1. The Association shall be the WELSH HOCKEY UMPIRES ASSOCIATION - hereinafter known as the ASSOCIATION. The Association shall be affiliated to the Welsh Hockey Union under its Rules.

2. Classes of membership of the Association shall be:-
   1. Associate Members
   2. Members.
   3. Honorary Life Members. The Executive Committee for consideration by the Annual General Meeting shall make nominations for Honorary Life Membership.

   4. Life Members. A member reaching the age of 60 may become a Life Member following application to, and approval by, the Executive Committee.

3. Any Regional Umpires Association set up in the geographical regions of the WHU shall be affiliated to the WHUA. Any such Regional Umpires Association shall be controlled the WHUA who shall have the power to terminate such affiliation.

4. The objects of the Association shall be:
   1. To foster and encourage Umpires and Technical Officers in Wales and to concern itself with the general interests and future development of umpires and technical officials.
   2. To maintain a register of members.
   3. To ensure that umpires and technical officials are kept informed of any changes in the Rules of Hockey or the introduction of experimental rules.
   4. To appoint umpires / technical officials to matches as and when required
   5. To provide a system of grading for umpires.

   6. To provide coaching at all levels.

5. The affairs of the Association shall be governed by an Executive Committee consisting of:-
   Chairperson
   Honorary Secretary
   Honorary Treasurer/Membership Secretary
   Coaching  Chairperson
   Appointments Chairperson
   Two representatives from EACH of the two WHUA Regional Associations

   The Chairperson, Honorary Secretary, Honorary Treasurer, Membership Secretary and Chairs shall be elected by ballot at the Annual General Meeting of the Association.  The Chairperson shall be elected for a period of two years. All shall be eligible for re-election.  Regional representatives shall be elected or appointed by the relevant Regional Association.  Four members shall form a quorum at a Committee Meeting.  The Executive Committee shall form the Umpiring and Technical Committee of the Welsh Hockey Union, as required.

6. Sub Committees:
   1. An Appointments’ Committee consisting of a Chairperson and four others, (two women and two men) one of whom will act as Secretary.  The Chairperson following suitable advertisements and taking cognisance of the desired criteria set from time to time by the Executive Committee will select the membership of the Appointments Committee.

   The term of office of the Appointments Committee shall be: -

   Position	Review Process
   Chair of Appointments	3 Year rolling tenure Position reviewed by due process
   Selector 1 Man and 1 Woman	2 years initially then  3 year rolling tenure Position reviewed by due process
   Selector 1 Man and 1 Woman	1 year initially then 3 year rolling tenure Position reviewed by due process
   Assessors	Annual feedback by Level 2 or above umpires to    Appointments Committee Annual change through review by Selection Panel

   2. A Coaching Committee consisting of a Chairperson and one member nominated by each Region.

7. The Executive Committee shall have the power to:
   1. Draw up and amend, when necessary, terms of reference, duties and responsibilities of Sub Committees.
   2. Fill any vacancy occurring during the year
   3. Appoint Sub Committees and co-opt to any Sub Committee members who need not be members of the Executive Committee.
   4. Remove from the list of members the name of any member for such reasons as the Executive Committee may consider sufficient, provided that the member shall have the right of appearing before the Executive Committee and giving such explanations as he/she may desire within twenty-one days of any notification under this rule. The member may make a written appeal to the Association’s Appeal Committee (See Rule 13). The Committee’s decision will be final and binding on both member and Executive Committee.
   5. Remove from the list of members the name of any member who allows his/her subscription to lapse for more than one year.
   6. Retain all monies coming into the hands of the Association in respect of fees, donations or otherwise and to hold them as the property of the Association. The funds of the Association shall be banked and the Treasurer shall sign all cheques upon the account for the time being, who shall have the power to pay the general expenses of the Association and any other expenses authorised by the Executive Committee. 

   7. Co-opt non-voting members on to the Executive Committee for a particular meeting or for the period up to the next Annual General Meeting.

8. The Annual Subscription of the Association shall be a sum approved at an Annual General Meeting of the Association and shall be payable by all classes of membership EXCEPT Honorary Life Members and Life Members by 31 October each year.  The once only fee payable by members becoming Life Members shall be determined at an Annual General Meeting.

9. Candidates for membership shall complete a Registration Form and forward it to the Membership Secretary.

10. Grades for Active Members will be determined by the Regional Associations for Level 1 to Level 3 and by the Appointments Committee for National. Guidelines for determining specific grades and the criteria for promotion from one grade to another will be as laid down by the Executive Committee.

11. The Annual General Meeting of the Association shall be held on a date in the month of September each year or as near as possible either before or after, and at a venue to be determined by the Executive Committee. The meeting shall receive the Report of the elected officers and other members of the Executive Committee, the statement of accounts, elect officers and other members of the Executive Committee and transact any other business, which may be brought before it. Not less than 14 days written notice shall be given to each member. The financial year of the Association shall end on 31st July in each year.

12. A Special General Meeting of the Association shall be called by the Executive Committee at their discretion or on the written requisition signed by not less than eight members and within 28 days of the receipt of such requisition. Provided that the purpose of the meeting shall be stated in the requisition and in the notices to members and no other business shall be transacted thereat. Not less than 14 days notice shall be given to members.

13. An Appeal Committee, consisting of 3 members (who can, but need not, be members of the Executive Committee) shall be approved by the Executive Committee from time to time - See Rule 7 (d).

14. All members, except Associate Members, shall be entitled to attend and vote at a General Meeting.

15. Every motion at a General Meeting and at meetings of the Executive Committee shall be decided by a majority of votes, the Chairperson having a second and casting vote except that the Constitution of the Association may be varied only at the Annual General Meeting by the support of two-thirds of the Members present and voting. A notice of motion to amend the Constitution of the Association shall be signed by the proposer and seconder and shall be sent in writing to the Honorary Secretary by 1st August in each year.

16. The Executive Committee shall have power to decide any matters concerning the affairs of the Association not specifically covered by these Rules and any such matter that has a material affect on the affairs of the Association shall be reported to the next Annual or Special General Meeting.

17. Any amendments properly made to these Rules shall not come into force until approval for such changes has been given by the Welsh Hockey Union.

18. In the event that the Association is dissolved then all monies held in its bank account, after deduction of proper expenses, shall be distributed in such a manner as shall be determined by an Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting.

[Back to top]  [Back to WHUA]