Munster hockey could be halted by lack of volunteers

Hockey could cease in Munster next month if volunteers aren’t found to oversee the running of the sport.

The Munster Branch of the Irish Hockey Association (MBIHA) have been on the hunt for a new treasurer, secretary and men’s fixtures secretary for the past two months, regularly advertising the roles.

In a statement yesterday, the branch said hockey activity will cease in the province if the positions are not filled by October 19.

Indifference from clubs towards branch activities saw the province’s AGM, originally scheduled for May, postponed until last month after clubs failed to nominate enough attendees to form a quorum.

A subsequent warning that the men’s season could not start without the appointment of a registrar was eventually heeded with representatives from Limerick HC and UCC MHC agreeing to share the role.

The branch will be hoping this warning achieves a similar result given MBIHA chairman John Dennis is currently also filling the role of secretary.

They stated there will be “no fixtures, no umpires, no registration and no hockey in Munster until these vital positions are filled.

This is a very regrettable step but the branch cannot run hockey in Munster without these volunteers.”

Strong incentives are increasingly being used to get cooperation on a variety of issues in Irish hockey.

To fill recent courses aimed at upskilling and recruiting new referees, the Irish Hockey Umpires Association (IHUA) told clubs they had to send one person for each team they wished to enter in national cup competitions, or risk being left out of the draws.