Time is against strategic plans

Men's Hockey: Quiet weekends like these in senior hockey and you might turn to the Irish Hockey Association (IHA) Strategic Plan.

You see that "goal number six" of the plan is that one of the priority actions of the IHA is to appoint a chief executive. This is an important position as the CEO will then oversee the implementation of the entire Strategic Plan.

The time frame for this appointment was, optimistically, put at October 2003. It is now late November and no CEO appears to have been appointed.

Perhaps the appointment has been made and no one yet knows about it. Maybe some whiz-kid has been taken on board and is finishing off a blue print that will revolutionise the game in Ireland and we just haven't heard.

This is a possibility because the Promotion and Marketing Project Team, up and running in November 2003, according to the information-rich booklet, have not yet made themselves known.

Perhaps by stating November the booklet actually meant the end of November and in 10 days time the Promotion Team may swing into action and promote any such news on a new CEO. This, however, is probably the job of the Public Relations Officer, who will not be appointed until next February.

Elsewhere, a new rule that will come into being on December 1st will require short corner experts to get used to playing the entire match with their favourite drag flick blade, or, striking sticks.

The new rule states: "A player must not change their stick between the award and completion of a penalty corner or penalty stroke, unless it no longer meets the documented stick specification (i.e. it has been damaged from play)."

Those players involved in the first round of the Irish Junior Cup will just sneak in under that FIH deadline this weekend.

IRISH JUNIOR CUP - First Round: Belfast Harlequins 2nds v Down, Deramore 2.30; Galway v Antrim 2nds, Dangan 1.30; Monkstown 2nds v Glenanne 2nds, St Andrews 2.00; Lisnagarvey 2nds v Pembroke 2nds, Laurelhill 2.00; Cork C of I 2nds v Kilkeel 2nds, Garyduff 1.30; Cookstown 2nds v Newry 2nds, Cookstown 2.30; SE Wanderers v Railway Union 2nds, Ballinakill 3.00; Corinthians 2nds v YMCA 2nds, Whitechurch 12.30; Bangor 2nds v Parkview, 1.00; South Antrim 2nds v Suttonians 2nds, 2.30; Three Rock Rovers 2nds v Cork harlequins 2nds, Grange Road 2.00; Portadown 2nds v Annadale 2nds, Edenvilla Park 1.00; Waterford v Instonians 2nds, Newtown 1.00; Raphoe 2nds v Bandon, Royal and Prior School 1.00; Kilkenny v Ballinahinch, Scanlon Park 2.30; North Down 2nds v Midleton, Comber 11.30.