How are your spectators behaving?
How do your players and spectators behave: As this weekend is the last weekend before the scheduled Christmas break we want everyone, umpires, your team members and your spectators to leave the hockey field with a smile on their faces and looking forwards to the next part of the season in the New Year. Therefore it is appropriate to remind all clubs that the League has had to get involved in complaints about very poor player and spectator behaviour, where it has been clear that people allegedly representing clubs have forgotten their responsibility under the England Hockey Code of Conduct and Behaviour. As a result of these complaints two clubs, under penalty, have had to brief the Code of Conduct to their members and a reminder has been sent by a League Manager to all of the teams in their League Division. Put simply these displays poor behaviour must stop NOW.
Clubs are reminded that they are responsible for their players and members conduct. We all know that player in the team who from the first whistle chats to the umpire regardless of the decision and we never tell him or her to be quiet.
We know that, out of respect those playing, if we are pitchside and there is a sideline hit we should make sure our spectators get out of the way to allow the game to progress but no we have had an occasion where this has not happened.
We know people on the sidelines who give "banter" when a decision goes against us but do not ever giving positive encouragement when the decisions are right and would never, ever think about contributing positively training as an umpire and donning a whistle.
It is time that we, as the hockey family, bring this under control and ensure that our players, the umpires and the members of our opposition are treated with respect and encouraged to play our sport in the best possible way.
We ask all clubs, as we approach the Christmas break to remind all of their members of the England Hockey Code of Ethics and Behaviours. All clubs, in affiliating to England Hockey sign up and subscribe to the code. All clubs are responsible for ensuring that all players, coaches, managers and spectators who support their club are both aware of, understand and apply the code, so please encourage them to do the right thing.
Lastly, umpires are not responsible for the behaviour of spectators, this responsibility lies with the home club. So if, during a game an umpire, receives a complaint of spectator abuse during the a game they should turn to the home captain who is responsible for ensuring that the spectators start to behave in a more appropriate way.

Looks like some people are taking the pee!!
Urinating at the side of a hockey pitch.: We have received the following notice from England Hockey, sent to the East Region Hockey Umpires Association which we believe needs to be shared with all clubs:-

We are seeing an increasing number of complaints regarding urinating at the side of the pitch. As we are sure you will all agree, this behaviour is not only unpleasant but also a contravention of the EH ‘Respect – Code of Ethics and Behaviour’ – Disrepute Offence, not to mention in some cases a criminal offence. We expect all members to refrain from such behaviour. However, in the event of such incidences, in keeping with the revised Disrepute Complaint Regulations, we kindly ask that these be referred to EH as a Disrepute Complaint in the first instance. It is likely that offenders will face a suspension.