Saturday, August 12, 2006
Saturday, January 14, 2006
consortium site to sell essential hardball hockey equipment
Here's a big change...how about the USA national body or our World governing body create a nonprofiit consortium site to sell essential hardball hockey equipment to club card coaches, club card players, and potential players.
A percentage of the sales would go back into site support/promotion and would be available to 'donate' club equipment volume deals, athlete programs, etc. I am not suggesting the central site keep an inventory...I am saying the central site would negotiate with suppliers that are difficult to find one player at a time, and offer the equipment readily through one site to people who visited: Balls, Sticks, Wheels, Boots. The majority of the equipment is specialized and can't be found in an average roller rink or local sports shop. Imagine a site that is routed through Google business and is available each time someone types in Roller Hockey. Think eBay, Paypal, Amazon Books when you consider a model.
Before you say it can't happen...U.S. roller-rinks (RSA) have been doing something like what I am describing for ages, except to benefit rink owners:
http://www.rollerskating.com/displaycommon.cfm?an=8
A place to get stuff for the promotion of roller-rinks and community.If you take a look at their membership price it is just a bit more than the cost to register a boys and girls team at U.S Nationals. (incidently USARS is an RSA corporate sponsor-tell me that isnt wierd). Still not convinced? Take a looke at http://www.skates.com/ this site has every type of skate I can think of, oops nope, there are no hardball hockey skates.-imagine a Hardball Hockey site that was like the latter
Why not a non-profit or hardball hockey member discount place to get stuff for hardball hockey athletes and to build a hardball hockey community? I think a site like this would go a long way to help hardball hockey mature and grow to be independant
I disagree a bit with the notion that we need a roller rink in order to have hardball hockey, at least in the sense of the way we have always done it in the past.
USARS and little teams here and there have plenty of inline hockey, support, and players and they don't always practice in a roller rink. It is certain they don't require a roller rink to get equipment and I need to point out ice hockey players seldom practice in a rink who has the equivalent to a human jukebox (grin). Don't get me wrong, I know Ice rinks do have public sessions where they play music, but in many cases ice rinks simply provide ice time at $200+ per sheet to whoever wants it. To go a step further alot of kids and adults simply play on outside ice they clean themselves. In warm weather people play inline on tennis courts, basketball courts, in front of the house.
I mean to say we need to stop looking at Hardball Hockey as a product roller rinks sell. Roller Rinks simply need to provide a flat surface for an hourly fee to offset setup equipment, electric, heat, and damages. This is where it's tough for old school Rink-Owners, they have to give up some control, control of a sport they see as thier product to sell. They think they are the sports beginning, middle, and final say. This isn't bowling, or gymnastics. Okay this posting is somewhat simplified to make a point. We need to look at rinks as a place a team rents and maybe holds equipment like Goals and cones, and our Governing bodies as organizations that provide major medical and competition statutes/support (if you're in Canada medical is taken care of [I hear]), but here is the bugger...where do we get the equipment. See, here is where we haven't grown as a sport.
Compare our sport to inline speed skating, inline speed skaters don't need a rink to get equipment, the equipment companies realized the formula- if they work together, people will skate...BONT.com for example even promotes races. Look at the variety of brands and inline speed equipment from around the world: http://www.nettracing.com/ you can feel the sport at this site.
An earlier message mentions RENO might not appreciate a consortium central site for equipment...I think they should help sponsor the thing! Look how well R.E.I does and they give a dividend to its buyers, or think about Airline Miles given to the customers for simply flying and staying loyal to their brand, and both examples enjoy volume sales and help market and grow thier customer base. How silly it is to me that Reno only advertises their products on a site and then expects players or prospective players to navigate to thier only U.S. link- Lenisports in the U.S., who then expects that I call Ruben's cell phone or send him an email to buy a ball- I mean geez'.....I can buy tropical fish from a fish store site offering many suppliers, one supplier can essentially be a man who jumps into the red sea to catch a fish and he'll mail it to me, and it only takes me three minutes, an agreed price, and a address to recieve my product. Major manafacturers love catalogs, specialy sites, and malls. Product brands like Nike, Bont, Hasbro, can be found sitting side by side in catalogs and online worldwide (anyone looked through a Bass Pro catalog- I can't imagine a fishing pole company deciding to remove themselves from available choices.) Has anyone bought a computer lately....online, from a catalog, or a store? Reno and european equipment companies should put together what they know and invite others into the mix and work together to build a customer base...it works for inlines and ice skates and yo yo's and gardening and bicyles....golly i think it would work for Hardball Hockey. Like I have said before, buying a basketball lets me play basketball, and basketballs sell hoops. Swimming is big here and I don't buy my goggles and shorts from the local pool. Hardball Hockey players simply need to get some balls...
Imagine Hardball Hockey via Amazon.com, suppliers take a look at what it could be and help your sport by starting here..., a place players can get it when they want it
example:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/browse.html/103-1357829-9125418?%5Fencoding=UTF8&node=3416881&sizefit=&index=sporting&me=ATVPDKIKX0DER&rank=&rh=a%3A3416881&page=3
[em]Suppliers Links below provided by inforoller.com listed as a link on hardballhock.bravehost.com[/em]
http://www.carlosmur.com/home.html (ESP)
http://www.lestelskates.com (ESP)
http://www.ambitsport.com (ESP)
http://www.hockeyreno.com (ESP)
http://www.federalsports.com/ (ESP)
http://www.protex.es/ (ESP)
http://www.barovari.com (ESP)
http://www.revertec.com/ (ESP)
http://www.procathockey.com/ (ESP)
http://www.mcroller.com (ESP)
http://www.copaline.net (ESP)
http://www.rollskater.com (ITA)
http://www.azzalihockey.it/ (ITA)
http://www.meneghinihockeysystem.com/ (ITA)
http://www.roll-line.com/home.php (ITA)
http://www.mcfrancedistribution.com (FRA)
http://www.hawaiisurf.com/asp/home.asp? (FRA)
http://www.sarlstarlight.com (FRA)
http://hockey-shop.fr/ (FRA)
http://www.rollershop.nl (HOL)
http://www.patins.com.br/ (BRE)
http://www.indeme.com.ar/ (ARG)
http://www.rdcsport.com (POR)
http://www.otreininho.p (POR)
http://www.jetroller.com/ (POR)
http://www.tvd.pt
http://www.slapshotuk.com/ (ANG)
http://www.akisports.de/" (ALL)
http://www.sport-exclusiv-rollhockey.de/ (ALL)
http://www.rollkunstlauf.de/katalog/index.html (ALL)
http://www.lenirollsport.com/ (USA)
**Just for kicks, pretend you are a newby looking for some equipment and see how many of the suppliers are easily available and found on the net, then imagine if these suppliers worked together with governing bodies to help market and mold a creative vision that builds a world roller hockey customer base and provided support to members while doing there best to provide equipment and choices
A percentage of the sales would go back into site support/promotion and would be available to 'donate' club equipment volume deals, athlete programs, etc. I am not suggesting the central site keep an inventory...I am saying the central site would negotiate with suppliers that are difficult to find one player at a time, and offer the equipment readily through one site to people who visited: Balls, Sticks, Wheels, Boots. The majority of the equipment is specialized and can't be found in an average roller rink or local sports shop. Imagine a site that is routed through Google business and is available each time someone types in Roller Hockey. Think eBay, Paypal, Amazon Books when you consider a model.
Before you say it can't happen...U.S. roller-rinks (RSA) have been doing something like what I am describing for ages, except to benefit rink owners:
http://www.rollerskating.com/displaycommon.cfm?an=8
A place to get stuff for the promotion of roller-rinks and community.If you take a look at their membership price it is just a bit more than the cost to register a boys and girls team at U.S Nationals. (incidently USARS is an RSA corporate sponsor-tell me that isnt wierd). Still not convinced? Take a looke at http://www.skates.com/ this site has every type of skate I can think of, oops nope, there are no hardball hockey skates.-imagine a Hardball Hockey site that was like the latter
Why not a non-profit or hardball hockey member discount place to get stuff for hardball hockey athletes and to build a hardball hockey community? I think a site like this would go a long way to help hardball hockey mature and grow to be independant
I disagree a bit with the notion that we need a roller rink in order to have hardball hockey, at least in the sense of the way we have always done it in the past.
USARS and little teams here and there have plenty of inline hockey, support, and players and they don't always practice in a roller rink. It is certain they don't require a roller rink to get equipment and I need to point out ice hockey players seldom practice in a rink who has the equivalent to a human jukebox (grin). Don't get me wrong, I know Ice rinks do have public sessions where they play music, but in many cases ice rinks simply provide ice time at $200+ per sheet to whoever wants it. To go a step further alot of kids and adults simply play on outside ice they clean themselves. In warm weather people play inline on tennis courts, basketball courts, in front of the house.
I mean to say we need to stop looking at Hardball Hockey as a product roller rinks sell. Roller Rinks simply need to provide a flat surface for an hourly fee to offset setup equipment, electric, heat, and damages. This is where it's tough for old school Rink-Owners, they have to give up some control, control of a sport they see as thier product to sell. They think they are the sports beginning, middle, and final say. This isn't bowling, or gymnastics. Okay this posting is somewhat simplified to make a point. We need to look at rinks as a place a team rents and maybe holds equipment like Goals and cones, and our Governing bodies as organizations that provide major medical and competition statutes/support (if you're in Canada medical is taken care of [I hear]), but here is the bugger...where do we get the equipment. See, here is where we haven't grown as a sport.
Compare our sport to inline speed skating, inline speed skaters don't need a rink to get equipment, the equipment companies realized the formula- if they work together, people will skate...BONT.com for example even promotes races. Look at the variety of brands and inline speed equipment from around the world: http://www.nettracing.com/ you can feel the sport at this site.
An earlier message mentions RENO might not appreciate a consortium central site for equipment...I think they should help sponsor the thing! Look how well R.E.I does and they give a dividend to its buyers, or think about Airline Miles given to the customers for simply flying and staying loyal to their brand, and both examples enjoy volume sales and help market and grow thier customer base. How silly it is to me that Reno only advertises their products on a site and then expects players or prospective players to navigate to thier only U.S. link- Lenisports in the U.S., who then expects that I call Ruben's cell phone or send him an email to buy a ball- I mean geez'.....I can buy tropical fish from a fish store site offering many suppliers, one supplier can essentially be a man who jumps into the red sea to catch a fish and he'll mail it to me, and it only takes me three minutes, an agreed price, and a address to recieve my product. Major manafacturers love catalogs, specialy sites, and malls. Product brands like Nike, Bont, Hasbro, can be found sitting side by side in catalogs and online worldwide (anyone looked through a Bass Pro catalog- I can't imagine a fishing pole company deciding to remove themselves from available choices.) Has anyone bought a computer lately....online, from a catalog, or a store? Reno and european equipment companies should put together what they know and invite others into the mix and work together to build a customer base...it works for inlines and ice skates and yo yo's and gardening and bicyles....golly i think it would work for Hardball Hockey. Like I have said before, buying a basketball lets me play basketball, and basketballs sell hoops. Swimming is big here and I don't buy my goggles and shorts from the local pool. Hardball Hockey players simply need to get some balls...
Imagine Hardball Hockey via Amazon.com, suppliers take a look at what it could be and help your sport by starting here..., a place players can get it when they want it
example:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/browse.html/103-1357829-9125418?%5Fencoding=UTF8&node=3416881&sizefit=&index=sporting&me=ATVPDKIKX0DER&rank=&rh=a%3A3416881&page=3
[em]Suppliers Links below provided by inforoller.com listed as a link on hardballhock.bravehost.com[/em]
http://www.carlosmur.com/home.html (ESP)
http://www.lestelskates.com (ESP)
http://www.ambitsport.com (ESP)
http://www.hockeyreno.com (ESP)
http://www.federalsports.com/ (ESP)
http://www.protex.es/ (ESP)
http://www.barovari.com (ESP)
http://www.revertec.com/ (ESP)
http://www.procathockey.com/ (ESP)
http://www.mcroller.com (ESP)
http://www.copaline.net (ESP)
http://www.rollskater.com (ITA)
http://www.azzalihockey.it/ (ITA)
http://www.meneghinihockeysystem.com/ (ITA)
http://www.roll-line.com/home.php (ITA)
http://www.mcfrancedistribution.com (FRA)
http://www.hawaiisurf.com/asp/home.asp? (FRA)
http://www.sarlstarlight.com (FRA)
http://hockey-shop.fr/ (FRA)
http://www.rollershop.nl (HOL)
http://www.patins.com.br/ (BRE)
http://www.indeme.com.ar/ (ARG)
http://www.rdcsport.com (POR)
http://www.otreininho.p (POR)
http://www.jetroller.com/ (POR)
http://www.tvd.pt
http://www.slapshotuk.com/ (ANG)
http://www.akisports.de/" (ALL)
http://www.sport-exclusiv-rollhockey.de/ (ALL)
http://www.rollkunstlauf.de/katalog/index.html (ALL)
http://www.lenirollsport.com/ (USA)
**Just for kicks, pretend you are a newby looking for some equipment and see how many of the suppliers are easily available and found on the net, then imagine if these suppliers worked together with governing bodies to help market and mold a creative vision that builds a world roller hockey customer base and provided support to members while doing there best to provide equipment and choices
Monday, August 15, 2005
ANOTHER needed change to U.S. Hardball Hockey (Rink-Hockey)
Another positive and necessary change U.S. Hardball Hockey needs to make is to provide more Information, Support, and Assistance Please! USARS needs a Hardball Hockey Member Services Department partially made up of volunteers, to assist members, clubs, and associations with questions and ideas. Information, Support, and Assistance Please!
The best source of U.S. Hardball Hockey information for beginning and advanced athletes should be a Member Services Coordinator who provides training materials, videos, promotional items, recruitment aids, and contacts with local clubs and associations. If an athlete wants to get started, our Roller Hockey Member Services Department should take the first step and be easily and publicly available. Someone who wants to try Rink-Hockey should be able to let USARS know they are interested by filling out an electronic form and hitting the send button, or, calling a toll free hotline should be an option.
Helpful Information and volunteers that love the sport and are eager to help answer questions, or provide guidance on equipment selection and care for athletes trying to get started should be made available at the USARS homepage. The Hardball Hockey homepage should be fashioned with the intent of recruitment and information. Currently the Usarollersports.org Hardball Hockey page offers some scores and statistics.
Most skaters start with a local club. The best thing to do for a new skater is to attend a practice session on a trial basis, or, an open house hosted by a local club, rink, or other group. Clubs should be made up of a group of individuals who love the sport and want to see others enjoy it too. Other organizers/sponsors of clubs should not be limited to rink facilities. Schools, park and recreation districts, fitness clubs, local community groups such as fire and police groups, YMCA's YWCA's, Jaycees, American Legion Posts, and others should be recruited and given access to the many elements that make up the Roller Hockey family in the United States! There should be a way beginners and existing Hardball hockey players can find and identify Hardball Hockey near them. The USARS Hardball Hockey Member Services department should have a contact map online or accessible over the phone that help to affiliate members, associations, and clubs with complete contact info and links to their websites and what is happening in other areas. What if a beginner, member, or club can't find something or is unsure? A skater should be able to contact a USARS Hardball Hockey Member Services department, volunteer, or website and find the answer. Currently there are only names of elite coaches, sport officers, and USARS policy makers made available.
A big question that beginners, elite Hardball Hockey players, local club, rink, and other groups need answered to choose a sport is: Where do I get my equipment (stick and skates)? Rink skates are fine for learning the basics, and even recommended until skaters begin to get comfortable with the basic skills, but where should the more advanced skater or a new club get competitive skates, gloves, or choose an approved stick? Suppose the local rink only offers one brand of stick because they prefer a particular material, or does not sell an approved ball to practice with or is out of juvenile sizes? USARS should provide a page online offering a list of vendors that sell equipment at the click of the mouse to members at below public prices. USARS should sell roller hockey vendors advertising space in the monthly USARS magazine that members receive with their memberships. The Hardball Hockey advertisements may help in recruitment from other roller sports. The available vendors list should be maintained by the USARS Hardball Hockey Member Services department and be offered to new members and the public. Furthermore, members should be able to buy rink-hockey equipment online from USARS, not just USARS apparel and accessories. USARS equipment supplies should be drop-shipped via agreements with vendors as a member's service and stocked/shipped by USARS using a portion of membership and advertisement fees. The U.S. Speed skating national governing body offers a terrific example of supply to new skaters and clubs. They call it Loaner Skates. U.S Speedskating offers skates to clubs for a fee to help support and recruit clubs and skaters. They write: “Participating in the program has proven to increase success of recruitment and retention efforts. The program is designed to encourage the participants to recruit and retain new members to the sport and offers financial incentives to do so while deferring expenses. Participants are encouraged to charge a nominal fee for use of the skates as a means of funding their purchase. They are also encouraged to have skaters become members of USS to help cover the program cost as well. Fee payments are deferred until the end of the year to allow participants time to do this and relieve the upfront financial pressure on the participants.” Instead of hiding vendors from the skaters, USARS should provide a comprehensive listing of Hardball Hockey (rink-hockey) equipment retailers to help satisfy skaters' shopping needs. Information and Support Please!
This second positive and necessary change Alternative U.S. Hardball hockey needs to make means getting involved. This change will initially prove difficult because their responsibilities will mean removing responsibility from small business owners who are interested in maintaining a roller rink in an ever-shrinking number of rinks nationwide. USARS Hardball Hockey needs to get involved in recruitment and retainment and make the change to provide information and support and we will reap family and social benefits while keeping the sport and its traditions strong. A club network lead by USARS offering information and support should be the lifeblood of the sport with the mission of expanding the sport around the country. Why should a sport depend on a shrinking handful of small business owners instead of its governing and organizing body? USARS Information, Support, and Assistance Please!
The best source of U.S. Hardball Hockey information for beginning and advanced athletes should be a Member Services Coordinator who provides training materials, videos, promotional items, recruitment aids, and contacts with local clubs and associations. If an athlete wants to get started, our Roller Hockey Member Services Department should take the first step and be easily and publicly available. Someone who wants to try Rink-Hockey should be able to let USARS know they are interested by filling out an electronic form and hitting the send button, or, calling a toll free hotline should be an option.
Helpful Information and volunteers that love the sport and are eager to help answer questions, or provide guidance on equipment selection and care for athletes trying to get started should be made available at the USARS homepage. The Hardball Hockey homepage should be fashioned with the intent of recruitment and information. Currently the Usarollersports.org Hardball Hockey page offers some scores and statistics.
Most skaters start with a local club. The best thing to do for a new skater is to attend a practice session on a trial basis, or, an open house hosted by a local club, rink, or other group. Clubs should be made up of a group of individuals who love the sport and want to see others enjoy it too. Other organizers/sponsors of clubs should not be limited to rink facilities. Schools, park and recreation districts, fitness clubs, local community groups such as fire and police groups, YMCA's YWCA's, Jaycees, American Legion Posts, and others should be recruited and given access to the many elements that make up the Roller Hockey family in the United States! There should be a way beginners and existing Hardball hockey players can find and identify Hardball Hockey near them. The USARS Hardball Hockey Member Services department should have a contact map online or accessible over the phone that help to affiliate members, associations, and clubs with complete contact info and links to their websites and what is happening in other areas. What if a beginner, member, or club can't find something or is unsure? A skater should be able to contact a USARS Hardball Hockey Member Services department, volunteer, or website and find the answer. Currently there are only names of elite coaches, sport officers, and USARS policy makers made available.
A big question that beginners, elite Hardball Hockey players, local club, rink, and other groups need answered to choose a sport is: Where do I get my equipment (stick and skates)? Rink skates are fine for learning the basics, and even recommended until skaters begin to get comfortable with the basic skills, but where should the more advanced skater or a new club get competitive skates, gloves, or choose an approved stick? Suppose the local rink only offers one brand of stick because they prefer a particular material, or does not sell an approved ball to practice with or is out of juvenile sizes? USARS should provide a page online offering a list of vendors that sell equipment at the click of the mouse to members at below public prices. USARS should sell roller hockey vendors advertising space in the monthly USARS magazine that members receive with their memberships. The Hardball Hockey advertisements may help in recruitment from other roller sports. The available vendors list should be maintained by the USARS Hardball Hockey Member Services department and be offered to new members and the public. Furthermore, members should be able to buy rink-hockey equipment online from USARS, not just USARS apparel and accessories. USARS equipment supplies should be drop-shipped via agreements with vendors as a member's service and stocked/shipped by USARS using a portion of membership and advertisement fees. The U.S. Speed skating national governing body offers a terrific example of supply to new skaters and clubs. They call it Loaner Skates. U.S Speedskating offers skates to clubs for a fee to help support and recruit clubs and skaters. They write: “Participating in the program has proven to increase success of recruitment and retention efforts. The program is designed to encourage the participants to recruit and retain new members to the sport and offers financial incentives to do so while deferring expenses. Participants are encouraged to charge a nominal fee for use of the skates as a means of funding their purchase. They are also encouraged to have skaters become members of USS to help cover the program cost as well. Fee payments are deferred until the end of the year to allow participants time to do this and relieve the upfront financial pressure on the participants.” Instead of hiding vendors from the skaters, USARS should provide a comprehensive listing of Hardball Hockey (rink-hockey) equipment retailers to help satisfy skaters' shopping needs. Information and Support Please!
This second positive and necessary change Alternative U.S. Hardball hockey needs to make means getting involved. This change will initially prove difficult because their responsibilities will mean removing responsibility from small business owners who are interested in maintaining a roller rink in an ever-shrinking number of rinks nationwide. USARS Hardball Hockey needs to get involved in recruitment and retainment and make the change to provide information and support and we will reap family and social benefits while keeping the sport and its traditions strong. A club network lead by USARS offering information and support should be the lifeblood of the sport with the mission of expanding the sport around the country. Why should a sport depend on a shrinking handful of small business owners instead of its governing and organizing body? USARS Information, Support, and Assistance Please!
A Necessary change to U.S. Hardball Hockey (Rink-Hockey)
The first positive and necessary change Alternative the U.S. needs to make is our naming convention. Intead of calling the sport something most of the world doesn't know, the U.S. needs to align itself with a naming standard most of the world identifies with: Rink-Hockey under the umbrella of Roller Hockey. Hardball Hockey simply seperates the U.S. sport locally from the rest of the interntional community abroad.
This simple naming convention would bring world athletes, commerce, and suppliers nearer to the U.S. and the U.S. closer to the International community with less confusion and more communication. Communication would be key and would start here. Anyone in the U.S. who would want to find anything on the sport would find neighboring Rink-Hockey clubs and communities from around the world instead of only Hardball Hockey at USACRS. The athlete could meet and greet the most succesful members of the sport. Most U.S. athletes aren't aware that abroad the sport isn't really called Hardball Hockey, so are stuck looking at the same usarollersports rerun-information nearly exclusively
The U.S. community gets confused when speaking to each other both in general public and inside USACRS because Hardball Hockey means other variations of "Roller" sports with a stick in the U.S.
Rink-Hockey is clearly identifiable worldwide so should settle the muddiness locally and still fits neatly under the Roller hockey and USArollersports umbrella. What if it doesn't settle the muddiness? Then at least the U.S. community could locate and communicate with rich history, expertise, and new developments in the world community who clearly know and dominate the sport. The U.S. community would begin to learn and have access to information that otherwise we get second or third hand in side-bar conversation or at local roller inks
To get a feel for what I am describing consider
(using quotes around the search phrase):
A U.S. athlete searching for "Hardball Hockey" community, commerce, and supply using Google will find only 1,340 links worldwide. (Mostly U.S. links to something USACRS and Affiliate associations)
A U.S. athlete searching for "Rink-Hockey" community, commerce, and supply using Google will find 54,200 links worldwide. BUT WON'T FIND USAROLLERSPORTS even if U.S.A is added to the search
(Mostly international links, clubs, and Affiliate associations)
Something that comes to mind is perhaps Rink-Hockey sites would benefit by adding Hardball Hockey to their meta-name so the U.S. would find Rink-Hockey? ex: http://www.slapshotuk.com
Roller Hockey is to large a scope (umbrella) and becomes vague in results
Initially the pain experienced by the U.S. would be changing the name again and educating it's athletes, bridging the connenction to the rest of the world. Following that, USArollersports would struggle with its own pride in sharing and stepping out of the way of others international expertise and truly having to learn a few things itself. The USACRS community would struggle publicly with the access to community, commerce and supply and the recognition that there is another way that has proven more successful than their own best efforts.
A rose by any other name is difficult to find- and talk about- USArollersports needs to open communication for its Rink-Hockey community and the world.
This simple naming convention would bring world athletes, commerce, and suppliers nearer to the U.S. and the U.S. closer to the International community with less confusion and more communication. Communication would be key and would start here. Anyone in the U.S. who would want to find anything on the sport would find neighboring Rink-Hockey clubs and communities from around the world instead of only Hardball Hockey at USACRS. The athlete could meet and greet the most succesful members of the sport. Most U.S. athletes aren't aware that abroad the sport isn't really called Hardball Hockey, so are stuck looking at the same usarollersports rerun-information nearly exclusively
The U.S. community gets confused when speaking to each other both in general public and inside USACRS because Hardball Hockey means other variations of "Roller" sports with a stick in the U.S.
Rink-Hockey is clearly identifiable worldwide so should settle the muddiness locally and still fits neatly under the Roller hockey and USArollersports umbrella. What if it doesn't settle the muddiness? Then at least the U.S. community could locate and communicate with rich history, expertise, and new developments in the world community who clearly know and dominate the sport. The U.S. community would begin to learn and have access to information that otherwise we get second or third hand in side-bar conversation or at local roller inks
To get a feel for what I am describing consider
(using quotes around the search phrase):
A U.S. athlete searching for "Hardball Hockey" community, commerce, and supply using Google will find only 1,340 links worldwide. (Mostly U.S. links to something USACRS and Affiliate associations)
A U.S. athlete searching for "Rink-Hockey" community, commerce, and supply using Google will find 54,200 links worldwide. BUT WON'T FIND USAROLLERSPORTS even if U.S.A is added to the search
(Mostly international links, clubs, and Affiliate associations)
Something that comes to mind is perhaps Rink-Hockey sites would benefit by adding Hardball Hockey to their meta-name so the U.S. would find Rink-Hockey? ex: http://www.slapshotuk.com
Roller Hockey is to large a scope (umbrella) and becomes vague in results
Initially the pain experienced by the U.S. would be changing the name again and educating it's athletes, bridging the connenction to the rest of the world. Following that, USArollersports would struggle with its own pride in sharing and stepping out of the way of others international expertise and truly having to learn a few things itself. The USACRS community would struggle publicly with the access to community, commerce and supply and the recognition that there is another way that has proven more successful than their own best efforts.
A rose by any other name is difficult to find- and talk about- USArollersports needs to open communication for its Rink-Hockey community and the world.
USARS Hardball Hockey failing? -look to RSA,RSM and USARS for help
USAC was technically known as USAC/RS back in the day-which became USARS. USARS is underneath the umbrella of FIRS and represents The USA Roller Sports. www.usarollersports.org USARS is largely made up of RSA members (rink owners) and RSA customers- especially where Hardball Hockey is concerned. RSA www.rollerskating.com is encouraged to only buy and supply from RSM www.rollerskating.com/displaycommon.cfm?an=8 products like Sure- Grip www.suregrip.com. The RSA and RSM control many of the products in a roller-rink, over one hundred manufacturers.
USARS generally is made up of RSA members and their skaters. USARS members and coaches determine who will go to the USOC (USOC not USAC) training centers and compete at the Pan American games etc..with the world.
USOC is the offical site of the US Olympic Team www.usoc.org/73_13099.htm
The problem as I see it is EVERY summer sport at the USOC is different than USARS's Hardball Hockey in that ANY child and parent in the US can get a beginner piece of equipment from most sports shops in the World and get started in the summer sport and replace the equipment as the athlete grows or breaks the stuff. Hardball Hockey is completely the opposite, an athlete can typically only buy from an RSA member, if there even is one available.
A competitive Bowler can buy from Sports Authority or WalMart to begin, a soccer player doesn't have to buy his shoes from a soccer field owner, a swimmer can't only get their goggles from a pool, but because the RSA/RSM and USARS model being used with Hardball Hockey excludes everyone but the rink owners, friends, and customers, the naturally talented skater from the bike paths in California is omitted completely from the most basic essential- the equipment to play with-quads and the proper stick. The omitted skater does better to bicycle or get inline equipment (stick) from anywhere.
The RSA/RSM are trying to be the proprietor to the entire sport, excluding most of the natural and evolving talent in the US for the sake of control.
Roller Rinks are limiting, dead ends for Hardball Hockey athletes; changing the skating styles they sponsor with their mood or new owners. Typically USARS can only send RSA members and their customers to compete with World Class athletes because they really don't have anyone else.
Consider the great inline racers of USARS, they left roller skating to meet their dreams in ice skating- the same USOC. Now compare USARS to Ice Skating Sports, the rink is a place to meet, learn, and compete and the equipment and organization is simply available to the athlete-everywhere unlike roller skating. Ice skating organization has it's problems but remembers the most essential part- the skater and how to grow them.
RSA/RSM and USARS, I believe clearly wish to be the soul proprietors of Hardball Hockey, keeping everything in the family. They have forgotten the skaters, the sport, and open competition. Competition makes the US great in the International Arena.
The rest of the world will continue to beat the US because they care about the sport, training, athletes, and competition where Hardball Hockey is concerned and don't have another agenda- keeping roller rinks in control.
There is a lot of promise in Hardball Hockey if the sport is made available thoughout the US, not only inside some of the 1000 RSA rinks who may or not have a club( far less than 1000).
I know this is alot, and maybe even seems conspiracy stricken- but really its about a sport that is bureucracy stricken. If you want to look through what I am explaining for yourself start here:
www.rollerskating.com/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=70
USARS generally is made up of RSA members and their skaters. USARS members and coaches determine who will go to the USOC (USOC not USAC) training centers and compete at the Pan American games etc..with the world.
USOC is the offical site of the US Olympic Team www.usoc.org/73_13099.htm
The problem as I see it is EVERY summer sport at the USOC is different than USARS's Hardball Hockey in that ANY child and parent in the US can get a beginner piece of equipment from most sports shops in the World and get started in the summer sport and replace the equipment as the athlete grows or breaks the stuff. Hardball Hockey is completely the opposite, an athlete can typically only buy from an RSA member, if there even is one available.
A competitive Bowler can buy from Sports Authority or WalMart to begin, a soccer player doesn't have to buy his shoes from a soccer field owner, a swimmer can't only get their goggles from a pool, but because the RSA/RSM and USARS model being used with Hardball Hockey excludes everyone but the rink owners, friends, and customers, the naturally talented skater from the bike paths in California is omitted completely from the most basic essential- the equipment to play with-quads and the proper stick. The omitted skater does better to bicycle or get inline equipment (stick) from anywhere.
The RSA/RSM are trying to be the proprietor to the entire sport, excluding most of the natural and evolving talent in the US for the sake of control.
Roller Rinks are limiting, dead ends for Hardball Hockey athletes; changing the skating styles they sponsor with their mood or new owners. Typically USARS can only send RSA members and their customers to compete with World Class athletes because they really don't have anyone else.
Consider the great inline racers of USARS, they left roller skating to meet their dreams in ice skating- the same USOC. Now compare USARS to Ice Skating Sports, the rink is a place to meet, learn, and compete and the equipment and organization is simply available to the athlete-everywhere unlike roller skating. Ice skating organization has it's problems but remembers the most essential part- the skater and how to grow them.
RSA/RSM and USARS, I believe clearly wish to be the soul proprietors of Hardball Hockey, keeping everything in the family. They have forgotten the skaters, the sport, and open competition. Competition makes the US great in the International Arena.
The rest of the world will continue to beat the US because they care about the sport, training, athletes, and competition where Hardball Hockey is concerned and don't have another agenda- keeping roller rinks in control.
There is a lot of promise in Hardball Hockey if the sport is made available thoughout the US, not only inside some of the 1000 RSA rinks who may or not have a club( far less than 1000).
I know this is alot, and maybe even seems conspiracy stricken- but really its about a sport that is bureucracy stricken. If you want to look through what I am explaining for yourself start here:
www.rollerskating.com/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=70
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