It follows our promotion from the Challenge II last February in Malatya, Turkey and we return to European competition following our fourth National Indoor Trophy title in the last five years.

We have been drawn to play in Pool A against Orient Lyngby (DEN), HK Triglav Predanovci (SLO) and Hockey Club Bra (ITA). In the other group are SK Senkvice (SVK), Rosco SE (HUN), Cardiff & UWIC (WAL) and Pursaklar Belediye SC (TUR).

So now is the time to make sure you book these dates off work, take the week off school or prepare to skip some college lectures for what promises to be a great weekend for the club and an easily accessible one (compared to last year) for players and supporters alike.

The FIH Executive Board approved the introduction of rule changes to the FIH Rules of Hockey and FIH Rules of Indoor Hockey from 1st January 2013. National Associations can implement these early to their domestic competitions to align with their season and as per previous years, the Competitions Committee has decided to introduce the changes from 1st September 2012 across all hockey played in Ireland (Ireland and Provincial).

A summary of the changes to the FIH Rules (Outdoor), with reference to numbered Rules in the 2011 edition are as follows:

Rule 8.1: method of scoring. The way a goal is scored is amended; it now includes what is sometimes referred to as an "own goal". That is, a goal can now be scored after the ball is touched in the circle by either an attacker or a defender.

Rules 13.2.d and e: procedures for taking a free hit, centre pass and putting the ball back into play. The ball may now be raised intentionally and directly using a push, flick or scoop action; this action must be conducted safely. This is essentially an evolution of what is known as the "self-pass" from a free hit. By having the option to raise the ball immediately, opposing players will not have had the opportunity to get closer than five metres; a raised ball should be safer.

It should be noted that technical changes have also been made to the Stick specification. It has been re-written to make it clearer and the method of measuring the bow or rake has been revised. Stick manufacturers have been aware of this intended change for some time so new sticks on the market should be fully compliant. However, we are aware that some players will still be using older sticks. As per the FIH recommendation the introduction of this new specification is sympathetically considered at lower levels.

In addition, the FIH has given approval to Ireland to adopt the 2 minute green card sin bin suspension for all domestic competitions played in Ireland.
The 2 minute green card sin bin suspension has been approved as an experimental rule by the IHA in all domestic competitions played in Ireland. A copy of the experimental rule is attached for your information. The IHA Competition Rules and Regulations already refer to the use of any approved experimental rule(s) and all provincial, college and school competitions need to do likewise.

For further information:
The full text of the FIH Rules will be available on the FIH website (www.fih.ch) and newly published Rules Books available in early September. Please ensure your players, umpires, officials, management teams are made aware of the changes and fully briefed before participation in their first competitive match.
The full set of updated IHA Competition Rules and Regulations for Cups, IHL and Tournaments will be released in early September.

For attachment click here

On Saturday the 1st of September we will host another Captains Challenge. The format will be the same as that of the end of the season with 40min games followed by a bbq and music in the clubhouse.

The schedule of play is as follows;
Vice captains; Siobhan v mens vice at 4pm
Captains; Rob v Ali at 5pm
Past captains Ed v Anna at 6pm

Each of the captains will be in contact with their teams to confirm availability. If anyone has not been placed on a team please contact ladies.captain@threerockrovershc.com and we will get you sorted.

Teams are listed below

Mens Vice (Rob to organise)
Alan White
Colin Huet
Ali Haughton
Roly Budd
Wendle Armstrong
Phil Shearer
Lukas Hegner
Angus Buttonshaw
Conor Lyons
Krisitan Johnson
Andreas McConell
Daniel Kelly
Andrew Roe
Jack McCann
Claire Barry
Suzanne Mellon
Rachel Foley
Isabelle Hoyne
Aifric O’Malley
Siobhan Matthews
Natalie Rule
Sally Ann Hynes
Christina Proctor
Luise Dungan
Shirley Holmes
Aisling Murray
Hannah Brooke
Laura Candon
Suzie Cantwell
Amelia Power

Ladies Vice – Siobhan Madeley (Ali to organize)
Gavin Bourke
David McCrea
Peter Blakeney
Johnny Dalrymple
Andy Macken
Evan Garland
Smiler
Rob Carter
Ross Harris
Guy Donald
Johnathon Miller
Dara Kennedy
Tom Christie
Maebh Holden
Lindsay Maguire
Sinead Holden
Vanessa Caulfield
Gillian Bourne
Stephanie Bourke
Danielle Cummins
Aedamair Cassidy
Heather Barnes
Eve Clowry
Chloe Stanley
Mary Largey
Hanneke vanStrik
Aileen Harnett
Isobelle Lorigan

Mens Captain – Rob Johnson
Stephen West
Harry Morris
Paddy O’Connor
Scott Williams
Johnny McCormack
Ross Varian
David Williams
Ruan McGuiness
Cedric Christie
Liam Canning
David Gilmore
Bill Quinn
Rob Hanna
Shane O’Brien
Lukas Sherry
Julie Garvey
Brigid Charmont
Eimear Brophy
Suzanne Deehan
Sophie Conroy
Stephanie Lyons
Heather Fitzpatrick
Carly Dalrymple
Jessica Rule
Suzanne Lowe
Gillian Davis
Catriona Coughlan
Hannah Reynolds
Eimear Byrne
Katie Dowling
Laura Consoy

Ladies Captain – Ali Keogh
Garry Ringwood
Alan Bothwell
Dylan Shirley
Stuart McDonnell
Steven Roberts (TCD)
Stu Rigby Jones
Andrew Bond
Rob Haughton
Jeremy Irwin
Graham Dowling
Sam Gilmore
Nathan Warnock
Angus Walker
Steve Dawson
Barbara Snow
Lauren Haughton
Siobhan Crombie
Emma Hogan
Ali McCabe
Carla Donellan
Orla Heffernan
Jenny O’Connor
Sarah O’Sullivan
Martine du Toit
Orla McKeown
Tara Karly
Sinead Lynch
Moinin O’Neill
Helen Arundel

Mens Past – Ed Simpson
Shane Madeley
Craig Moore
Mitch Darling
Ross Johnson
Stephen Findlater
Eoin Buttonshaw
Eoghan O’Meara
Jason Borland
James O’Donovan
Alex Bisgood
Chris Andrews
Michael Egan
Kevin Empey
Claire Fitzpatrick
Grace O’Malley
Sue Gray
Stephanie Haughton
Jenny Woolshead
Amy McGovern
Ruth Cowman
Eimear Cullen
Mandy Bools
Aisling Hogan
Orla Coyle
Nick West
Elanor O’Riordan
Clara O’Shea
Kiri Bishop

Ladies Past – Anna Carson
David Storey
Peter McConnell
Mick Maguire
Ben McCrea
Steven Roberts
Brian Egan
Rob Priestman
Glen Webb
Martin Akveld
Bruce Johnson
Ravi Surajwanshi
Scott Crombie
Harry Johnson
Frank Heisterkamp
Sarah Ann O’Connor
Louise Lehane
Edel O’Rafferty
Rachel Allen
Maura O’Neill
Wendy Quill
Nicola Levin
Aisling Holden
Wendy Lee
Nadia Skelton
Catherine King
Daphne Largey
Laura Fleming
Marike Gentile
Michelle Roche
Hannah Treanor

Ireland’s involvement gets underway this Sunday in Canterbury, England with Ireland competing at women’s O-40s and O-50s level while the men have three teams, playing at O-40, O-45 and O-50 level.

This is a FIH fully sanctioned Masters World Cup. There are four age groups for the men and two for women. For the latter, the O-40s team features Mairead and is a combination of the O-40s and O-45s who participated in the Home Countries in June. They will play matches against Wales, England, Australia, New Zealand, Scotland and South Africa in a round robin competition and they get their tournament underway on Sunday.

This is the first outing, meanwhile, for an Ireland Women’s O-50s team which Maura will play for. They will play against Wales, England, Australia and New Zealand. Both squads are being coached by Three Rock man Benjamin Epstein,

Congrats to Alison Keogh who has been appointed to the 1st Round of the new FIH World League that started this week in Prague.

As Turkey could not provide an umpire, the EHF selected Alison to represent them at the competition and, despite the short notice, she was named as the reserve umpire on the first day for the Italy vs Czech Republic game.

It follows an impressive summer in which Ali officiated at the European U-16 A division championships.

The ladies 2s are heading out of the Pale and down to Tipperary for an early pre-season trip. Led by captain Sarah Ann O’Connor they aim to kick off the season how they mean to go on, following up from last years successes. They set of on August 18th and will be treated to a tour of the Rock of Cashel before taking on Cahel New Inn hockey team in a friendly game. All work and no play though would make for an unexciting trip so the girls will test the night life of Tipperary before venturing home the next day.

Three Rock Rovers is delighted to annouce that our mens 1st XI player Jody Hosking will be taking over the position as head coach of the ladies for the coming season. He will be assited by Steven Roberts.

Jody, our South African import, is well known in the club for his committment and drive on the pitch, traits he is bound to bring to the ladies team as they aim for promotion again this year. Jody already has plenty of coaching experience under his belt including winning bronze with his universities Varsity womens team, assistant coach to North West province ladies interpro team and an unbeaten season last year with TRR’s u16 boys. As a player he has been in the club for the past 2 years, while back home has played provincially for the last 6 years and won MVP during last years indoor European trip.
Steven Roberts has been an integral part of the club for many years. Though currently playing for Trinity he has successfully coached the ladies 4s for the past few years and remains an active and enthusiastic club member. He has represented Leinster at u21 level.

Emer Keogh will return as manager to the 1sts for a second year, while our Irish u21 international Stephen West will continue his work as goalkeeper coach.

The 1sts will kick off their season away to Newbridge on the 29th of September, while the 2nds return to div 4 on the same day at home to Botanic. All fixtures can be found in each teams individual page

We wish them all the best of luck for the coming season.

Ladies pre-season will commence on Monday the 13th of August on the front pitch. Normal front pitch training times of Monday 7.15-9 and Wednesday 7.30-9.30 will apply.
It will be run by Steven Roberts and is open to all for the first few weeks unit normal training resumes.

Contact Ali Keogh (ladies.captain@threerockroverhs.com) with any queries

** Congrats to Stephen West who helped the Irish U-21 men to European C division victory last weekend in Bratislava as they produced four huge wins over Slovakia (twice), Bulgaria and Lithuania.

** The Irish Masters side are looking for over 50s players for the upcoming World Cup; if you are interested, you can contact Jamie Millar who has all the details on the tournament: Jamie.Millar@Urs.com

** Arul Anthoni is hoping for a bit of help – “As you know, I have resigned as the mens 1st XI coach. What you may not be aware of, is that Solo and our children will be returning to Ireland, but will not be using the cottage.

“We are returning on the 10th August and would appreciate your help and assistance for us to find a new house for the family, that is in the immediate area to Three Rock.”

If you can help Arul out; his e-mail is arul@threerockrovershc.com and his mobile is (00 353 858516578) – bear in mind he is eight hours ahead in Malaysia at the moment.

Nominations are requested in the following categories:

Senior club player – men (not core international squad, div 1/premier hockey, over 18)
Senior club player – women (not core international squad, div 1, over 18)
U18 club player – boys (club/school/province/international)
U18 club player – girls (club/school/province/international)
Coach – school, club, junior international
Club
Umpire
Volunteer
U18 coach
Youth club
Developing club
Hockey school

Nominations must be in before August 8th and here is how!

To nominate just go to this link and follow the steps http://hockeyawards2012.questionpro.com/ You do not need to nominate in every category.