Following meetings with Premier Division Clubs, and in line with Reg 3.1, England Hockey ratifies that, in a change from the 2021-22 season, the England Hockey League Men’s and Vitality Women’s Premier Divisions for the 2022-23 season will be made up of 12 teams.
The outcome of this means that only the teams finishing 11th in the respective Premier Divisions at the end of the 2021/22 season will be relegated. The teams finishing 10th will be reprieved relegation in line with Reg 4.5.
The impact of this also means that one team finishing 9th across Division One North & South and one team finishing 9th across the four Conferences will also be reprieved relegation in line with Reg 4.5. Where a reprieve is granted across parallel Divisions, this is determined by Points Per Match, ie at each level the 9th placed team with the most points will be reprieved with goal difference then goals scored used if two or more teams are level.
We recognise this decision is later in the season than we and the clubs would have wished.
In terms of the 2022-23 season, a split league format will continue in the twelve team Premier Divisions, however the detailed structure of this is still to be finalised and this will be confirmed after this season has been concluded, and following consultation with the Premier Division Clubs.
We expect to announce a detailed format with calendar for 2022-23 no later than 1 June.
