Senior Competitions Strategic Review – Message from Barry Cawte

Following the completion of the 2021-22 season, we have begun to look at the future structure for our senior competitions (leagues and cups). As clubs will be aware, we have previously indicated our desire to implement a new league structure with effect from the 2023-24 season, as our sport recovers from the pandemic. 

At the same time, we are reviewing all aspects of our strategy as we Reset our sport, Build for the future, and aim to Excel in everything we do.  We will create a strategy that underpins our vision, in consultation with our members and key-stakeholders, and this needs to include our competitions. 

Our initial scoping work on the new competitions structure has identified that it will take until next year to fully engage with our members and other stakeholders, both internal and external, and research best practice from other countries and other sports. The competitions review needs to be integrated with our wider strategic review so that everything we do has common goals and objectives.   

We are therefore planning to run the 2023-24 season on the same basis as the 2022-23 season.  This includes the outdoor premierships, national leagues, championships and regional leagues; Scottish cups; and all indoor competitions. Our men’s and women’s Premiership leagues will therefore have 12 teams for the next two seasons, with promotion and relegation. Whilst it is our intention to have the same format for both seasons, i.e. the Premierships would have a mid-season split, play each team in their half once then have play-offs/finals, we reserve the right to change this for 2023-24 season based on our learnings from the 2022-23 season.  

It is our intention to announce our 2024-25 competitions structure by next summer, so that teams know what they are playing for when they start the 2023-24 season. 

Of course, if we find that we can get early consensus on our proposed approach and announce this before the leagues split at the end of Stage 1 in February, we could be able to accelerate our plans.  However, we feel it is far more important to deliver a world-class competitions structure which doesn’t need to change for a few years, rather than try to rush this vital part of our strategy. Our review will include all aspects of our competitions and match format. 

We are announcing this now to be open and transparent, and also realistic about the amount of work it will take to get this right.  We will contact clubs once are ready to begin our consultation with them later this year.  

Thank you for your support as we move into an exciting new era for our sport. 

With thanks,

Barry Cawte

CEO, Scottish Hockey

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