NW League Rules

NW League Rules 2024-2025

The North West League Regulations have been updated for new season. The latest adult regulation and key extracts from the regulations can be found below.

Check the North West League Website for the latest versions of all documents:

  • Standard Adult League Regulations
  • Adult Development Teams Regulations
  • Behaviour towards umpires
  • Contingency Team Sheet
  • Match Official Checklist.

For queries, contact the relevant NW League Secretary

Grades of our Teams for 2024-2025

Our teams are the following Grades: (2023/2024)

  • Grade 1: -
  • Grade 2: M1, L1
  • Grade 3: -
  • Grade 4: M2, M3, L2, L3, L4
  • Grade 5: L5

Fair Selection (extract: check regulations for full details)

8.2 Movement of Players

8.2.1 Selection for Higher-Ranked Teams: Players can be selected for a higher-ranked team other than their Regular Team without restriction.

8.2.2 Selection for Lower-Ranked Teams:

8.2.2.1 Restrictions apply to selecting players for lower-ranked teams other than their Regular Team to prevent strengthening those teams.

8.2.2.2 Clubs must not “drop” players to strengthen a lower-ranked team for a critical or important match by providing them with players who normally complete at a higher level.

8.2.2.3 In this context, to “drop” a player refers to the act of temporarily transferring or reassigning a player from a higher-ranked team to a lower-ranked team, typically for a specific match.

8.2.3 Eligibility Summary: Table below summarises weekly player eligibility guideline

Grade

Movement UP

Movement DOWN

1

Unrestricted

Maximum 1 team

2

Unrestricted

Maximum 1 team

3

Unrestricted

Maximum 2 teams

4

Unrestricted

Maximum 2 teams

5

Unrestricted

Maximum 2 teams

8.2.4 Matchweek when a Higher-Ranked Team has no Fixture: In Matchweeks when a team has a League fixture but higher-ranked teams in their Club do not:

8.2.4.1 The team can only select players who have played at least 50% of their matches for that or a lower-ranked team.

8.2.4.2 Regulation 8.2.3 does not apply in such Matchweeks. A Selection Exemption Pass (SXP) must be granted in advance for a player to be selected from a higher-ranked team that does not have a fixture scheduled – refer to Regulation 8.5.

8.2.5 Matchweeks when a Team has more than one Fixture: In a Matchweek where a team has more than one fixture i.e. a team has both a League fixture and a rearranged fixture, e.g. on Saturday and Sunday for example:

8.2.5.1 For the rearranged match the team can only selected players who have played at least 50% of their matches for that or a lower-ranked team.

8.2.5.2 Regulation 8.2.3 does not apply in such a Matchweek. A Selection Exemption Pass must be approved in advance for a player to be selected from higher-ranked team.

8.2.6 Final Four matches:

8.2.6.1 During a team’s last four League matches all players must have played a minimum of 50% of their matches for that team, or a lower-ranked team, unless with an approved SXP.

8.2.6.2 SXP is required for any exception – refer to Regulation 8.

Doubling Up (extract: check regulations for full details)

8.3 Doubling Up

8.3.1 Definition: Doubling up refers to a player participating in two Adult League fixtures within the same Matchweek (including EHL & Area League fixtures), one of which is for their Regular team. This includes when one fixture is scheduled on Saturday and another on the Sunday, for example, which might be due to the rearrangement of a postponed or abandoned game.

8.3.2 Conditions For Doubling Up:

  • Permitted at Grades 4 and 5 only to ensure that matches take place.
  • Permitted only as a last resort to cover player shortage.
  • Generally allowed for lowest or second-lowest ranked teams only and no more than two teams apart in the Club’s hierarchy of teams.
  • Maximum of 12 players for the lower-ranked team for whom players are doubling up.
  • Maximum of three players can double up, including goalkeeper.
  • Excludes designated Development Teams

There are also specific eligibility criteria for Outfield Players and GoalKeepers - see 8.4

Players returning from University or playing for other clubs

7.4 Players who live partially away from home

7.4.1 Dual Registration: At Grade 3 and below, players living partially away from home (e.g., university students or individuals working away from home for significant periods) may register for more than one Club and play for either Club, but only one Club per Matchweek.

This is permitted only if the two Clubs are in different League Areas and the principles of Fair Selection are followed to reflect player ability.

Umpires and Officials

Section 11 sets out the regulations in relation to Umpires and Match Officials.

The table below outlines the requirements for umpires at each Grade of competition.

The first port of call to discuss concerns or questions you may have in regards to fixtures, results, fielding a team, regulations and transfers is your Divisional Secretary for the relevant team.

Our Partners

Crow Hockey
Crow Hockey
Mizuno
Manchester Grammar School
Chelsea Flowers
Orbit Developments
Business Support Centre
Mizuno
Manchester Grammar School
Chelsea Flowers
Orbit Developments
Business Support Centre
members nameclub role
FIRST NAME *
SURNAME *
EMAIL *
PHONE
MESSAGE *
wilmslowhockey
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Thanks for your message!

We will do our best to get back to you as soon as possible.