DANNY G & USA Hockey vs. AAU/USARS

[midwestrh]

Danny G, Isn't this is league in the backyard of USA Hockey and a former member of USA Hockey? Why would they leave if USA Hockey is so great and AAU/USARS is so bad? Maybe you should reconsider your affiliation? or better yet just stay where you are.

This press release was on the AAUHockey website.



U.S.A.R.S./A.A.U.

PRESS RELEASE

2409 Stout Rd. #1, Menomonie, WI 54751

715-231-4000 (o) 715-231-4004 (f)

www.usarollersports.org www.aauhockey.org



October 30, 2003

USA Rollersports (USARS), the National Governing Body of Roller Sports and the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU), are pleased to announce the addition of the Colorado High School Inline Hockey Association (CHSIHA) to the USARS-USA Olympic Cup Series.

USARS recognizes the CHSIHA as the official high school league of Colorado. Ed Delgado, the CHSIHA executive director states, "After careful deliberation with the CHSIHA Board and participating facilities, the decision was made to change our sanctioning affiliation to the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) and USA Roller Sports (USARS)." Delgado also states, "USA Roller Sports (USARS) is the official National Governing Body for inline and is recognized by the U.S. Olympic Committee as such. Their alliance with the AAU brings many additional benefits to our inline hockey communities. We found that the benefits for the CHSIHA and its members are overwhelmingly positive and should not be ignored."

Keith Noll, AAU Hockey Chair and USARS Hockey adds, "USARS, the Governing Body for the sport of inline hockey is very pleased to have the Colorado high school inline program join the USARS and AAU family."

The USARS and AAU. National Committees will oversee the high school division for the state championships and the USARS Olympic Cup Series, which lead to the Junior Olympics in St. Louis, MO on July 30-August 2, 2004.

For more information and history about these organizations, please go to their web-sites.

www.chsiha.org

www.usarollersports.org

www.aauhockey.org

www.aausports.org



USARS Hockey Committee

[DannyG]

During the past week, I have spoken over the phone for over 45 minutes with Mr. Keith Knoll. Mr. Knoll has shared with me the original electronic internal Colorado State High school roller Hockey Assoc memorandum explaining their reasons for making an affiliation switch. There are a variety of considerations that the Assoc has made.

As with most persons who give a darn for our sport, I have tried to keep consistently in touch with all the principals involved in developing inline hockey in this country. Thta would include both USARS and USAHIL. I have discussed various issues with AAU people since way before they have come into contact with the present USARS/AAU "partnershp."

Midwest, I won't take cheap shots at you the way you just did at me. I will, howver, continue to do all I can to help develop our sport in a positive manner for everybody, even you...

<font color=purple>DannyG</font color=purple>

[Defense1st]

Good answer, Danny. Keep it positive, no matter how much it hurts.

Phil Steur

[johnny2suede]

Danny -- Do you work for USA Hockey or perhaps a regional volunteer?

[midwestrh]

Lets see last week you were ripping on usars/aau and now you are on the phone with them? are you thinking that maybe usahockey inline isn't the right way to go after all?
If you keep working hard enough we will get an NGB and maybe they will ask you to be involved, lets hope not.
peace danny boy.

[DannyG]

Since I am a municipal recreation administrator, this places me in a comparatively unique position in two ways...

1. I do not have to make money with my inline hockey program. I can offer unlimited league play, open skating time, team training time, instructional classes and camps, tournament team organization and training...all this for only $20 per player per three month season.

2. I do not have any consideration to make regarding the elite or rich few when I make program decisions. I can make decisions regarding recreation and competitive programming based on what is fair and equal treatment for every player, not just the elite ones, or the ones whose parents can afford more than the others...

Therefore, my fortunate position is that I am beholden to no one, to no financial bottom line, to no regional or national organization. I do not have to kowtow to USAHIL, or NIHA before them, USARS or USACR/S before them, NARCh, AIRS (before their demise), TORHS, ECHO. Pacific Cup, Atlantic Cup...or anybody else!

Since I do not have to kiss up to anybody, in order to curry favor, tournament dates, or anything else, I would sort of suggest that Midwest, and others, might rethink their position regarding my endorsement of USAHIl, and my "expression of concern" over past years' poor administrative record of both USARS and AAU (which, by the way, Keith Knoll will own up to in a second - point in his favor)...

In all this, and other discussions on this board over the past year, I have neither anything to gain, nor anything to lose...I would propose that this position is a far cry from the obviously slanted perspective of several of my detractors on this board...maybe some of you guys are the ones that need to rethink your positions, eh?

...and, if I really have nothing to gain nor lose, then why do you really think I am so heavily endorsing USAHIL and their program formats??? Better think about that without your prejudicial, pre-conceived opinion of me...

Incidentally, just as an aside...there is a well-founded rumor that FIRS has presented a do-all proposal for final approval to the IOC, get this; to host an inline hockey tournament as an official, exhibition-status sport in this year's Olympics...that would be the coup of the century, and would make all this NGB debate, as we have noted before, all a moot point, eh? The IOC word should come in before Thanksgiving, if it comes at all...this should be very interesting...

<font color=purple>DannyG</font color=purple>

[DannyG]

Just to spell it out as plainly as possible...

Since 1993, "US Amateur Confederation of Roller Sports" (USACR/S), presently "USA Roller Sports" (USARS) has done the poorest job of offering quality developmental opportunities in our sport. The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) has similarly had problems with the administration of most of the 56-odd sports and games that it has tried to administrate since the mid-90's...including highly questionable financial scandals for both these organizations...When I announce to all that, based on past performance, I would not want either of these organizations to drive my wheel barrow, I am not kidding...

I stand on everything I have said on this subject...

The fact that, in spite of these facts, and they are facts...as a responsible individual, I have indeed kept in consistent contact with the various individuals in executive level administration of these organizations. Any organization can change, and can be turned around by the right people. Further, people (I include myself here) who truly care about the sport do not necessarily stand on the sidelines, waiting for others to fix everything, and then jump on the band wagon. If you have an opportunity to be part of the solution then you stand up and join in...

I would hope that even my most sincere detractor can see that, if I am going to factually state a negative evaluation, then I had better be prepared to become part of the solution.

USARS/AAU have a mountain of problems yet to overcome...however, if they are indeed working to do so, then don't they deserve our help? Doesnt make me, or anybody, else a hypocrite, this is just another example of how you behave when you really do give a darn about the sport.

If it's bad, especially as bad as USARS and AAU have been for the past several years, I am allowed to say so...doesn't mean that I have (ever, for the past several years)abandoned them, either...

Reality is hardly ever black-or-white, eh???

<font color=purple>DannyG</font color=purple>

[midwestrh]

Danny G, Just for the record USAHockey both ice and Inline have their problems as well, isn't it fair to say that most organizations in this day and age have had problems?

[calihockey]

USARS/AAU is a joke in a lot of ways. I remember a couple years ago there was a bad buzz around because most of their Jr. National Team was from Missouri where USARS is based. Only one California Player, Bobby Cotrell made the team. This is just one of many problems I have with AAU/USARS. They are pretty unprofessional and lack organizationals skills needed. USA Inline should be ALOT farther along then they are. Come on I remember when NIHA was around and they became USA Inline if I remember right. They have done a lot of good things thou. They do offer insurance for all tournament series that are willing to go thru the process. They do offer some great educational programs as well. They may be grassroots but atleast it is something and something positive. They also did a much better job with selecting their national team this year. The USA Inline Cup is always a great tournament. The new structure for their national championships they used this year (stars and stripes) was a good idea to help tier teams. Honestly thou, they do need to try come to an agreement with NARCh because NARCh puts on the best tournments bar none. NARCh is also owned by Daryn Goodwin, a former RHI pro and he is also well respected. If you haven't met him, talk to him at one of the tournaments. He's a good guy and seems really big on helping improve the game. In the end all the programs need to come together, except USARS/AAU. USARS' handling of thier claim to be the offical governing body of roller hockey (techincally not allowed as a governing body is not allowed to be the governing body of more than one sport) was childish and they do not belong around the game. Wasn't AAU sued in the 1970's for trying to take a monopoly on youths sports or something along that nature? Not 100 percent sure, way before my time. Rich and Danny should remember though &gt;=)

[calihockey]

the problems for usa ice are wayyyyyy different. Its like apples and oranges. I wish we had their problems instead of ours. At least they get to send a team to the olympics. At least they have NCAA approval. Kids are able to get scholarships and get an education by playing ice. What do we get for roller? a large credit card bill after all the traveling!

[TXGoalieMom]

I am new to all of this NGB debate, but I can definitely agree with what calihockey said!

[johnny2suede]

I agree that USA Hockey Inline is the lesser of two evils. But they haven't done much to advance the sport of inline since they started.

I also think it has been very unethical of USA Hockey to take so long to admit that USARS is recognized as the NGB of the sport.

Danny-- I still don't get your evangelism for that organization. Some sort of empolyee of Usa Hockey? Some sort of local, regional volunteer of USA Hockey? Some sort of bulletin board defender of all things USA Hockey?

They sell insurance well, I'll give them that but come on they can't even represent the sport well in their magazine, American Hockey. Everytime I see something in that rag it makes inline look so weak, silly and pathetic.

And except for the guy(s) who actually work in the inline division, no one else for USA Hockey ever seems to come out and take a solid stand on this sport and how it actually is a respected sport and not some subordinate offshoot of ice hockey.

And oh yeah, never, never, ever will I personally have any respect for USA Inline as long as the refs continue to wear those god awful jerseys. That is so reflective of lameness.

[midwestrh]

Ok calihockey, By the time you spend all your money traveling around to play roller hockey, you could have saved that money and paid your kids tuition to college. The problems are the very similar whether you like it or not. Do know how many ice hockey scholarships are out there, hope your not counting on that to get your kid into college, the answer is NOT MANY and most of those now days are being split between players. I know it's that stupid American Hockey Magazine that has about 1-2 pages of inline.
USA Hockey, now that's who I want running inline hockey, NOT, they already got the ice hockey so corrupt it's pathetic.

[midwestrh]

signing up with AAU/USARS of course. Someone contact USA Hockey and let them know their boys are jumping ship, OMG...

Danny, Looking forward to playing those tough Texas teams up here in Michigan next year at Torhs Nats, any chance your coming? My bad, you only take teams to the National House Hockey Tournament (USA Hockey) which I believe is being played in Atlanta. <P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by midwestrh on 11/06/03 10:40 PM.</EM></FONT></P>

[MDE3]

Midwestrh...........please when you reach the age of reason...someone may actually take you seriously, so consider what you say. Danny has no ax to grind about any particular organization other than from his own experience running a fairly extensive hockey program........

Have you a comparable background on which to base your opinions? Have you ever organized a tournament, a clinic, a league, a team? Or are you simply a young player who likes to take anonymous shots at people when you figure there is no accountability...... in the hopes that somehow you are boosting your own image by tearing someone else's down? I see no real identification in your profile, no name even.....

So it all comes down to an assessment of character for the rest of us who read this stuff, when we have no other basis to evalute comments. The way you conduct yourself on this board will be the only basis for generating credibility. I am sure you will get all the credibility you deserve.

[calselect89s]

While I support neither of these institutions as the NGB, I can say that while you complain about USIHL and American Hockey Magazine's coverage of 1 to 2 pages in their magazine, where is the AAu/FIRS/USARS magazine? I happened to see the rag (1 per Year) that had a nice write up about the worlds, right alondg with the figure skate adds and all.
At this time neither of these organizations will be given the nod by the throngs. California has a noose hold hold on roller hockey and neither of these organizations give us the time of day. California would sooner give NARCh the nod, but it's a for profit series and that won't work.
No one cares is FIRS is talking to IOC about exhibition games in the olympics, we want a well organized series that provides growth to the sport. SO far Tour Pacific cup, NARCh and now the Topcat series are the only one who reach out to all levels of play.
As for Danny G., I have found him to be a man of firm beliefs and he stands behind them, can you say the same? He works deligently towards making a place where all kids can come and experience a fun time, while learning to play as a team. What have you brought? How have you tried to change things? What is your suggestion, to remedy the current situation, and how will you accomplish it.