2021 Annual Report
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Season 2020/21 Annual Report National Rink Hockey Association of England Limited Registered No. 2376673 - Registered Address: 61 Bridge Street, Kington, Herefordshire, HR5 3DJ, United Kingdom Our NEW England Rink Hockey Our vision To provide widespread participation opportunities and increase the popularity of Rink Hockey in England. Be viewed as the most successful amateur rink hockey nation on earth. Our mission Fund team participation in all national competitions from spectator revenues, making participation entirely free of cost to players, by Season 2023/24. Grow player registrations to above 2,000 by Season 2025/26. Achieve recognition as a truly gender-equal, all abilities, community sport that works collaboratively with key stakeholders to provide quality participation opportunities and pathways for all participants. Our values Inclusivity Trust and Transparency Integrity and Honesty Professionalism Accountability and Results 3 National Rink Hockey Association of England Limited / Annual Report Season 2021/22 Contents C O N T E N T S Presidents Report 5 Covid-19 7 Affiliation & Registration 8 Affiliation 8 Registration 8 Online registration & e-registration card 9 e-registration cards 9 Governance 10 Executive Committee 10 Executive Subcommittees 11 Finance Sub-Committee 12 Marketing Sub-Committee 16 Competitions Sub-Committee 27 Region Associations 31 Northern Counties 31 Eastern Counties 34 South Eastern Counties 37 Committee of Rink Hockey Coaches 40 Responsibilities & Authorities 40 Committee Structure Change 40 National Accreditation Scheme 40 England Academy 43 Committee of Rink Hockey Referees 44 Responsibilities & Authorities 44 National Accreditation Scheme 45 Allocation of Referees & Tournament Head Officials 46 Club Head Referee 46 National Head Timekeeper 46 Uniform & Sponsorship 47 International 47 Referee Numbers 48 England Teams 49 Coaching & Management Structure 49 Strategic Priorities 50 A structure for the future 50 Commercial Focus 50 Accelerated Growth 51 Recruitment focus 52 Female Participation 53 World-Class Events 53 Short term objectives 54 Participation 54 Competition Delivery 54 High Performance 55 Commercial 55 One Sport 55 4 National Rink Hockey Association of England Limited / Annual Report Season 2021/22 Presidents Report I send my best wishes and thoughts to all those involved in rink hockey, up and down the country, particularly those that volunteer, as a coach, a referee, a timekeeper, or as a club or region committee member, because it’s through the dedication and contributions of these people that our sport ‘happens’, week in and week out. Despite the challenges Covid-19 has brought, including the postponement of so much hockey and the loss of some players, these volunteers have adapted incredibly well to the challenges faced and I am confident that through their work our sport will bounce rapidly back to growth with the start of Season 2021/22. Since my election as association president in July 2019, the National Executive Committee (NEC) has met monthly via zoom (3 to 4 hrs each) and used the Covid period to work on a number of projects to bring about positive evolution in our sport, with most committing 40 to 60 hours a week to their roles and opening up to the new approach of collaboration with regional peers on their subcommittees. This positive evolution to the operation of the association has enabled a structure more fit for the future, with more people helping each other, that is consultative and democratic in nature, and this has provided the NEC with far greater insight into the needs of all parts of the nation and ideas for the betterment of our sport In the season ahead the NEC shall be collectively striving to help regions, and the clubs within them, to evolve into recruiting ‘machines’, in which the vast majority of our players participate, providing approximately $6,000 in new support to the motivated, while also ensuring delivery of new, high quality, national competitions that become financially profitable, so the association has more money to invest in growth. At international level, the players, coaches and support team continue to put in an incredible effort, led by our hard working and committed National Coaching Director (Carlos Amaral), whose meticulous planning and preparation has significantly contributed to not only the significant development of skills, but also a greater enthusiasm for the sport at all levels across the nation, something that has without doubt contributed to improved retention of players over the years and noticeably limited attrition of young players during the forced Covid break. Unfortunately, Covid has brought into focus a democratic deficit within World Skate that makes it unaccountable to all member nations, with it becoming obvious that the organisation is run for the benefit of professional nations that dominate technical committee membership and show scant regard for the circumstances and challenges of amateur nations, demonstrated by their declaring forfeit the registration fees of clubs from ... 5 National Rink Hockey Association of England Limited / Annual Report Season 2021/22 Presidents Report continued ... amateur nation forced to withdraw from Euro league due to national covid restrictions (e.g. Kings Lynn RHC) and refusal to delay European Championships until some certainty is achieved as to Covid, per the will of 70% of member nations. On the positive, this has resulted in the formation of UERH - Union of European Roller Hockey (Andorra, Austria, Belgium, England, Germany, Israel, Netherlands, and Switzerland) who have agreed to work together in collaboration to develop participation in the sport, skill up referees and coaches, and advance the interest of amateur nations within World Skate, with organisation of ‘Super Summer Camps’, representative competitions and coordination of referee/coach accreditation in active discussion. Heading into the new season, I would like to welcome Swift Hockey Technology as the associations Official Equipment Provider, who will through sponsorship and supply have greatly added to the association's ability to support greater recruitment activity than ever before, while also reducing the cost of participation for England team members. Finally, it is my great pleasure to advise that the NEC has unanimously agreed to put forward to the AGM for consideration of appointment as Honorary Life Members, Carlos Amaral, and Ken Pughe. While more will be said at the meeting, it is the NEC’s collective belief that both individuals have contributed greatly to the advancement of the sport in England and well- deserving of our gratitude and recognition. I look forward to an exciting season ahead and to next year reporting significant growth in registrations and the financial health of the sport. Wishing you all the best for season 2021/22 Kos Galtos President National Rink Hockey Association of England 6 National Rink Hockey Association of England Limited / Annual Report Season 2021/22 Our sport through COVID-19 In March 2020, with the arrival of Covid-19, rink hockey like all team sports came abruptly to a halt. In the immediate period that followed, the rink hockey community rallied and took to social media to support, motivate and entertain each other with impressive skills videos and of course watching matches of the professional leagues. As restrictions began to lift, Return to Play guidance was developed and Clubs began appointing designated Covid Officers. Huge thanks go to all those whose efforts helped in implementing the necessary action plans in order to see rink hockey return. To date, there are no reported incidents of Covid-19 being transmitted through playing rink hockey in England. Whilst the situation remains uncertain, the association continues to engage with British Roller Sports Federation and relevant government departments to ensure the sport can get back to normal as soon as possible and will continue to communicate updates to the rink hockey community through the website and social media. A huge thank you goes to our volunteers and supporters, and our professional, passionate & dedicated Executive Committee who have been unfailing in their tireless support to get us through. Taking on even more workload throughout the COVID pandemic. 7 National Rink Hockey Association of England Limited / Annual Report Season 2021/22 Affiliation and registration Player registrations Total registrations 3 regions 44 rinks 22 clubs 245 officers / officials 953 players 23 life members 8 National Rink Hockey Association of England Limited / Annual Report Season 2021/22 Online registration & e-registration card Online registration To reduce the huge number of volunteer hours required to process registrations, improve communication through access to accurate contact details, and enable the introduction of e-registration cards, all registration, and re-registration of players, from the coming season, will be done directly by the individual concerned, via login to their WildApricot account and making payment. In coming weeks all club officers will be emailed with an explanation of the new process, including what to do for player transfers, and current registrants will be sent an email, to the address we have on file, that will help them gain direct access to their account, then followed up with instructions on how to renew their registration. Registered club officers will always be able to see a real-time list of their club members by going to the Club Admin portal and selecting the link ‘List of