• England Hockey Leagues

East League / GMS Update 4 October 2022

Dear All,

A few notes to keep you up to date.

The latest on GMS is that stress testing continues, but they may be able to make a decision this afternoon as to whether it is reliably fixed, or still too risky; whether that will be announced immediately, I do not know: a briefing conference has been arranged by EH for the 8 Adult League Areas for Thursday evening.

Last week, EH indicated it would be looking at a staged return; some Areas are pressing for an immediate return to GMS, this weekend: only then can the stress-testing be proved. If that view does not prevail on Thursday, we will continue for another week with the old paper process. We will let you know immediately we have a decision.

In the meantime, reporting results to your league managers: a few notes.

  1. Please make it clear what you are reporting: state the League, state the score (& any cards), make it clear who you are: just saying here are the Team Sheets is, frankly, not helpful: some are barely legible, the top of the page frequently out of camera focus, and unclear as to the result. Some do not tally with the opposition record. We have, I think, 97 clubs, 50 leagues, about 600 teams: please help your league managers who are having to identify and then input your data. Yes, the Team Sheets should be sent, but please set out the basic information on the email. Please remember you will have to enter the Team Sheets digitally when GMS is up again.
  2. Cards must be reported: we are currently dealing with a match on 24.09.22 involving 3 Red Cards; we have had no report from the clubs concerned: unacceptable. 
  3. A lot of clubs have not registered with GMS their League Liaison Officer or Club Contact: since GMS cascades, if you do not have a Club Contact, you cannot register a Team Contact; in which case you cannot access Team Sheets; in which case penalties will inevitably follow. If a decision is made on Thursday to take on GMS fully, you will have only one day to get yourself organised. Try contacting GMS Support now, they may be able to enter your details manually. Be organised on the match day: you will need a smart phone and time: umpires will want to see team sheets, and you will need to agree these with your opposition after the match: if they differ, you (and we) have a problem. GMS will be a completely different way of working
  4. All communications to the League: make it clear who you are: “we won, 2-1, Dean” doesn’t get far. Signing off “HCC” unhelpful, as is copying us in to a train of emails, which are not easily understandable as to which team it is who has conceded, for example.

Chris. 

East Area League Secretary

chris.perry48@yahoo.com