Appendix: International Player Contract
These Guidelines describe the purpose of each of the major Underwater Hockey events run in New Zealand, including internationals. The specific rules for each event are laid out.
For a guide to running an event, refer to Running a Competition (NZUWH-05.DOC).
World Championships are held on even-numbered years. Southern Hemisphere Championships combined with Trans Tasman Tournament are held on odd-numbered years. There may be other irregularly held events. Refer to the CMAS rules and the Southern Hemisphere Championships Guidelines for further details.
Players must be paid-up members of NZU.
Players must have paid their Underwater Hockey levies.
Players must be NZ residents, and have been resident for at least 12 months before the event.
The following grades are normally offered for World Championships: Men, Women, Masters. For Southern Hemisphere Championships the grades are Open (Men) Masters, Women Masters, Open (Men), Women, Open (Male) Juniors, Junior Women. Refer to the SHC Guidelines for more details.
Normally a committee is appointed to handle all organisation if an international event is held in NZ. These events are sufficiently unusual that their organisation is not covered in this document.
The tournament is played to full, current CMAS rules.
Internationals are usually held in April or May.
Coaches, Managers and Selectors are appointed by the National Committee.
The following numbers are appointed:
Coaches: one per team. A team coach may appoint assistant coaches (and have that appointment confirmed by the National Committee), but from the National Committee's point of view a team will have only one coach. Only one coach will be funded by a team, unless the team agrees to the funding of assistant coaches.
Managers: the number of managers for a squad is not fixed. Ideally there would be one per team. In practice, to reduced the players' expense, there may be fewer managers appointed. For teams travelling internationally there should only be one travelling manager per two teams. There may also be non-travelling managers to assist with organisation in New Zealand. If the squad has more than one manager, then one manager is appointed as Chief Manager.
Selectors: two per team. Selectors may be appointed for more than one team. Normally the coach is the third selector. If the coach elects not to be a selector, then a third selector is appointed for that team.
The National Committee will consider the following when appointing coaches:
Coaches are normally appointed for one year (one event).
Coaches for Open Men and Open Women should be appointed in odd years, with the expectation that the appointment will be carried over to the even years (World Championship years). This reappointment of coaches is not automatic, but is the norm.
The coach has freedom to plan training camps, training programmes, assistant coaches, and other coaching assistance as needed. The coach has final authority over all training, playing, and game-related activities for the team being coached. This includes ensuring that players receive adequate sleep and food. The coach should bear in mind the limited funds available when planning training camps and coaching assistance.
The following expenses will be covered from team funds:
The following expenses are entirely the coach's responsibility (basically anything that is personal):
If the coach is a player in any team at the International Event, he or she will be required to cover his or her own accommodation expenses for the days of the tournament itself.
To keep the National Committee informed of the coach's progress, the National Committee requires from the coach:
These are sent to the NZUWH Competitions Officer or to the Secretary, who will ensure that they are circulated to appropriate people on the Committee.
The National Committee will consider the following when appointing managers:
Managers are normally appointed for one year (one event).
Managers for Open Men and Open Women should be appointed in odd years, with the expectation that the appointment will be carried over to the even years (World Championship years), if the manager's performance is acceptable. This reappointment of managers is not automatic, but is the norm.
Where a squad has more than one manager, then the National Committee will appoint one manager as being Chief Manager. The chief manager will be responsible for the distribution of squad-related work between the squad managers.
A full job description for the Manager, and a Manager's Handbook is available separately. The manager has the responsibility for the finances of the teams and coaches being managed. As such, the manager is expected to provide the squad members with a realistic budget within three weeks of the squad selections.
An important responsibility is that of communication. The manager and the coach need to ensure that the squad members receive news in writing at least every month.
Funds for the teams being managed are drawn from several sources. Co-ordination of fund-raising is part of the manager's job, with a similar priority to the manager's other activities.
The manager has final authority over all travel arrangements for players and officials, and for uniforms. The manager and coach should work together to ensure that players are housed and fed adequately.
The manager must write press releases following each game, and arrange for their circulation to the New Zealand media (normally by sending them to the NZU office).
Squad members and the coaches will feel well informed, by a newsletter at least monthly. The administrative load on the coaches will be light because of the efforts of the manager. The final cost to the players should not exceed the budget, and should be within 20% of the budget.
The following expenses will be covered from team funds:
The following expenses are entirely the manager's or coach's responsibility (basically anything that is personal):
If the manager is a player in any team at the International Event, he or she will be required to cover his or her own accommodation expenses for the days of the tournament itself.
To keep the National Committee informed of the manager's and team's progress, the following is required:
The reports are to be sent to the NZUWH Competitions Officer, or to the Secretary, who will ensure that they are circulated to appropriate people on the committee.
The National Committee will consider the following when choosing selectors:
Selectors are appointed for the selection of one team, from initial selection until the team is reduced to 12 players.
Selectors must be involved in all events when the number of players in the squad is reduced, until the final team is selected.
Selection of the 10 players for any particular game is the responsibility of the coach.
The three selectors (normally including the coach) have the following powers and responsibilities:
The cost of the selectors' travel to selections will be covered from team funds.
Selection must be open to all players who meet the eligibility requirements above, and the particular requirements of the tournament (for example, age).
The first selection training camp for an international team must be advertised nation-wide at least four weeks in advance. The advertisement should include the name of the coach, and any particulars of the International Event (including a provisional cost). The advertisement will normally include a request for players to register by sending their details (name, address, phone number, playing experience, birth date, etc.) to the coach, manager or Secretary. The advertisement should be in the national newsletter. If that is not possible, then each club must be informed, and the clubs are expected to pass on details to suitable players.
All eligible players may attend the first selection, whether or not they registered.
Players who were in the equivalent team the previous year may on rare occasions be automatically included in the squad, without attending the first selection, providing they send a valid excuse in writing to the Secretary at least three weeks in advance of the first selection. The National Committee has the discretion to accept or reject the excuse. Excused players MUST attend the second and subsequent selections. Excused players may be charged a fee equivalent to the cost of other players attending the selections.
As a guide, the selection sequence for an international team should be:
Introductory training camp. Of particular importance to players without international experience. The coach explains the style of play, and describes any skills or activities that he or she will be focusing on. No selection takes place, and no selectors need be present. Players attend at their own expense.
First selection. All eligible players attend. A squad of up to 16 is selected. Players who are in danger of not being finally selected are advised areas for improvement. All players complete a fitness test. Travel is equalised between all attending players.
Final selection. All players complete a fitness test. A team of up to 12 is selected. Up to 2 non-travelling reserves may be named, to become travelling players if one of the selected players drops out. Travel is equalised between all attending players.
There are generally training camps between selections. These may be attended by the selectors, but this is not necessary. No players are dropped at training camps, but the coach may advise particular players that they are in danger of being dropped.
The coach briefs the other selectors. The coach describes the style of play, and the qualities that the players should have.
All players are tested for fitness.
The selectors view and assess the skills of individual players.
Players are interviewed, so that the selectors can assess their commitment to the team, and how well they will integrate with the team.
The selectors watch the players during games. Each player should have a minimum of 15 minutes playing time in front of the selectors, unless already ruled out by other factors. The final selection games must be after the players have had the opportunity to practise game play in the style the coach will use. The selectors should watch earlier games to assess how easily the players adapt to and pick up the coach's style of play. The final game must be in a pool as close as possible to that in which the international games will be played.
The selectors choose a squad or team. Where possible, they note weaknesses that result in a player not being selected. Where a potentially controversial decision must be made, the selectors should document the reason behind the decision. The selectors should be aware that they will be open to accusations of bias, and must make their best efforts to demonstrate lack of bias.
The squad or team is announced. Dropped players are given the opportunity to ask about areas for improvement.
As a condition of selection, all players sign a player contract. An example is in the appendices. The contract must be signed at the first selection, and is a condition of entry into the squad.
The team list is forwarded to the Secretary of the National Committee.
Players who wish to dispute the result of the selections must do so in writing to the National Committee within one week of the selections. The only grounds for appeal are that the selectors showed bias, or that the player did not have sufficient playing time in front of the selectors. If the National Committee accepts that the player has grounds for appeal, then the player is added to the squad as an extra player, until the next selections.
All players and officials of an international squad are ambassadors for New Zealand Underwater Hockey and for New Zealand. They are expected to behave appropriately.
Players and officials are required to wear uniforms at the following times:
The uniform for any particular event may be decided by the officials and team captains.
The uniform must be worn in a neat and tidy fashion. All players and officials are to wear the uniform in exactly the same fashion (eg everyone with tracksuit jackets on, or no-one with tracksuit jackets).
Normally the uniforms for the Open Men and Open Women teams will be distinguishable from the uniforms of the age group teams.
All players and officials are at the international event primarily for the games. As such, games, training sessions and coaching sessions must always take highest priority. The players and officials must not partake in any activity that would result in their reduced performance in games.
Players must sign a contract as condition of selection. The contract is appended.
Officials must sign a contract as condition of appointment. The contract is appended.
As representatives of New Zealand Underwater Hockey, players and officials are subject to the authority of New Zealand Underwater Hockey. The authority is delegated in the following hierarchy:
If there is an issue affecting the entire travelling party (for example, local travel arrangements, menus, uniform) then the officials will discuss and resolve the issue by consensus. The senior manager will chair any discussion, and have a casting vote if required.
Officials travelling as part of the New Zealand party, but having functions unrelated to the games of the New Zealand teams, have no authority over any of the New Zealand party, and must abide by logistical decisions made by the managers.
If any dispute requires appeal, then the escalation of appeal is the reverse of the authority chain. Final authority is held by the Chairperson of the National Committee.
Regionals is the highest quality of hockey to be played in New Zealand. The best players in each region play in the regional teams. Games are played to current CMAS rules. Regionals is also a forum for selecting the New Zealand teams for the following years.
There are the following six regions:
These regions are defined in the NZU constitution, and can only be changed by a Notice of Motion at an NZU AGM or SGM.
Players must be paid-up members of NZU.
Players must have paid their Underwater Hockey levies.
Each player must pay a tournament levy. (Refer to Committee Operation NZUWH-01.DOC for the levy amount.)
Players must be recognised members of their region, and have played in their region for the bulk of the six months prior to Regionals. Players who spent some of the six months prior to Regionals living away from their permanent address (for example students at university) should play for the region in which they played or lived for the most time in the last six months.
A player from one region may play for another if:
A regional team who has a borrowed player not meeting these criteria is automatically ineligible for medals or prizes.
Full team entry forms must be received by the organisers at least one month before the start of play, so that the organisers or NZU can check that all players are financial and legal. The tournament organisers may (at their discretion) accept later entries, with the understanding that a team entering late may not be eligible for medals or prizes.
The following grades must be offered: Open Men, Open Women.
The following grades may be offered if pool time permits: Masters Men, Masters Women, Junior Men, Junior Women. The cut-off ages for these grades will be in accordance with current CMAS rules if the Regionals is the year prior to a World Championships; or in accordance with current Southern Hemisphere Guidelines if the Regionals is the year prior to a Southern Hemisphere Championships.
The final decision about the offered grades is made by the Competitions Co-ordinator.
Teams may only enter one grade. Teams may be offered games in other grades during the tournament, but are only eligible for prizes in the grade that they enter.
A region may enter one team per grade. If pool time permits, the Competitions Co-ordinator may accept additional teams entered by a region in a given grade, but those teams are not eligible for prizes or medals.
A venue meeting CMAS rules must be chosen. If there is only one suitable venue available, then the cost of travel will be shared between all attending players. If there is more than one suitable venue, then the event will rotate between venues from year to year, and all attending players will be responsible for their own travel expenses.
Suggested rotation between venues is:
Auckland or Rotorua (alternate cycles)
Wellington
Christchurch or Invercargill (alternate cycles).
Travel equalisation is intended to make the cost of travelling to the venue approximately equal for all attending players. The cost for a given player is taken as the cheapest available travel option. If the player can reach the venue by surface in less than 6 hours of travel, and the cost of surface travel by the cheapest public transport is less than the cost of the cheapest public air transport, then that is the standard travel cost for the player. Otherwise the standard cost for the player is the cost of the cheapest available public air transport. Cheapest fare means cheapest fare published, irrespective of whether the player obtained that fare.
If travel equalisation is required, then the tournament organiser must work out a budget before the tournament, and require the relevant teams to pay their share before the first game of the event. No money may be requested from any team after the event. Teams should be refunded travel expenses within 10 weeks of the event.
The organisers must submit a budget to the National Committee before issuing entry forms. The budget should aim to make a profit of less than $100 for the event itself. The profit for the event should be used by the organisers to upgrade the venue for future tournaments. If the National Committee runs the event, then the profit may be used however the National Committee sees fit.
The organisers may treat the function as a fund-raising event. The National Committee has no interest and no involvement in the running of the function.
Tournament levies must be paid to the Treasurer of the National Committee within four weeks of the event.
The tournament is played to full CMAS rules, with the following exceptions:
Referees must be qualified Level 1 or higher. Referees must not be players from teams in the same grades as they are refereeing. Two water referees must be provided per game.
The tournament budget should include allowance for subsidising the travel and accomodation of non-playing referees. The travel and accomodation of the Chief Referee is included as a tournament expense.
The Chief Referee must not be a player in the tournament. The same person should be Chief Referee for the entire tournament.
Referees should use hand signals to control the game, rather than carrying gongs.
Medals must be awarded for first, second and third place in each grade. Trophies must be awarded to the winning team in each grade. Other fun prizes are normal.
Regionals is to be held within four weeks of Easter, and before any international tournament. The preferred time is the end of March to the middle of April. Games will be played on Friday and Saturday. Finals may be played on Sunday. Some pool time on Sunday must be kept aside for New Zealand teams.
Nationals is a club-based tournament. Its aim is to identify the best club team in each grade. Participation is encouraged, and the tournament and rules are intended to maximise participation. In particular, Nationals is seen as a way for players in all grades to develop their skills and team play. Games are played to a subset of international rules.
A club consists of any group of underwater hockey players who consistently play together. Clubs must be directly or indirectly affiliated to NZU.
Players must be paid-up members of NZU.
Players must have paid their Underwater Hockey levies.
Each player must pay a tournament levy. (Refer to Committee Operation NZUWH-01.DOC for the levy amount.)
Players must declare the club that they will play for, at least six months before any event sanctioned and organised by NZ Underwater Hockey. This will be recorded in the player database. Only one club can be recorded. There can be no overlap in declarations, so players are recognised as members of only one club for at least six months at a time. Exceptions are at the discretion of the National Committee. A player forced to change cities for any reason will be exempt.
A team which has one or more players from other clubs is automatically ineligible for medals or prizes.
Full team entry forms must be received by the organisers at least one month before the start of play, so that the organisers or NZU can check that all players are financial and legal. The tournament organisers may (at their discretion) accept later entries, with the understanding that a team entering late may not be eligible for medals or prizes.
The following grades must be offered: A, B, C, Women.
The following grades may also be offered: Premier, Mixed.
A grade must have a minimum of four teams to be viable. Teams applying for a grade which is likely to be unpopular (such as Mixed or Women) must indicate a second choice. If their first choice is not offered, then they must be given at least two week's notice of that fact.
Teams may only enter one grade. Teams may be offered games in other grades during the tournament, but are only eligible for prizes in the grade that they enter.
Teams are not automatically entered in the grade that they request. The tournament organisers or the National Committee must determine an appropriate grade for each team. If this is different from the grade the team stated in their entry form, the tournament organisers must advise the team of the change before the draw is finalised.
Each player is allocated an individual grade (P, A, B, C). Females are allocated both a mixed grade, and a different (higher) grade to be used for women-only competition.
The Competitions Co-ordinator will allocate teams to grades based on the individual player grades.
These provide a guide for allocating teams to grades. The allocations must also take into account the results of recent games between teams in the same region.
Players are subject to re-grading after Club Nationals. All players in a team that wins a Grade at Nationals are automatically re-graded with the next higher grade. Players in a team that loses a Grade at Nationals may request to be given the next lower grade.
Players in an open adult Regional or International team will be automatically graded as Premier.
The venue must have provision for at least two games to be played simultaneously. The playing courts must comply with CMAS rules as closely as possible.
Suggested rotation between venues is:
Auckland or Rotorua (alternate cycles)
Wellington
Christchurch or Invercargill (alternate cycles).
The organisers must submit a budget to the National Committee before issuing entry forms. The budget should aim to make a profit of less than $100 for the event itself. The profit for the event should be used by the organisers to upgrade the venue for future tournaments. If the National Committee runs the event, then the profit may be used however the National Committee sees fit.
The organisers may treat the function as a fund-raising event. The National Committee has no interest and no involvement in the running of the function.
Tournament levies must be paid to the Treasurer of the National Committee within four weeks of the event.
The tournament is played to full CMAS rules, with the following exceptions:
Referees must be qualified Level 1 or higher. Referees who have completed a Level 1 course, but not yet logged ten games, are acceptable as referees. Referees are normally players from teams in the same grades as they are refereeing. Two referees must be provided per game.
The tournament budget should include allowance for subsidising the travel and accomodation of non-playing referees. The travel and accomodation of the Chief Referee is included as a tournament expense.
The Chief Referee should be the same person for the duration of the tournament. Chief referees for each court may be appointed if the venue has more than one playing area.
Referees should use hand signals to control the game, rather than carrying gongs.
Medals must be awarded for first, second and third place in each grade. Trophies must be awarded to the winning team in each grade. Other fun prizes are normal.
Nationals is to be held over a weekend between November 15 and December 15.
Games will be played on Friday and Saturday. A function will be held on Saturday night. Pool time may be made available for social games New Zealand teams on Sunday.
North and South Island Champs are club-based tournaments. Their aim is to identify the best club team in each grade. Participation is encouraged, and the tournament and rules are intended to maximise participation. In particular, North and South Island Champs is seen as a way for players in all grades to develop their skills and team play. They tend to be more social and less competitive than Nationals. Games are played to a subset of international rules.
A club consists of any group of underwater hockey players who consistently play together. Clubs must be directly or indirectly affiliated to NZU.
Players must be paid-up members of NZU.
Players must have paid their Underwater Hockey levies.
Each player must pay a tournament levy. (Refer to Committee Operation NZUWH-01.DOC for the levy amount.)
Players must declare the club that they will play for, at least six months before any event sanctioned and organised by NZ Underwater Hockey. This will be recorded in the player database. Only one club can be recorded. There can be no overlap in declarations, so players are recognised as members of only one club for at least six months at a time. Exceptions are at the discretion of the National Committee. A player forced to change cities for any reason will be exempt.
A team which has one or more players from other clubs is automatically ineligible for medals or prizes.
Full team entry forms must be received by the organisers at least one month before the start of play, so that the organisers or NZU can check that all players are financial and legal. The tournament organisers may (at their discretion) accept later entries, with the understanding that a team entering late may not be eligible for medals or prizes.
The following grades may be offered: Premier, A, B, C, Women, Mixed.
A grade must have a minimum of four teams to be viable. Teams applying for a grade which is likely to be unpopular (such as Mixed or Women) must indicate a second choice. If their first choice is not offered, then they must be given at least two week's notice of that fact.
Teams may only enter one grade. Teams may be offered games in other grades during the tournament, but are only eligible for prizes in the grade that they enter.
Teams are not automatically entered in the grade that they request. The tournament organisers or the National Committee must determine an appropriate grade for each team.
The process described for Nationals (section 4.5) is followed.
The process described for Nationals (section 4.6) is followed.
The venue must have provision for at least two games to be played simultaneously. The playing courts must comply with CMAS rules as closely as possible.
The organisers must submit a budget to the National Committee before issuing entry forms. The budget should aim to make a profit of less than $100 for the event itself. The profit for the event should be used by the organisers to upgrade the venue for future tournaments. If the National Committee runs the event, then the profit may be used however the National Committee sees fit.
The organisers may treat the function as a fund-raising event. The National Committee has no interest and no involvement in the running of the function.
Tournament levies must be paid to the Treasurer of the National Committee within four weeks of the event.
The tournament is played to full CMAS rules, with the following exceptions:
Referees should be qualified Level 1 or higher. Referees who have completed a Level 1 course, but not yet logged ten games, are acceptable as referees. Referees are normally players from teams in the same grades as they are refereeing. Two referees must be provided per game.
The tournament budget may include allowance for subsidising the travel and accomodation of non-playing referees. The travel and accomodation of the Chief Referee is included as a tournament expense.
The Chief Referee should be the same person for the duration of the tournament.
Referees should use hand signals to control the game, rather than carrying gongs.
Medals must be awarded for first place in each grade. Medals or patches must be awarded for second and third place in each grade. Trophies may be awarded to the winning team in each grade. Other fun prizes are normal.
North Island Champs and South Island Champs are to be held within four weeks of May 15.
Games will be played on Saturday and Sunday. A function may be held on Saturday night.
Schools Nationals is a school-based tournament. Its aim is to identify the best school team in each grade. Participation is encouraged, and the tournament and rules are intended to maximise participation. In particular, Schools Nationals is seen as a way for players in all grades to develop their skills and team play. Games are played to a subset of international rules.
Schools Regionals is held at the same weekend as Schools Nationals. It provides a higher quality of competition for school players. Games are played as close as possible to international rules.
A school team consists of players who attended the same school for at least one school term in the year of the event.
A school regional team consists of players from one of the three regions:
Players must have paid their Underwater Hockey levies.
Each player must pay a tournament levy. (Refer to Committee Operation NZUWH-01.DOC for the levy amount.)
Players must all be members of the same school, and have attended that school for at least one school term. The exception is the Novice grade.
A team which has one or more players from other schools is automatically ineligible for medals or prizes.
Full team entry forms must be received by the organisers at least two weeks before the start of play, so that the organisers or NZU can check that all players are financial and legal. The tournament organisers may (at their discretion) accept later entries, with the understanding that a team entering late may not be eligible for medals or prizes.
The following grades must be offered: Open Boys, Girls, Mixed, Novice.
The following grades may be offered: Junior Boys, Junior Girls.
A grade must have a minimum of four teams to be viable. Teams applying for a grade which is likely to be unpopular must indicate a second choice. If their first choice is not offered, then they must be given at least two week's notice of that fact.
Teams may only enter one grade. Teams may be offered games in other grades during the tournament, but are only eligible for prizes in the grade that they enter.
Teams are not automatically entered in the grade that they request. The tournament organisers or the National Committee must determine an appropriate grade for each team.
The Novice grade is open to mixed teams. Players must be attending their first Schools Nationals. Players in any Novice team need not be drawn from the same school.
Refer below to Rules for the definition of a Mixed grade.
The venue must have provision for at least two games to be played simultaneously. The playing courts must comply with CMAS rules as closely as possible.
The organisers must submit a budget to the National Committee before issuing entry forms. The budget should aim to make a profit of less than $100 for the event itself. The profit for the event should be used by the organisers to upgrade the venue for future tournaments. If the National Committee runs the event, then the profit may be used however the National Committee sees fit.
The organisers may treat the function as a fund-raising event. The National Committee has no interest and no involvement in the running of the function.
Tournament levies must be paid to the Treasurer of the National Committee within four weeks of the event.
The tournament is played to full CMAS rules, with the following exceptions:
Referees should be qualified Level 1 or higher, but one junior referee is permitted for each game, providing the other referee is qualified Level 1 or higher. Referees who have completed a Level 1 course, but not yet logged ten games, are acceptable as referees. Referees are normally coaches of teams in the same grades as they are refereeing. Two referees must be provided per game.
The tournament budget may include allowance for subsidising the travel and accomodation of non-playing referees. The travel and accomodation of the Chief Referee is included as a tournament expense.
The Chief Referee should be the same person for the duration of the tournament.
Referees should use hand signals to control the game, rather than carrying gongs.
Medals must be awarded for first, second and third place in each grade. Trophies must be awarded to the winning team in each grade. Other fun prizes are normal.
Schools Nationals is to be held on the last weekend of the third school term.
School games will be played on Friday and Saturday. Schools Regional games will be played in a continuous block, normally on Sunday morning. A function will be held at Sunday lunchtime.
Full name Address Phone number
I agree to pay the expenses incurred during the tour, provided that those expenses are reasonable and accounted for fully. I accept that there will be some expenses that will not be refunded in the event of my early withdrawal from the team, and that any deposit I make to cover those expenses may not be refunded.
Signed Date
Created by John Stoke. Last updated 31 January 1997.