The Points Cap System

Purpose

The purpose of this document is to provide information with respect to the introduction of the Brisbane Hockey Association (BHA) Club Points Cap system for the 2009 playing year and beyond.

The Points Cap identifies and assigns a points value to players based on the hockey player’s hockey achievements.  A key focus of the Ponts Cap is those players that are new to the Brisbane competition.  A maximum points value is developed to applied to all clubs.  A club will not be able to register new players if it means that the club will exceed this maximum points value - the Points Cap.

The Points Cap system is not a draft system as it allows players identified as 'new', to choose a club from those eligible with which they can register, provided that club's totalled points value will still fall within the Points Cap value.  The Points Cap system does not require currently registered players to move from their present clubs.

Objectives

The objectives of the Points Cap system are;

• to place a greater emphasis on, and reward to, clubs developing their own junior talent to a BHL1 standard;
• to provide a platform to increase the standard of the Brisbane club competition and provide a more consistent level of competition accross all matches;
• to assist in providing an adjunct to the development programs of Hockey Qld (HQ).

The Points Cap system also aligns with the strategy contained in the HQ High Performance Plan that has recognised the importance of the Brisbane competition in the development of talented players and the importance of a strong consistent competition for the continued development of all players.

Background

Over a period of time, the Brisbane competition, with respect to the competiveness of the clubs, can be considered as having become separated into two sections. Currently, a number of clubs in the playing arena of Brisbane have the greater proportion of State and National representative players in their teams. While some of these players are from Brisbane very many more are from regional centres.  This is reflected in the competition success of these clubs.

This has led to some of these teams playing what would be considered a competitive match once every 3 - 4 weeks. Obviously, this is not what is required to develop and maintain high level players and could be considered to be counter productive. These players are not required to perform at a strong competitive level on a week to week basis and may develop shortcuts in accounting for the 'lesser' teams. This does not stand them in good stead when required to play at a higher level both against the other similarly rated teams in the competition or in their representative programs.

In general, Brisbane clubs have not been required to have a strong emphasis and investment in the development of their own juniors to reach BHL1 standard.  This is related to the continued availability of and therefore a resulting reliance on the recruitment of talented regional players to clubs to maintain the club’s BHL1 standard.  While the Brisbane competition provides a valuable support role to elite player programs the concentration of these players in a few clubs does not deliver optimum results for the Brisbane competition or the elite player programs.

The Points Cap system strongly recognises and encourages development of local talent by clubs.  While a points value is assigned to all players on the basis of hockey achievement, the points allocated to a Brisbane junior are not included in the club’s Points Cap total.  The emphasis is on players from outside Brisbane junior development, meaning that clubs that develop their own juniors receive a strong reward.

Consolidation of emerging junior talent at the 'successful' BHL1 clubs may also be related to a perceived need by players (and their parents) to change to one of the successful clubs to 'give themselves more chance of furthering their representative career' through playing with 'better players' in 'better teams'.

Fostering and supporting local development is expected to be a key outcome of the Points Cap system.  Improving the competitiveness of the competition will assist in identifying and providing a wider range of development pathways for juniors across a wider range of clubs.  Supported by a better spread of 'talented' players and rewarding clubs for the development of Brisbane juniors will together provide a strong basis to develop a strong and more consistently competitive competition in Brisbane.

Approach

BHA is aware of the need to continue the development of talented players who transition to the Brisbane competition. It is important for players that have been involved in the Regional Training Program (RTP) are not 'lost' when they come to Brisbane. Considerable time and expense has been invested in these players by Hockey Queensland and they need to continue to be challenged to allow them to reach their maximum potential. High profile players will be able to gain access to BHL1 hockey when they come to Brisbane, however, it is the players below this top level that are not gaining the opportunities they need to continue on their development pathway and expand the talent pool in Brisbane.

By these players signing with one of the successful BHL1 clubs it usually means they are playing at a lower level than they could be at one of the less successful clubs and thereby actually derailing their own development. A number of these players have been seen to become disenchanted and lose focus on hockey and in some cases drift away from the sport altogether. For a young player to have been a top division player in his regional centre and then to find himself playing at a lower level in Brisbane it can be quite disheartening to that player.

BHA will continue to allow and support these talented players from outside of Brisbane as they will remain available for their own centres for representative competitions. This will maintain the level of competitiveness in those centres as well as allowing Brisbane based players to be involved in their own representative program and not having to compete for spots with the talented regional players.

Development of the System

A committee was formed in 2007 to develop the Points Cap system and this group consisted of representatives of 8 of the 10 BHL1 clubs. It was formed at the 2007 BHA Corporate Planning day and was open to any club representative that had an interest in working on the then proposal. One of the main requirements of the final outcome of this work was that the resulting system would be fair for all clubs.

The implementation of the system will have no impact on the current player base for the clubs. The clubs will be able to retain the players they currently have and will not be required to shed players because they may currently be over the Points Cap. Those clubs over the Points Cap will not be able to register players that attract points until the club is below the Points Cap and this is expected to be achieved through natural attrition. The concept of the Points Cap is to progressively increase the standard of all clubs, not reduce the standard of the current strong clubs.

The Points Cap system has included feedback received from participants in the creation of the point allocations per player standard. The Points Cap level that has been set reflects a standard and achievement level within the competition that all clubs can aim for and achieve.