About Euro Hockey League (EHL)
The Euro Hockey League (EHL) is a prestigious European club competition for field hockey. It was established in 2007 and is organized by the European Hockey Federation (EHF). The EHL brings together the top men’s club teams from across Europe to compete in an exhilarating tournament format.
The tournament features teams from various European countries, including the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Spain, and England, among others. Each team qualifies for the EHL based on their performance in their respective national leagues and competitions.
The format of the EHL includes a group stage followed by knockout matches. The participating teams are divided into pools, where they compete against each other in a round-robin format. The top teams from each pool advance to the knockout stages, including the quarterfinals, semifinals, and ultimately the final to determine the EHL champion.
The EHL is known for its high level of competition, showcasing top-class hockey talent from across Europe. It provides a platform for players to compete against the best clubs, test their skills, and gain valuable international experience. The matches are played with intensity, skill, and strategic gameplay, making it an exciting spectacle for both players and fans.
In addition to the title of EHL champion, the winning team also earns a coveted spot in the following season’s competition, ensuring that the tournament features the strongest clubs each year.
The Euro Hockey League has become a premier event in European club field hockey, captivating fans and showcasing the highest level of the sport. It brings together the best clubs and players in Europe, fostering the growth and development of field hockey at the club level.
Overall, the Euro Hockey League is an esteemed competition that celebrates the excellence of European club field hockey, providing thrilling matches, showcasing top talent, and contributing to the overall promotion and development of the sport.
Qualification
The allotment of places by ranking system follows the principles used to place National Associations in the football Champions League and UEFA Cups. The rankings will be taken from the results over 3 years, with the points for the earlier years discounted by 50% (year 2) and 75% (year 1).This ranking of National Associations is based on the performance of all their clubs in Euro Hockey League (and EuroHockey Trophy). The total number of points won by clubs from each country will be divided by the number of clubs to which the National Association was entitled in that year’s competition.
National Associations ranked 1-3 in the EHL Ranking Table in this manner may enter three teams each in Euro Hockey League, while National Associations ranked 4-6 may enter two teams each, and National Associations ranked 7-11 one team.
Each National Association remains free to decide the system of qualification for their own clubs, for that number of places which is their entitlement for that year (as a result of their position in the ranking list), subject only to the requirement that the national champion be placed first in a country’s list of teams entered.
To be eligible to play in the Euro Hockey League a country must enter 2 clubs in EHF club competitions.
Rules and Regulation
Euro Hockey League is played under purpose-developed tournament regulations by the European Hockey Federation that incorporate the various format variations that will shape play in Euro Hockey League, and under the FIH rules of hockey.
To see the official tournament regulations, please click here.
Last update: September 2018
Anti-doping policy
Euro Hockey League supports the fight against doping in sport in all its forms, and therefore endorses the FIH Anti-Doping Policy which is in full accordance with the World Anti-Doping Code.
For more information on FIH’s Anti-Doping Policy and more general information about Anti-Doping, please visit the related section on the FIH website and the WADA website respectively.