• Competitions & Events

Selection Exemption Process & Form

Applying for an SXP

For the 2024-25 season clubs / teams wishing to request a selection exemption pass  for a player shall do so by completing the online form  here:

SXP Form

A sub-committee will review all submissions and either approve or reject on the basis of evidence supplied and GMS data.

The sub-committee has been set up on a quadrant basis, however will work together to generate consensus and cover for absences.

The SXP sub-committee will review all SXP requests submitted by 8pm Wednesday reviewed prior to Saturdays matches, for those received after this time, they will try to review as many as possible prior to the match day. For any submission after the deadline whereby confirmation hasn’t been received, the committee will consider receipt of the form as a request prior to the match, however playing the player(s) in question is at the Teams risk.

SXP Sub-Committee (with notional area)

Rosemary Prince                      South East

Chris Perry                               North East

Phil Churchman                        North West

Nicki Cast                                 South West

Ali Smyth                                  Prem / Div 1S&N

Principals of Fair Selection

Selection of teams should be in accordance with the fair selection rules included within section 8 of the regulations, we recommend all team captains, managers and club administrators to read this and Appendix 4 “Fair Selection & Player Eligibility Guidance  Notes” prior to raising any issues or queries.

As stated in regulation 8.1.4   “The ALMC can determine at any time whether or not a Club is in breach of the Aims of Fair Selection.” .

For the 2024-25 Season the ALMC have determined that in order to allow a fair determination of team playing strength, and in accordance with 8.1.3 “Clubs have flexibility to select players hierarchically by availability but must not select players below their regular team to strengthen lower ranked teams.”, In order to allow a quantitative assessment of playing strength, Clubs will not be allowed to concede “top” or “middle” ranked sides for the first 3 match weeks of the season. In any circumstance where a Club does not fulfill a fixture in the first three weeks of the season, the lower teams will be deemed unfair selections and the games shall be awarded as a 5-0 loss and  1 point deduction shall be applied.

The Standard Adult Regulations contain a set of examples where an SXP may be granted in appendix 4, which has been replicated below, please make sure you've read these before you submit your request:

The regulations can be found here:

Standard Adult League Regulations 2024 - 25


APPENDIX 4 – FAIR SELECTION & PLAYER ELIGIBILITY GUIDANCE NOTES

The guidelines outlined in this reference ensure a comprehensive framework for Fair Selection while allowing for necessary exceptions under appropriate circumstances.

Clubs can maintain fairness, competition integrity and equal opportunities in player eligibility and team selection by complying with Fair Selection and considering the examples provided in these notes.

AIMS OF FAIR SELECTION

    1. For clubs to have reasonable flexibility in managing player selection.
    2. For a club’s League teams to be selected in hierarchical order and be composed of players that reflects their level of ability within their club based on
      1. their availability on any one day; and
      2. not being selected at a lower level than usual to strengthen a lower team.
    3. To endeavour to ensure all Clubs to feel that competition is “fair” and that clubs are not disadvantaged by the application of these Regulations.
    4. For players to be able to play where possible and not be “unselectable” due to the League Regulations.

FAIR SELECTION NOTES

Objective

The Fair Selection framework aims to ensure fairness, competition integrity, and equal opportunities in player eligibility and team selection for all participating clubs. The framework provides clubs with reasonable flexibility while maintaining guidelines to ensure fairness and prevent unfair advantages.

Player Selection Hierarchy

Clubs should select players for their League teams based on a hierarchical order determined by availability. Players should not be selected at a lower level than their Regular Team to strengthen a lower-ranked team.

Doubling Up Restrictions

Doubling up, defined as playing in multiple teams on the same matchday, is generally not permitted except in specific cases. Any exception to the doubling up restrictions requires a Selection Exemption Pass, which is granted on a case-by-case basis for situations not covered by the general guidelines. The doubling up restrictions varies by Grade (refer to 3.2 below).

SELECTION EXEMPTION NOTES

    1. A Selection Exemption Pass (SXP) can be provided for a specific time period by the ALMC at their discretion to manage specific scenarios. A club can request a retrospective exemption in the case of an emergency. Clubs are encouraged to request SXPs in advance, although they may also be considered retrospectively in cases where injuries occur close to the match start time, such as during warm-up.
    2. The doubling up restrictions vary by Grade. Any doubling up may require an SXP.

Grade 1

  • No doubling up is permitted except in very specific circumstances that will always require an SXP:
    • If both the 1st team (1s) and 2nd team (2s) play in the EHL, and a 1s player is injured immediately before the game a Selection Exemption Pass (SXP) is required for a 2s player to play 1s as cover. A 1s player cannot double up for 2s.
    • If a Regular Grade 1 goalkeeper (GK) needs to cover at Grade 2 or 3 due to exceptional GK availability or injury issues an SXP is required.
    • If a Grade 1 GK plays outfield in a lower-ranked team to help with numbers an SXP is required.


Grade 2

  • No doubling up is permitted except for a goalkeeper with an SXP.
  • Grade 2 players may double up only in the following cases:
    • If a Regular Grade 2 GK needs to cover as GK at Grade 1 due to exceptional GK availability or injury issues, an SXP is required from England Hockey.
    • If a Regular Grade 2 GK needs to cover as GK at Grade 2 or 3 due to exceptional GK availability issues or injury issues, an SXP is required.
    • If a Grade 2 GK plays outfield in a lower-ranked team to help with numbers an SXP is required.

Grade 3

  • No doubling up is permitted except for a goalkeeper with an SXP.
  • Grade 3 players cannot double up at Grades 1–3, except in the following situations:
    • If a Regular Grade 3 GK needs to play as GK at Grades 2–5 due to exceptional GK availability issues or injury issues, an SXP is required.
    • If a Regular Grade 3 GK doubles up playing outfield at Grade 4 or 5, no SXP is required.
  • A Grade 3 outfield player cannot double up for any lower-ranked Grade 4 or Grade 5 team.

Grades 4 & 5

  • Doubling up is permitted but limited to a maximum of three players.
  • No specific SXP requirements apply to doubling up at Grade 4 and Grade 5.
    1. Examples of Possible Exemptions

The following examples illustrate possible circumstances where exemptions may apply beyond the doubling up restrictions outlined in 3.2 above. These scenarios are not exhaustive but serve as guidelines for when a Selection Exemption might be considered by the ALMC.

Player returning from injury after a few weeks

        1. A regular Grade 2 1st team player wants to return by playing in the Grade 3 3rd team.
        2. A regular Grade 3 3rd team player wants to return by playing in the Grade 5 5th team.

Player has not played for a number of weeks or has not participated in a minimum of 50% of their team's League matches or the matches of a lower team

        1. A player played early in the season but did not play again until the last four weeks, and it can be demonstrated that the current level is appropriate for the player.
        2. A player regularly covered for injuries or unavailability in a higher team.
        3. A player was "dropped" by a higher team, playing for the 1st team in 11 matches before Christmas and solely in the 2nd team for 5 matches after Christmas at the time of the relevant match.

Doubling up players from a team higher than a club's lowest or second lowest ranked team. This may be required if both lowest-ranked teams are away, match times clash, or subsequent doubling up is not in ascending team order

        1. A mid-ranked team has significant unavailability, and players doubling up genuinely come from lower-ranked teams.
        2. A low-ranked team has significant unavailability and requires more than three players to double up to field a team.
        3. A player doubling up is genuinely from a lower-ranked team with a difference of more than two, such as a regular 6th team player playing for the 3rd team.
        4. Doubling up players from higher Grades, such as a club with one team at Grade 2 and another team at Grade 5 without any other teams, or if the club has three teams with the highest at Grades 2 or 3 and that team is at home with one of the others.


Team has a rearranged fixture on Sunday having already played on Saturday

  • This example covers the occasion when a team has a rearranged fixture on Sunday having already played on Saturday. This is typically due to postponement of a scheduled fixture due to bad weather.
  • NB: This explanation does NOT apply in the event that the team's fixture was moved from Saturday to Sunday on the same weekend, i.e., in the same Matchweek.
        1. Teams playing on the Saturday must select teams that comply with Fair Selection, as usual.

Player eligibility for the rearranged Sunday fixture

  • Who can play?
    • Players for whom that team is their Regular Team.
    • Players normally selected for lower teams in the club's hierarchy.
    • The selection of any such players does not constitute doubling up in the same Matchweek.
  • Who cannot play?
    • Players whose Regular Team is a higher team in the club's hierarchy, including those who played for that team on the Saturday, unless they have a Selection Exemption Pass granted in advance of the Sunday fixture.

Examples of emergency issues

        1. A 1st team goalkeeper gets injured during warm-up, and the 4th team goalkeeper, who played earlier in the day, is available as a replacement.
        2. A club has multiple injured or unavailable goalkeepers, and their regular 4th team goalkeeper is selected for the 1st team as cover but intends to return to the 4th team on the next match day.