Please see the latest communication from the IISHF

1. IISHF U19 European Championships 2025 and IISHF Women European Cup 2025 The IISHF Working Group for Title Events 2025 has over several meetings (4 meetings in September, October and November 2024) discussed solutions on short/mid/long term with the aim to save the IISHF U19 European Championships (which was unfortunately cancelled in 2024) for the years to come. In constructive cooperation with the Austrian Federation (ISHA) the following is now proposed with a combined IISHF Title Event for the U19 National Teams and Women club teams to take place in Ternitz in the last weekend of August 2025 (29-31.08.2025). The Austrian Federation has requested as many teams as possible to justify hosting (a) Title Event(s) The aim is to have more than the minimum of 4 teams hopefully a minimum of 6 teams and preferably 8, 10 or 12 teams (as a maximum). The proposed options are the following.

Option 1: IISHF U19 European Championships with planned 6 teams – 2 ½ days tournament. This would require the participation of the expected 4 IISHF member countries (Austria, Germany, Great Britain and Switzerland) and a required two (2) invited guest countries where the targeted countries would be neighboring countries to Austria (Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia and in addition Croatia). The participation of 6 national teams would result in a 2½ day event with games starting Friday afternoon. Please note that if option 1 is applied there will not be any way for IISHF to enforce the participation for guest countries so if option 1 is chosen it might take place with a minimum of expected 4 IISHF member countries (Austria, Germany, Great Britain and Switzerland) and will take place as a 2-day event. For a 2-day event the teams should be present and ready for the Opening Ceremony to take place on Friday evening and possibly games on Friday evening after the Opening Ceremony. For a 2½-day event the teams should be present and ready for the Opening Ceremony to take place on Friday midday and games on Friday afternoon and evening after the Opening Ceremony.

Option 2: IISHF U19 European Championships combined with an IISHF Women European Cup – 3 days tournament.

This would require the participation of the expected 4 IISHF member countries (Austria, Germany, Great Britain and Switzerland) and then an optional two (2) invited guest countries where the targeted countries would be neighboring countries to Austria (Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia and in addition Croatia). In addition, the IISHF would invite women club teams from the IISHF member countries to take part in an IISHF Women European Cup where the minimum normally 8 teams from 3 member countries would be adjusted to 6 teams from 3 member countries The participation of 4-6 national U19 teams and 6 women club teams would result in a full 3-day event with games starting Friday morning. The total number of teams participating would then be 10-12 teams. For a 3-day event the teams should be present and ready for the Opening Ceremony to take place on Thursday evening and games to start on Friday morning. Any games on Thursday evening after the Opening Ceremony would only take place if requested by the hosting club and if teams are willing to play on a non-mandatory basis. Feedback required.

Thus, we hereby officially announce that according to point 12.1 IISHF Constitution the IISHF Presidium has imposed the following official deadline for all IISHF National Member Associations to inform all their clubs and their U19 national team:

• about all the updated status for the mentioned IISHF Title Events 2025 (as above)
• to inform and remind their clubs and their U19 national team about the deadline Friday 22 November 2024 (8 days) for feedback regarding options 1 and 2 above
• each NMA should report if they accept point 1 (option of 4-6 teams with a 2 or 2½ days schedule).
• each NMA should report if they accept point 2 and if they have women teams ready to participate in a Women European Cup and if so, how many women club teams (club and team name should be listed if possible) they will send.

The IISHF National Member Associations are also requested (as official deadline according to point 12.1 IISHF Constitution) to provide the IISHF Presidium until Thursday 21 November 2024 a copy of their website publication (or other way of information sent to the clubs). IISHF Regulations 2024 (the current regulations).

The IISHF Regulations regulates the hosting of IISHF Title Evens with the option for the IISHF Presidium to make exceptions.

In this case the IISHF Presidium has decided to reduce the number of required teams to take part in a Continental Cup (Women European Cup) in this case from 8 to 6 teams (§18.13). Further in this case the IISHF Presidium has in addition decided based on a request from the Austrian Federation to place the U19 European Championship in the last weekend of August (§18.15).

§18.13 A Continental Cup can only take place with a minimum of 8 teams and a maximum of 12 teams from a minimum of three (3) different Nations. From these minimum 3 nations at least two nations had to be placed on place 1 – 4 at the previous Continental Cup. Continental Cups for all categories should take place April until the first weekend of July except the weekends of Easter and Whitsun which are reserved only for class B events. For Women, Veterans, Masters and the Men’s Challenge Cup the Continental cups may further take place in the last two weekends of August. Exception is only possible after permission given by the IISHF Presidium.

§18.15 A Continental Championship can only take place with teams from a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 8 different nations. From these minimum 4 nations at least two nations had to be placed on place 1 – 4 at the previous Continental Championship. Continental Championships should take place September to November (both months included). Exception is only possible after permission given by the IISHF Presidium.

On behalf of the IISHF Presidium Erik Sommer (President)

The IISHF have released the below information in their latest newsletter:

1. IISHF Men Challenge European Cup 2025 sanctioned The IISHF Presidium has sanctioned that Moskitos Essen (Germany) approved by the German Federation will host the IISHF Men Challenge Cup 2025 in Essen (Germany) on 23.05-25.05.2025. The Opening Ceremony and opening games will take place on Friday evening.

2. IISHF U13 European Cup 2025 sanctioned The IISHF Presidium has sanctioned that Crash Eagles Kaarst (Germany) approved by the German Federation will host the IISHF U13 European Cup 2025 in Kaarst (Germany) on 30.05-01.06.2025. The Opening Ceremony and opening games will take place on Friday evening.

3. IISHF Men European Cup 2025 sanctioned The IISHF Presidium has sanctioned that Düsseldorf Rams (Germany) approved by the German Federation will host the IISHF Men European Cup 2025 in Düsseldorf (Germany) on 19.06-22.06.2025. The Opening Ceremony will take place on Thursday evening.

4. IISHF Title Events Applications for remaining IISHF Title Events 2025 For the following IISHF Title Events that should be expected to be hosted no formal applications have been received so they are still open for applications for 2025:

• U16 European Cup
• Women European Cup

For the following IISHF Title Events that should only be expected to be hosted if enough NMAs and teams are willing to take part no formal applications have been received so they are still open for applications for 2025:

• Masters European Cup
• U16 European Championships
• U19 European Championships
• Women European Championships
• Veterans European Championships
• Masters European Championships

Thus, we hereby officially announce that according to point 12.1 IISHF Constitution the IISHF Presidium has imposed the following official deadline for all IISHF National Member Associations to inform all their clubs:

• About all now updated status for the open IISHF Title Events 2025 (as above)

• To inform and remind their clubs about the deadline 15 November 2024 for applications of the open IISHF Title Events 2025

• To inform and remind their clubs that without applications until 15 November 2024 that the relevant IISHF Title Events 2025 might not take place that IISHF will announce the updated listing of IISHF Title Events latest 30 November 2024

• Please note that we have now passed the deadline of 20 October 2024, where IISHF would announce the application with the standard 3 weeks deadline for any other club/NMA to make their bid for the same IISHF Title Event so this will not be done now. IISHF generally encourage early applications for the IISHF Title Events.

The IISHF National Member Associations are also requested (as official deadline according to point 12.1 IISHF Constitution) to provide the IISHF Presidium until Sunday 10 November 2024 a copy of their website publication (or other way of information sent to the clubs).

If any clubs would be interested in hosting a European Cup event, please contact Will Osborne to discuss.

The IISHF have released the below information in their latest newsletter:

IISHF Title Events Applications for remaining IISHF Title Events 2025 For the following IISHF Title Events that should be expected to be hosted no formal applications have been received so they are still open for applications for 2025:

U13 European Cup U16 European Cup U19 European Cup Men European Cup Men Challenge Cup Women European Cup Veterans European Cup

For the following IISHF Title Events that should only be expected to be hosted if enough NMAs and teams are willing to take part no formal applications have been received so they are still open for applications for 2025:

Masters European Cup U16 European Championships U19 European Championships Women European Championships Veterans European Championships Masters European Championships Thus, we hereby officially announce that according to point 12.1 IISHF Constitution the IISHF Presidium has imposed the following official deadline for all IISHF National Member Associations to inform all their clubs:

about all open Title Events 2025 (as above)

• to inform their clubs about the deadline 15 November 2024 for applications of the open IISHF Title Events 2025.
• to inform their clubs that without applications until 15 November 2024 that the relevant IISHF Title Events 2025 might not take place.
• that IISHF will announce the updated listing of IISHF Title Events latest 30 November 2024.
• if any application is received before 20 October 2024, then IISHF will announce the application with the standard 3 weeks deadline for any other club/NMA to make their bid for the same IISHF Title Event. IISHF will generally encourage early applications for the IISHF Title Events.

If any clubs would be interested in hosting a European Cup event, please contact Will Osborne to discuss.

Hi All,

I thought now would be a good opportunity to provide a mid‐season update from the technical team. Firstly, I would like to thank all the officials who have stepped up and a special well done to all new officials who have qualified this year and volunteered to help. There will be more courses in the new future so please keep an eye out and jump on the courses where you can. We would not be able to run the league without volunteers from all clubs. We have also created a league table to show which clubs are inputting where, which is attached at the end of this document. 

I would also like to provide some clarifications and comments on items that have come up this season:

Checking

The rule book states:

“8.9‐ Fair body contact (fair check) is that which is delivered with the side or the front of the body, with the arms down, close to the body and both skates on the pitch surface. A fair check can only be made on an opponent who is in possession of the ball, and can only be made to the front or to the side of that opponent.”

To clarify on this, checking with the hands up is not acceptable and will be penalised.

To add to this, the charging rule states:

“Charging” shall mean the action of a player who, as a result of distance travelled, violently checks an opponent. Charging may be the result of a check into the boards, into the goalframe or on open pitch”. 

We have found that a number a players have been violently checking players after the player has lost or given away possession of the ball, this is not acceptable and we will be looking to crack down on this as we have seen an increase in upper body injuries this year. 

Jewellery 

On several occasions this year, we have had to ask players to remove jewellery, mainly chains around the neck. No jewellery is allowed and will be penalised as per the rule book(Yellow Card). Please can all coaches, managers and parents ensure that players are not entering the pitch with jewellery on, this is a matter of safety more than rules themselves. 

League Days

When arriving at the rink, please can the captain or manager of each team, please confirm their team and shirt numbers with the timekeepers to ensure a smooth running of each league day. A gentle reminder that all players must be registered and have paid all fees to play, this is checked instantly by the BISHA officials before each game. 

All league days have been a success so far, but I would just like to remind all teams that, if possible, we will run ahead of schedule, so please keep an eye on the games happening rather than the face off time stated. You can also keep an eye on what period is currently being played on the live ticker on the BISHA website. 

Lastly, I would like to wish all teams the best of luck for the rest of the season and good luck to all the teams still to go out to the various European tournaments. 

If anyone has any questions about any of the above or any other technical matter, please do not hesitate to contact me. 

Will Osborne
National Technical Director
07792997278
will.osborne@bishahockey.co.uk