Mid-Season News from the ALMC

We have now reached the mid-point of the 2025-26 season, as hockey ceases for the Christmas break. 

It has been a good start to the hockey season, with the vast majority of matches being played as planned.  There is one small concern, in that there have been a relatively large number of matches, already 42, cancelled due to a club’s inability to field a team on the day, which means that hockey people are missing out on planned matches.  All we can ask is that clubs consider the number of teams that they can actually support when planning for next year, as we want hockey to be played. Also, 8 teams have withdrawn from the leagues.

It is really pleasing to note that the number of Penalty Notices being issued is the lowest ever for half a season in South Central, 79 this year compared to 158 last year.  We hope that this is a demonstration of the fact that Club Officers and Team Captains are engaging with reading the Regulations and holding discussions with their Divisional Secretaries, to resolve problems and potential mistakes before they arise, and therefore, sanctions have not been necessary.  However, there have been a small number of more serious breaches of the regulations, and we hope this will reduce as awareness improves. 

The changes to Regulation 8 (Fair Selection) for this season appear to have been a success, and there have been fewer instances of players playing in the wrong teams, breaking this regulation.  The use of SXPs has increased, (approved 137, rejected 12), which we believe demonstrates that clubs are aware of the regulations and are ensuring that they do not make unnecessary errors, even to the point of being over-cautious!  The new form is working well, but we ask all teams to try to submit early, and no later than a new TUESDAY 2000 deadline, as the relevant DS have to review the request, and ensure it is valid, before approval by the committee by 2100 on the Thursday.  Please remember, SXPs received after the TUESDAY deadline may not be processed, unless there is a dire emergency.  It is requested that all Team Captains re-read Section 8 of the regulations so there are no errors in the second half of the season and ensure that the correct form is used.  Emailed SXPs to the ALDS will not be processed.

As you are all aware, it is intended to conduct a play-off day for additional promotions from North/South into Premier 2 and the sub-Areas into North/South (information at this link).  This was originally planned to be at Basingstoke, but unfortunately, due to their continuing facility concerns, we have decided to move the event to the Aldershot Garrison Hockey Pitches for 2026.  Much more detail will come out in the New Year, and we hope that SC Hockey Clubs will support this opportunity to celebrate promotions.

Sadly, there have been some postponements this season due to unfortunate events on and off the field of play.  We commend the players and officials at Basingstoke who assisted when a player had a medical emergency, but sadly, we have learned that the player subsequently died.  Our thoughts are with the family and club.

Finally, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, and we look forward to more hockey when the second half of the season commences.

Richard Wood

Chairman, ALMC

chair.adultleagues@southcentral.hockey