- Competitions & Events
2025-2026 League Handbook, Guidance Notes and Notifications
We are delighted to once again produce our league handbook and guidance notes document, this includes information on promotions, SXPs and our general interpretation of the regulations. This also includes notes where we have relaxed one or two of the deadlines in the documents. Please do read and reach out if you have any questions.
The document is found in the "Adult League Supporting Documents Page" with a direct link here:
Specific thinks we need to draw your attention to:
Promotions Relegations
This email represents formal notice we will be enacting regulation 4.5.1.1 which means where two divisions feed into one, we will relegate three teams and promote both league winners and the best second place team on PPM. Sadly England hockey rejected our request to make playoffs an option, we will try again next year!
New Trans and Non-Binary Participation Policy Implications
Hopefully you are aware of the new EH policy and the implications of this. From our point of view this means the following impact on everyday matches:
Both female at birth and trans women will be playing in the open, previously mens, leagues, you should not be surprised if this happens.
A female born player may chose to play in either Open or Womens leagues, however they may only play in one league in a season except under exceptional circumstances and approved at ALMC level with EH input. A female born player who has played in an open league match (including Open Development team matches) will be considered an ineligible player under the regulations in any Womens league matches played after appearing in the Open League. These are EHs regulations and as East understand at the moment there is no flexibility.
SXPs
Process now live, the form is found on the link from the top of the league pages, or here SXP Process & Form
Consents
This is the reminder the player visibility consent process has changes, it is now assumed O18 players will be visible unless you opt out.
As always, do please reach out if you have any queries, we’d much rather have a dialogue before something becomes a problem.