COVID PROTOCOLS
Recent changes to the Covid protocols have resulted in the following changes being made with respect to sports events. Masks are no longer compulsory outdoors, however are mandatory indoors. With no proof of vaccine or negative COVID test required: no more than 50% of venue capacity, with an upper limit of 1000 indoors and 2000 outdoors. We are glad to say this event falls well within these parameters.
TEAM ENTRIES
Thank you to all teams who have registered so far. Please, as a matter of urgency can those teams who still need to submit registration details send them in as soon as possible to Liz Bailey at lizb1@mweb.co.za.
Individual Registration will be opened after the 10th of April 2022 until the 25th of April 2022. All players will receive an email detailing how to download the SA Masters App and how to navigate it to accept the Terms and Conditions and acknowledge the Indemnity Form. If there are any changes to the team thereafter, it can be made with an email to registration@samastershockey.co.za detailing who is to be removed and providing the new players details. Teams who have not paid by the cut-off date will be withdrawn from the tournament unless alternative arrangements have been made with SA Masters Hockey. The tournament levy is R990 per participant and needs to be paid in full by the 10th of April. Please email proof of payment to Liz Bailey at lizb1@mweb.co.za
AGM
The AGM notices were emailed to all Provincial Chairpersons on 23 March 2022. The AGM is will be held one week before tournament on 21 April 2022 at 18h30 via MS teams. Due to time constraints, it was decided that the AGM could be held virtually before the tournament so everyone can relax and have fun at the tournament. We have had many successful meetings over the last two years in this manner.
CAPTAINS / MANAGERS MEETING
The Team managers or Captains meeting will be held at the WPCC Indoor Centre. This will take place on Thursday 28 April from 5pm to 6pm. A WhatsApp group will be setup a week prior to the event so direct communication can take place to all teams. This will be a “read only” group.
OPENING FUNCTION – Thursday 28 April
The opening function will take place at WPCC. The Indoor cricket net area will have the DJ, main dance floor, a bar and table and chairs seating. Off the Indoor nets area there will be an additional stretch tent covering 670 square metres. Additional seating and chill areas with music from the main area playing. An additional bar will also be setup in this area.
Dinner of a choice of chicken A La King or Beef Lasagne will be served. (Tickets will be handed out at the managers meeting). We will communicate closer to the time with regards to special dietary requirements for participants.
Thursday is a party for all a great time to catch up with old friends. NO THEME FOR THURSDAY. NOTE: We will need to abide by the club’s policy and so 12pm we WILL SHUT DOWN.
CLOSING FUNCTION – Sunday 1 May
The closing function will once again take place at WPCC . The theme for this event is “Nations of the World – teams are encouraged to dress as a country or team (except SA) who will be attending the SA Masters World Cup in October 2022. There will be a full roast dinner provided for all participants. NOTE: We will need to abide by the club’s policy and so 12pm we WILL SHUT DOWN
The cost of the opening and closing functions together with the provided meals is covered in the tournament levy.
Social Responsibility Causes – The ‘Stick to Basics’ Initiative
COVID and the challenging economic conditions over the past few years have put a huge strain on those less fortunate, NGOs and charities throughout our country. Your presence at the SA Masters IPT 2022 means that you are amongst the privileged minority that can give back and make a difference! In a first for SA Masters, our tournament this year will have a key focus on supporting locally based social responsibility drives and upliftment initiatives.
We have dubbed the initiative ‘Stick to Basics’ where Hockey (‘Stick’) lends a helping hand to basic community needs (‘Basics’).
Each of the 12 WP Masters ladies and men’s teams will be nominating their own locally based worthy cause to support in the lead up to, and during, the tournament itself. The WP teams are challenging all sides from the various provinces participating in their Pools to collectively join them in getting behind that specific cause.
Teams are not being asked to donate money to the cause. Instead, we are challenging all sides attending the IPT this year to donate appropriate goods in kind to the nominated project for the Pool that you are playing in. An impoverished school may benefit from tinned and dry food contributions. A grass roots sports club may welcome donated used sporting gear. An NGO supporting young women may be in dire need of female hygiene products.
Over the next couple of weeks each of the WP Teams will be communicating to all other teams participating in their Pool what their nominated cause is, as well as the appropriate goods that they are looking to collect for that beneficiary.
Sides will then be encouraged to hand over their donated goods that they have brought with them to the IPT on completion of their game against the WP team playing in their pool – a post-game “ice breaker” between the two sides.
Alternatively, there will also be an opportunity for all sides to simply deposit their donated goods at a central venue, to be advised.
The long-term objective of the ‘Stick to Basics’ initiative is to challenge all future tournament hosts to adopt this social responsibility blueprint and roll it out for the benefit of organizations located in their specific regions. It represents an opportunity for all participants to make a real difference in less fortunate communities and leave a lasting legacy throughout the country, year-on-year.
PINK DAY for Breast Cancer Awareness
We have earmarked our tournament Sunday (1 May 2022) as our very own PINK DAY at IPT where we will look to raise awareness and generate funds in support of the fight against Breast Cancer.
We are planning to ‘dress’ the playing venues in a sea of pink while encouraging all teams to adopt an element of pink into their attire on the day.
Information kiosks, promotional literature and team fundraising efforts will underpin this initiative.
Each of the 12 WP Teams have been challenged to meet very modest fundraising targets in support of the PINK DAY. We have suggested individual team raffles, social fundraising evenings or similar as an easy means of achieving this objective.
We invite all sides attending IPT 2022 to unite with us in support of this incredibly worthy cause by also embracing the pink theme on Tournament Sunday, as well as making a team donation during the course of the tournament (no pledge will be seen as too large or too small… every little helps towards Breast Cancer Awareness!).
We thank all teams in advance for playing their part at IPT 2022 by embracing the ‘Stick to Basics’ Initiative and PINK DAY!
ACCOMMODATION
Once again we have secured rates at various hotels. Please refer to Newsletter #1 February 2022 for the options, should you still require assistance.
PLAYING VENUES AND FIXTURES
With team entries now settled fixtures will begin. We expect the first draft fixtures to be ready by Friday 15 April. Please note NO ALCOHOL will be allowed into ANY venue. Many of the venues have existing food and bar facilities, and we are currently putting plans in place for those that do not. Please ensure that this rule is strictly obeyed as most of these Astroturf’s will be used for the upcoming World Cup and we do not want to burn our bridges with them. Please treat SCHOOL VENUES with care as we have been fortunate to be able to have access to these venues and we need to respect and abide by the school rules.
TRANSPORT AND PARKING DISKS FOR VENUES
Parking disks will be distributed for the various venues, if required. Please note that the two main venues being WPCC and Hartleyvale a pin drop of where to park will be sent to the managers Whats app group. To note that the bottom car park at WPCC we will be used – this is the parking area at the Laidlaw Road entrance (not Avenue de Mist).
UMPIRES
Due to the competitive nature of the medals section, umpires and technical staff will be provided at a cost of R1500 per team. Teams participating in the Spirit Section have the option to supply their own umpire or request the provision of umpires for the duration of the tournament at a cost of R1000.00 per team. Please contact Sean Bailey via email at sean@structaform.co.za or cell number 082 881 6443 to arrange to have your umpire needs taken care of.
Contact info:
For any further information you require regarding the tournament before our next newsletter please feel free to contact any of the following:
Ashleigh Stofberg – Event Administrator Andy Stofberg – Event coordinator
Email :sasdurban@gmail.com Email : andy@psihockey.co.za
Cell : 082 893 8262 Cell : 082 823 3748
For any information regarding Team Registration, Player Registration, Pools and team names, please feel free to contact:
Liz Bailey – SA Masters
Email :lizb1@mweb.co.za
Cell : 0829570141