REGISTERING FOR AN EVENT
With it becoming more frequent to involve WhatsApp, text, email and personal contact to Apply to play in an Event the official Commit part of the process has drifted. Without a workable Commit To system the Treasurer, amongst others, has no confirmation that the proposed player is both a Full Playing Member and accepts the deposit and conditions.
From 2026 onwards in order to play in a Thistles Event you have to:
- Be a Full Playing Member,
- Apply by any means,
- Be offered a place in the squad by the Coordinator, then
- Commit to playing using the designated page on the website.
“Coordinator” will either be the relevant Age Group Coordinator (AGC) or an appointed Event Coordinator (EC) or an Executive Committee Member (CM).
“Guest Players” are given a link to create their own temporary membership then follow the Commit To in the same way as a Full Playing Member.
APPLY TO PLAY IN AN EVENT
All Events will continue to be listed on the website Diary with an Apply For button available. However you can also now Apply by any other means: WhatsApp, text, email and personal contact.
The Coordinator, checking all the sources, compiles the list of applicants and using the procedures relevant to the Event (open, selected or a sense of fairness) the Coordinator creates the list of players to form the squad. Where needed this can include Guest Players.
The Coordinator sends an email or direct message WhatsApp to each squad player containing a link to the Commit To page on the website.
COMMIT TO PLAY IN AN EVENT
The link received takes you to a hidden Event page of the Diary. To access the page you must login with a Full Playing Membership. The page shows the Non-Refundable Deposit, general conditions of playing in a Thistles event and any special conditions that apply and by clicking on the button the player confirms acceptance. The page also shows details of the event, key information like dates, locations, opposition and this can all be routinely updated.
The Treasurer, amongst other, has access to the names who have clicked on the button and thus has confidence that they are Full Playing Members (or known Guests) and are committed.
WITHDRAW FROM AN EVENT
At the Apply stage if you have used the website Diary then there is a withdraw button. If applying by other means then advise the Coordinator of your need to withdraw as early as possible.
After the Commit stage you need to advise the Coordinator who sent you the link to the Commit page. You are still on the hook for the Non-Refundable Deposit however there are circumstances where this may be refunded. Further details are on this page.
CANCELLATION OF A SQUAD OR WHOLE EVENT
Thistles Bye-Law 4 covers this situation and in brief:
- You are always responsible for your own travel, accommodation and other personal expenses.
- If the Event fee is refunded then you will be refunded.
- All Events have to be self-funding by the squad. Thistles is not in a position to carry the costs. Therefore if the cancellation is for example through collapse of squad numbers all those who committed are still liable for their share of the costs.
- There is a new sinking fund to mitigate the situation that the Exec can choose to apply.
The full wording of the bye-law can be found on this PDF:
https://scottishthistleshockey.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Membership-By-Laws-240704-V3.pdf