IHL FUTURE DIRECTION 11th March, 2012

Agenda Rationale for Review of IHL Competition Current Environment Backdrop Key considerations if contemplating any changes IHL Competition strengths Potential drivers for change Facts and Stats Review Process Three Options Stay as we are with some minor changes Variation of current format with pooled venues Full IHL Discussion and Feedback

Rationale for Review Commitment made at the outset of the IHL Formation IHA AGM 2007, first season was 08/09 Review after three years Good practice Any proposal for change (or not) as an output from this process will continue to be subject to regular formal review Opportunity to formally take feedback /hold open discussion IHL Forum every year: hasn’t had large attendance IHL Questionnaire: has provided useful feedback each season Informal routes useful too – blogs, email suggestions, etc, but sometimes don’t get full range of views

Current Environment Backdrop Section 1: Current Environment Current Environment Backdrop IHL Competition Strengths Drivers for Change Facts and Stats 4

Current Environment Backdrop Cost constraints – a big consideration for clubs and for individuals Always been a consideration and influenced the current structure Increasing influence and reality over last 2 years High Performance increased demands Different each season, but trend is increasing demand for HP players IHL is the premier competition and we need to schedule around availability Too much competition? No changes have been made to other IHA or Provincial competition structures to accommodate IHL, resulting in increased demands for Premier level players Time commitment / Contention for some player segments Road network improvements has seen travel times /overnights reduced, however: reality is we have many people ‘working’ in the game, coaching and managing in schools, Club junior sections, development squads, etc, over the weekend Increasing numbers of U18’s playing IHL but neither IHA or Provincial competitions aligned with schools

IHL Strengths Consistent message over the 3 years that the IHL has been hugely positive for Irish hockey Players want to play the best and be the best EHL competition is huge goal Men’s club ranking moved from 10 (Sep08) to 6 (Sep11) and two teams in EHL Women moved from 12 (Sep09) to 9 (Apr11), 0.05 away from having a team in EHL Support for the structure and recognition of the merits 12 teams and regional qualification Linkage to EHL and EHL format and rule variations seen as important Club led approach welcomed Direct club to club engagement and IHL forums have seen the sharing of ideas and solutions Scheduling Flexibility Competition structure has sufficient flexibility to adapt to different seasons and programs

Drivers for Change Need to get the ‘buzz’ back Desire to set IHL matches apart – special events, similar to first season Some clubs are ‘going through the motions’, while others make special effort Replication of EHL type events Many are travelling to EHL events and want to see similar in IHL, even in earlier rounds, not just IHL Finals weekend Fantastic program of matches and exciting games Hockey community ‘gatherings’ and festival feeling All IHL participants able to enjoy the wider event, mingle with other teams and players But a caution……. Any change must be in the context of managing all costs associated with IHL Travel and accommodation Hosting of teams Need to remember to hold onto the strengths!

Facts & Stats Wildcards Club Ranking Men: 4 wildcards have seen U5 & L5 qualify every season Women: More variability with L5 & M3 qualifying 3 years, U5 twice. Connacht 1 have yet to qualify through to IHL Club Ranking Points assigned as follows: 12 points to Winner, 10 points to Runner up, 8 points to semi-finalists 5 points to 3rd place in pools, 4 points to 4th, 3 pts to 5th and 2 pts to 6th Ranking takes performance over last 3 seasons into account: 100% for last season, 75% for season -1 and 50% for season -2 Effectively mirrors EHL Ranking Next page shows ranking tables for men and women

Ranking Tables

Calendar Facts Comp. Number Comment IHL & ISC 8 Provincial League 18 30 competitive weekends available between mid September and end April (excluding 3 weekends for Christmas & Easter) Between us, we have competitions for Senior players and teams that fill these weekends BEFORE we accommodate any HP absence Comp. Number Comment IHL & ISC 8 EXCLUDING IHL Finals, Wildcards, ISC semi & final Provincial League 18 Excludes any Provincial Cups Interpros 2 Senior & U21, excludes preparation time Indoor 3 National league Total 31

Player Impact IHL Club Player Non- IHL Club Player  Club Comps Typical Successful IHL 5 1   ISC 2 3 Branch League 18 Branch Cup Total 28 6 23 Successful IHL team player has approx 34 weekends of competition, plus training/competition time with other teams (Indoor, Interpro). For many players /teams there is too much competition Does not fit with best guidelines for training, peak fitness, avoiding injuries and fatigue, etc. Consider the number of injuries teams are carrying at any one time? With bad weather, no space to re-arrange, resulting in high number of matches towards end of season For other players /team there is a ‘stop/start’ aspect to the season and issues around mis-matched competition Typically playing in a ‘league within a league’, battling to avoid relegation or fighting for the last IHL place Struggling to build team/ develop players consistently as competition is not appropriate Gaps in schedule due to other teams being unavailable, but still also have back matches towards end of season

Section 2: Review Process 12

Review Process Next Steps Started over 2 years ago IHL Questionnaire end of season 08/09 provided structural feedback Polarised views on future of IHL – some demands to move to full IHL IHL Working Group initiatives and findings: Conceptualised what a ‘full IHL’ would look like to help understanding Recognition that this season would be unique with OQT’s and scheduling issues and therefore decision to use IHL Forum to start the debate only IHL Forum – May 11 General feedback confirmed lack of support for ‘full IHL’ due to cost pressures and other challenges and impacts IHL WG decision to present options to a wider audience to get best possible discussion and feedback – this meeting! Next Steps IHL WG to pull together the findings and feedback from this meeting Develop a recommendations paper for IHA Management Board Board Decision on future structure of IHL Communication of outcome Implementation (if any change recommended/agreed) – season for implementation would depend on impact

Section 3: Three Options Current Format with minor changes Current Format, but pooled venues Full IHL Within the options, there are clearly variants that can be applied. The Options are being used to conceptualise the structures to help understanding – these could be adjusted in any final proposal. 14

Current Format, minor changes Change the Wildcard Entry Process Rationale for change: reduce costs while maintaining regional representation and fairness Two Options being considered – slightly different for men / women as follows: Men: Option 1: Eliminate wildcards, 2 spots go to U5 & L5 Option 2: Rotate one automatic spot between U5 & L5 with one off match between M3 and either U5 or L5 in venue with no accommodation required Women: Option 1: Remain as is – Round robin over 3 days Option 2: Two matches with winner of each gaining WC entry. Set formula – L5 v U5 and M3 v C1 Change Process for Home /Away Allocation Currently 3 home games to winners and runners up of each provincial league Proposal is to continue to allocate teams to Pools under same formula, but 3 home games given to top 3 teams in the group based on highest IHL ranking points Teams earn more home matches based on their own merit Evens out any distortion on relative standard of the provincial leagues

Current Format (contd) Change Points Allocation in Rounds 1 - 5 Rationale for change: recognise win more strongly, given small size of pools A team with two wins and no loss should be ahead of team with a win and a draw – not always the case Improve Scheduling of Round 1 - 5 Not really a change but seek to cluster Rounds to allow teams to peak towards end of season (happening by default this season) Current Proposed Win 3 points 4 points Win Bonus (> 2 goals) 1 points remove Draw 2 points Loss (by 1 goal) 1 point Loss (> 1 goal) 0 points

Pooled Venues (Option 2) Current Structure with pooled venues Same competition structure, qualification process and assignment of teams to pools Includes consideration of potential changes to Wildcards, points allocation and scheduling of Rounds 1 – 5 as outlined on previous 2 slides Objective Each participating club host only once, but multiple matches held on that day in their venue Improve attractiveness of attending IHL event with program of matches There is a Worked Example for Men on next page. Note: Reflects the men’s Pools for this season 2 to 3 matches in each venue on same day – all teams get to host Last weekend has all 3 matches in the one Pool starting at the same time Saturday or Sunday date would be assigned to meet local needs, travelling teams and the balance of the entire IHL program over the whole weekend Proposed that M1 (C of I) will have 3 home matches. Note that M1 & M2 are assigned to pools via a draw

Pooled Venues (Cont’d) Worked example - Men

Pooled Venues (Cont’d) Summary of ‘trade-offs’ and benefits Team only play at home once, but equally their club only required to mobilise their volunteers to perform hosting duties once Most teams have less travel overall with more matches in home province – good for team and supporter costs Creates exciting programs of matches with should attract hockey community Participants able to stay around to enjoy event and/or study other teams Assumptions IHL WG will schedule the match program and also the day - Sat or Sun. Provincial leagues WILL be required to align to IHL to free up the pitch time and the host club volunteers as well as allow the hockey community attend top matches when in their area. What this means is: No scheduling of matches for remaining team sides from a host club if hosting IHL on a Saturday, OR All other host team club sides to be allow to re-schedule to mid-week (home or away) For the 2, max 3, Saturdays that the IHL program is running, seek to reduce the overall provincial league program to allow hockey community attend

Full IHL (Option 3) Objective IHL Composition IHL Schedule Create a true National League, with top teams removed from competing in parallel in the provincial league Reduce competition congestion and over-playing demands IHL Composition 10 teams, playing home and away Year 1 setup: Men: 4/4/2 from Ulster /Leinster /Munster with no wildcards taking place Women: 3/3/2 from Ulster /Leinster /Munster with 2 wildcard places from U4/L4/M3/C1 Proposal for ‘Safety Net’ to ensure regional representation not lost Example: 3 (tbc) years where guaranteed minimum 1 team from each province (U/L/M) IHL Schedule 18 IHL games Participate in Irish Senior Cup Can participate in provincial cup but NOT in provincial league

Full IHL (Cont’d) Winners Promotion / Relegation IHL league winner takes Ireland no. 1 spot in Euro competition Ireland no. 2 spot taken by winner of Presidents Trophy. Example: IHL 2, 3, 4 + ISC losing finalist knock out competition. Two winners go forward to further knock out with IHL & ISC winners If IHL winner also wins Presidents Trophy , then runner up takes Ireland no. 2 spot Promotion / Relegation 10th place automatically demoted to their home provincial league for the following season 9th place enters wildcard play-offs, joining provincial league winners (3 others in men, 4 others in women) Top 2 from wildcards play IHL following season. Note: Provincial leagues need to adjust when gain or lose more teams than previous season

Discussion and Feedback 22