protests, complaints or any matter raised by a Team Manager,Umpire or a National Delegate.
- Securing of all venues.
- Daily promulgation of results, points awarded and standings.
- Supervision of all games.
3.5 The
discipline of Players & Officials during the competition
shall be the responsibility of the MC, who may as well refer any back to matter back to a National Association /Body for further action or consideration.
3.6 Conduct of players and officials on and off the pitch shall be governed by the rule and regulations of the FIH (see also FIH Rules, Annex L 'Code of Conduct').
3.7 The duties of the TD shall be to ensure the correct functioning of the MC in their duties, in consultation with the UM to appoint two Umpires for each match of the Tournament and a reserve Umpire when considered appropriate.
4. ENTRY FEE
4.1 The entrance fee for each Tournament for each Team shall be 600€, or as determined by the HNOC and the TC.
5. PARTICIPANTS
5.1 Players from around the World may nominate as a Team, or offer to play in a Team to be formed, provided they have attained, or will attain during the calendar year of the tournament 60 years of age.
Should there be sufficient nominations of players attaining sixty-five years of age or seventy years, then separate Divisions could be created to cater for these ages.
5.2 The Teams nominating shall be entered into categories of National or Non-National to standardise competition. The Association shall determine the qualifications to prevail in any tournament.
5.3 No more than two players, who shall be not more than two years under the prescribed age as defined in 5.1, may be registered with the approval of the WGMA committee whose consent to the registration of under-age players will only be given in exceptional circumstances. In the case of Level 3 tournaments the MC, in consultation with WGMA, may vary this under-age regulation.
5.4 No player shall be registered for a national team in more than one age category. At the discretion of the Association and the Tournament Director, and only in the case of injury or other exceptional circumstance, a goalkeeper may be allowed to play in an age group other than the one in which he was registered providing he meets the age qualification for that group.
6. NATIONAL QUALIFICATION
6.1 To be eligible to represent any country a player must either
a) carry a passport which shows citizenship of that country or
6.3 No player may represent more than one country in any one calendar year.
6.4 Any player who chooses to play for a second country under these rules may not play for a third country, or revert to a previous country, without the permission of the board of WGMA.7. REGISTRATION
7.1 Each Team should provide for the HNOC by the deadline given
by the HNOC any information on the players & officials requested for
inclusion in a tournament programme.
In the case of the players, a photocopy of the page(s) of their
passport;
showing passport number, date of birth, photo of the
player & sex should be available
for verification during the
tournament from the Team Manager
7.2 Should there be any alteration to the information required under 7.1 prior to the Tournament commencing, it must be supplied complete and in detail at the Meeting of Managers prior to the commencement of any Tournament.
7.3 The form shall list the names of all players & officials of that team, and the date of birth of all players. After the commencement of the competition, no alteration will be permitted to the Player Registration Form except in extenuating circumstances and with the approval of the TD and the MC.
7.4 Each Team shall register on the Registration Form two sets of colours (jerseys/shirts/shorts/socks) with proper numbering. In the event of a clash of colours, the second named team in the programme shall change colours.
7.5 Each player shall be registered by a number, which he will use throughout the competition, which will be displayed on the back of the player's shirt, except in the case of goalkeepers, where the number can be on the front of the shirt.
7.6 A Team can register a maximum of eighteen (18) players, but no more than sixteen (16) of the registered players can play in any one game.
8. COMPETITION
8.1 The format of the competition shall depend on the number of participating teams and the categories involved.
- Teams/players should effect nominations with the HNOC/TC eighty (80) days prior to the Tournament.
- The TC in consultation with the HNOC or a number of Delegates will prepare a draw,determining categories and Pools if need be and then, within fifty (50) days of the Tournament, advise all Team/players participating of the details.
- Teams or Delegates are then permitted two weeks to comment, if they wish, on the proposed draw. In consultation, the TC will effect, if reasonable, changes to satisfy all comments received.
8.2 In preparing the draw to be circulated the TC/HNOC will have regard to the following criteria :
a) Teams will not play more than 6 games in nine days.
b) there will be a minimum of 18 hours between a Team's games.
a win, one point for a draw, and no points for a loss. Points will be totalled to determine standings within a Pool, Division, or Category.
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a) The team having the better goal difference shall be accorded the higher placing (the goal difference shall be decided by subtracting the goals scored against a team from the number of goals scored by that team).
b) in the event of an equal goal difference, the team having been awarded the greater number of goals will be ranked higher.
c)
should
this number be the same, the winner of the
match, or matches, between these
teams will be
accorded the higher place.
d) should teams still be equal, there shall not be a replay, and penalty stroke competition arrangedas soon as practical to determine the higher placing.
(See Penalty Stroke Competition,Rule 9).
9. FINALS
Bearing in mind the guidelines governing the draw and method of competition, it may be appropriate to play semi-finals to determine the teams to play in a final. The teams to play in a final shall be the winners of the semi-finals or the two top placed teams at the conclusion of the round-robin series of matches.
9.1 If, in a semi-final, the score is even at the conclusion of full-time, a penalty stroke competition shall be arranged to determine the winner of the semi-final (see rule 9).
9.2
In order
to establish an outright winner in a Final, the duration
of that match shall be extended if, at the end of the regulation time, the result is a draw. After a five (5) minute rest the umpires will toss a coin with the captains and the winner will have the choice of ends or possession of the ball to restart the match. The extension of time shall consist of two periods of seven and a half (71/2) minutes each in between which teams shall change ends, without a rest period. The extra-time shall cease, however, once a team has scored or been awarded a goal. That team shall be the winner of the match. If the score is still a draw at the end of the extra-time, a penalty stroke competition (see Rule 9) shall be played to establish the winner of the match.
10. PENALTY STROKE COMPETITION
Where necessary to use a Penalty-Stroke competition to determine a result, it will be conducted as follows:
- Five different players, who have taken part in the match from each of the two Teams and chosen by their respective Captains, shall take a penalty-stroke alternately against one and the same Goalkeeper, or in the event of incapacitating injury, his substitute, of the other team.
- The Umpires shall choose the goal to be used and they shall toss with the Captains to decide which Team shall nominate one of its five players to take the first penalty-stroke.
- The Team having been awarded the higher number of goals shall be the winner.
awarded, a second (unlimited) series of penalty strokes shall be
taken on a “sudden death” basis. Provided both teams have
taken an equal number of strokes, the first team to gain a majority shall be the winner.
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- The sequence of stroke takers does not need to be the same as in the previous series and the team captain has freedom of choice at the time of each stroke as to which of the nominated players shall take the stroke.
- In this second (unlimited) series, all five nominated players shall take a stroke before any one of them is eligible to take a further stroke.
- The team whose player has taken the first penalty stroke of the first series must defend the first penalty stroke of the second (unlimited) series.
11. PLAYER SUBSTITUTION
11.1 Substitution of players from the list of registered players may occur at any time during the match, subject to the approval of the Tournament Director or his Deputy controlling a match.
Substitution may only occur from the sideline situated adjoining the Official Bench and adjoining the centre line, except for goalkeepers, which shall be specifically controlled.
11.2 A player who has been substituted may be re-substituted.
11.3 A player bleeding or exhibiting blood on his person will be substituted until bleeding is controlled &/or removed from all clothing.
12. DURATION of MATCHES
12.1 Each match shall consist of two halves of 35 minutes, with a half-time break of 10 minutes, in accordance with existing FIH Rules, subject to possible variations agreed by WGMA/HNOC to suit local conditions. The HNOC may, after consultation with participating teams, decide to have additional 2-minute water breaks midway through each half.
13. ADMISSION to FIELD of PLAY
13.1 No one except the players & Umpires properly engaged in a given match or the Tournament Director may enter the field of play, unless they have been invited to do so by one of the officiating Umpires or the Tournament Director.
13.2 In a given match, a team may have up to five (5) substitute players on the reserve bench, plus a Manager (if any), as well as other Team Officials, who must abide by any request or instruction from the Tournament Director or his substitute.
13.3 The Team Manager and/or the Captain are responsible for the proper conduct of all persons occupying the Team Bench.
14. VENUES of POSTPONED or ABANDONED MATCHES
14.1 If in the opinion of the Tournament Director, or his substitute, the ground is or becomes unsuitable for play, or if a match is postponed, or play abandoned through cause over which the Teams have no control, such matches may be played at a venue and time to be determined and fixed by the Match Committee. If the MC decides that a match cannot be re-arranged Clause 15 (below) applies.
14.2 Such matches may resume from where they were interrupted or re-commenced at the discretion of the Tournament Director in the interests of fair play, or be declared on the position at the time play was stopped.
15. FAILURE to PLAY
15.1 During
the course of a match, if a team declines to continue to
play the game or take it up where it was left off, it is deemed
the team shall have lost the match and the opposing team have
won it.
15.2 The team awarded the match will have a score of 3-0 unless they have already scored a greater number of goals, in which case the score when the game ceased will be recorded.
15.3 If a team declines to continue in the competition, once the competition has commenced, all the division/pool matches it has played shall be considered as not having been played, not only by the team declining to play but also by the teams it has played, and the classifications shall be corrected accordingly.
15.4 A team refusing to play a match on its programme shall be considered as having withdrawn from the competition.
16. PROTESTS
16.1 A team wishing to protest is required to have the Team Manager advise the Tournament Director, or his Deputy supervising the match within five minutes of the conclusion of the match in question.
Within a further twenty minutes the protest is to be submitted in writing to the Tournament Director/Match Committee, accompanied by a deposit of 50€, or equivalent in local currency, by the Manager of the Team protesting.
16.2 No protest shall be entertained unless it is lodged in the required manner and within the specified time. The deposit may be forfeited, if the complaint is found to be frivolous or untrue or not upheld. The decision of the Match Committee shall be final and binding.
17. UMPIRES
17.1All teams participating in a Tournament are encouraged to nominate Umpires to officiate at the Tournament. The Umpires should have qualifications or be highly recommended as capable Umpires by the nominating team.
18. UNFORESEEN EVENTS
18.1 Any matter not provided for by these Regulations shall be dealt with by the Tournament Director/Match Committee, whose decision will be final and binding.
19. AMENDMENT
19.1These Regulations may be rescinded, amended or altered at any time by a simple majority of votes, on a motion properly brought forward at a Meeting of WGMA, or a Special Meeting of the WGMA or by the Association through postal or telephonic voting.
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Peter Child Adrian Stephenson
President, WGMA Hon. Secretary, WGMA
Windmill Cottage,
Mackerye End,
Harpenden, Herts AL5 5DR
England
Tel : 0044-1582-715982
Status : 1st November 2010