View Full Version : AAU news of interest
thebenchman
02-02-2005, 01:36 PM
Press Release
For Immediate Release
The Amateur Athletic Union of the United States Inc. (AAU) is pleased announce that due to the success of its Inline Hockey programs and numerous requests regarding Ice Hockey, it?s looking into expanding its sports programming for the sport of ice hockey in 2006-07 season.
"We have been exploring this opportunity for some time now and the timing is right to include Ice Hockey into our family of sports," indicated Keith Noll, AAU National Hockey Chairman. "Such a move seems to be a logical step for us. We already have the organizational structure in place with inline. Now given the interest we?re seeing and the increased demand from our members, rink owners, and allied members, this makes a great deal of sense."
The AAU will first establish a solid grassroots program like it did with inline hockey. "We want to work closely with our facilities and clubs to help them broaden and enhance their programs and membership numbers while working in tandem with the rink owners to help them with their bottom lines," Keith Noll continued.
One of the strongest benefits of membership within the AAU family is the fact that it is houses 40 sports. When you become a member of one of its youth sports programs, you are automatically a member of all the rest. So ice hockey members won?t have to buy an additional membership if they already have one for inline hockey or any of the other 40 sports the AAU offers. And it doesn?t matter if you join as a player, coach, official or volunteer . . . one card does it all.
"This year at the AAU Junior Olympic Games, Inline Hockey expects well over 300 teams and with the possibility of Ice Hockey being added in the future to the AAU Junior Olympic Games, the excitement of the AAU Hockey Committee is overwhelming.? Keith Noll went on to say.
Die hard hockey nut.
DannyG
02-02-2005, 05:49 PM
So, are the gloves off now???
We note that, when AAU got into inline hockey, they "affiliated" with USARS, "because USARS was the National Governing Body of Roller Sports."
"AAU can only work under the within the framework of the National Governing Body of any given sport," is the direct quote Keith Knoll gave me when I personally asked him why they were not working within the already existing framework of USA Hockey InLine. Keith went on to quote chapter and verse of some federal declaration regarding organization charters and congress...
I am very interested in how AAU can now "include" ice hockey among it's programs, without a similar "affiliation" relationship with USA Hockey, which is the congressionally appointed National Governing Body for ice hockey.
It would now appear that AAU has only been interested in expanding its power base, and increasing its membership role in youth sports. This step is taken without assessing whether or not a potential participant base is underserved or not. It would appear that they only "affiliated" with USARS to get their hands on membership lists, to begin their market thrust. In fact, it now becomes obvious that AAU all along has been in a business war with USA Hockey InLine, and now perhaps USA Hockey itself, and market share is going to be the objective. Tactics like "one membership card for everything" already brought to the fore...
Only one comment on the NGB thing at this point, and this is obviously peripheral to the above discussion:
Neither AAU, USARS, USAHIL, NARCh, nor anybody else is allowed to use the phrase "National Governing Body of Inline Hockey."
Do not let AAU cause confusion when it uses "National Governing Body of Roller Hockey," and "National Governing Body of Roller Sports," in its phraseology. These are terms used to deceptively, deliberately give the impression that AAU or USARS has license or control over something that they do not. Roller Hockey is not Inline Hockey, it is something else entirely ("short stick").
There is no legally designated National Governing Body of Inline Hockey.
Do not be confused by the use of the Olympic Rings symbol, the phrases "Junior Olympics," "Member, International Olympic Committee," "Team USA," or AAU/USARS noting its inclusion in the Pan American Games or the World Games. Use of these terms to cause people to think that AAU/USARS is responsible for a United States Olympic Team is deliberately deceptive and incorrectly misleading.
There is no inline hockey in the Olympics. There is no USA Olympic inline hockey team.
Please do not be confused by the difference between the International Inline Hockey Federation (IIHF) and the Federation Internationale de Roller Sports (FIRS) as two international organizations that both host world championships, and have a national team from the USA participating.
This is going to be a very interesting next few years.
<font color=purple>DannyG</font color=purple>
Predators13
02-03-2005, 01:13 AM
DannyG do you ever get sick of being under the spell of USA Hockey?. Must be hard not being able to make any decisions for your self eh? How many times a week do they fly you up from El Paso to Colorado to drink the kool- aid? I have notice that very few people on this message borad pay any attention to your comments in regards the NGB situation between USARs / USAHIL, it must getting old listening to you ramble about same thing over and over. And for the record many of the roller hockey people in your community have switched from the great USAHIL to AAU. Can you tell us about that? If USAHIL is so great then why did so many in EL Paso leagues switch to AAU Hockey? I even hear that many are attending the USARS camp, WOW.
DannyG, preaching to all of us about how great USAHIL is and the leagues in his own backyard are going AAU, guess maybe they got tired of listen to you preach the same old story. I even hear that they make fun of you at the meetings for your support of USAHIL? Man it must be tough when lose your credibility with your own eh?
I think it's great that AAU is going into ice, but I can see why USA hockey might not like it, lost MEMBERSHIP DOLLARS! Finally people will have another choice when it comes to ice hockey and it's about time. Guess USA Hockey might not be able to rule with the iron fist anymore. The key word here is "COMPETITION" I think it's great. Why should they be the only ones to sanction ice hockey? Hell they can't even stay out of Inline and everyone knows what they have done to screw that up.
I think AAU can hold their own against the almighty. AAU is the largest youth sports organization is the world so they must be doing something right. Rumor has it that USA Hockey is already in a panic.
Predators13
<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by Predators13 on 02/03/05 00:18 AM.</EM></FONT></P>
The real problem isn't whether AAU or USAHIL is the "best"..., but that there are at least 10 organizations within the sport of inline hockey holding National Championships, and vying not just for credibility, but the available dollars in the sport.
Having been around when USARS was formerly USAC, I can thoroughly appreciate why people would be skeptical with AAU's involvement....Roller Hockey was then and is now a backwater for this (USARS) organization. Not to say that they did not do anything to grow the sport, because at the time, they did provide a venue for the true club teams to play for something greater than a local tournament, something which had dissapeared to a large extent in the other tournament groups, although lately corrective steps are being made..
However if you need to compare organizations, ask yourself honestly which you would rather support.... an organization that is exclusively configured to grow the sport of hockey, or part of one which has 40 sports to worry about?
For the moment, all is ok, because all AAU has to do is lure existing players away from an another organization..so they can shout "growth" for a while....but what have they actually done to promote the sport itself...outside of absorbing some of the efforts made by existing organizations? Please understand me when I tell you that I am not criticizing their tournaments, as I am sure they do a credible job.
The issue here is that hockey, inline and ice, needs focussed efforts to grow here in the USA. It is NOT the national pass-time here as it is in Canada. Any effort further splintering this could be concieved as counterproductive to the long term efforts to keep the sport growing...by actually placing self interest first.
As Mr. Flynn noted so aptly above...there are more National Championships every year, but fewer teams ..in inline hockey.
thebenchman
02-03-2005, 11:31 AM
WOW!!
Danny here we are again!
Ill again voice my opinions here. I will be going all over the place in my reply only because my mind is absolutely blown with the comments.
The one that STICKS out the most is "These is NO OLYMPIC IN LINE HOCKEY" you are so correct in that comment. There isnt FOR NOW! There is however a real strong push to get it in the OLYMPICS. That is what the whole battel is between the USA in line and the AAU/USARS.
FACT..
1) USARS/AAU is the ONLY supported and recognized organized program by the IOC! They have the rights from congress and the IOC to be the program that has the ability to get this sport IN the Olympics. USAHIL does NOT have any rights to a) put players in or on any Olympic team OR perspective team WHEN they do allow the game in the Olympics. PERIOD!!
FACT: the ONLY reson USAHIL and NARCH joined together as one was a cash deal to inflate the numbers of participants in USAHIL to be able to go to the IOC to show "THEY" had the numbers to put a team together for the Olympics. (P.S. it didnt work)
FACT:
USARS DID walk away from in line or excuse me ROLLER hockey. They did for several reasons. a) the program was in such dissarray. Even now it is more organized that it was then. b)there thought ice was more important to them. c) they SCREWED UP! suprised at that comment?
Fact: right now no one is truly educated on how USARS and AAU are working. Everyone seems to have their own idea. Some are correct in their ideas some are not. I CAN tell you that AAU is running the inline-roller program to make it become more of an international sport. They are sending players and person to many countries to get the sport taught and rinks to be built. In countries like Argnetina where "cane hockey" was the hockey they played has now been changer to inline-roller hockey. Look at Ireland, the UK, Australia, Japan, etc. This has not happened overnight.
I will admit that USARS did make a horrbile mistake in letting inline go. They do admit that.
You look at NHL right now, how many cities REALLY are missing it? Not many. They have made many mistakes on the way they chose to run the league. They wont admit to it. USARS does, and they have chosen the AAU to run the program. They are doing a wonderful job. This year alone will be the largest turnout for the USA Camps they have. The "Junior Olympics" was the best attended to date. Dont give me the fact oh heck it was in STL and all the STL teams attended. THAT is NOT TRUE!
Just another comment in closing, you say the using of the name means nothing, correct? Do this then... ok?
There in your hot bed of Texas, make a tournament and call it "USA OLYMPIC" tournament of "whatever". Lets see what happens, and then make sure you have a great attorney on call. If it didnt mean a thing, do you REALLY think that USARS/ AAU could use it? I'll answer it for you. NO!!
Now I know youll come back and have a HUGE article to respond. I will not give a response and this is not to anger anyone. I just wanted to give a different perspective than yours. YOU LOVE USAHIL, I find them curious and different in their calculations. To have AAU to go into ICE would be a great way to bridge the gap between ice and inline. With the gap made more narrow how can it hurt? DO we see that USAHIL narrowing that gap? One last question and you may not have the answer here. Maybe no one will.
WHAT CHANGES DID THE UNIFYING OF NARCH AND USAHIL ACCOMPLISH? WHAT CHANGES HAVE MADE IMPROVEMENTS HAVE THERE BEEN IN THE GAME? HOW HAS IT MADE ANY CHANGES IN THE EDUCATION OF THE GAME? HAS IT MADE IT STRONGER?
Or did it really just pad some ones pocket for the beloved insurance? For example that worthless piece of paper that you pay 25.00 for and actually only costs them $2.81 cents? Oh but hey heres a T-shirt? and that my friend is TRUTH!!
Roy
Die hard hockey nut.
DannyG
02-03-2005, 06:01 PM
I welcome, and incidentally, support both personally and professionally any and all programs from both AAU and USAHIL. Everything that is an opportunity for our players is beneficial to the sport. If indeed AAU wants to go head-to-head with USA Hockey and USA Hockey InLine, put up or shut up, and let's let the market place decide, then great! The sport can only benefit...
I object to deceptive trade practices that have been used by AAU over the past two years.
Everything I said in my initial response to this thread is factual, first-hand, and accurate. I stand by it all.
If you want something longer, or more information on any point, I will be glad to provide additional information.
<font color=purple>DannyG</font color=purple>
DannyG
02-03-2005, 06:25 PM
I'll take it point by point...
DannyG do you ever get sick of being under the spell of USA Hockey? No.
Must be hard not being able to make any decisions for your self eh? No.
How many times a week do they fly you up from El Paso to Colorado to drink the kool- aid? None.
I have notice that very few people on this message board pay any attention to your comments in regards the NGB situation between USARs / USAHIL, Isn't that what this discussion is about?
it must getting old listening to you ramble about same thing over and over. I apologize for taking up your time.
And for the record many of the roller hockey people in your community have switched from the great USAHIL to AAU. For the record, the Nations-Tobin Hockey League is a sanctioned league of USAHIL. All of its players and most of its coaches hold USAHIL membership. Some of it's players, and some of its coaches also hold AAU membership. The Nations-Tobin Recreation Center provides support to players of either organization.
Can you tell us about that? Please see above.
If USAHIL is so great then why did so many in EL Paso leagues switch to AAU Hockey? As noted above, there is no league in El Paso that has switched from USAHIL to AAU. There is no reason to do so. Those players and clubs that can benefit from membership in both have always been welcomed to do so.
I even hear that many are attending the USARS camp, WOW. Yeah, the six or so that have been invited to do so. There are about three dozen others who are just as skilled as these subjectively chosen few, but are not allowed to attend, right? Because it's a closed, invitation-only, program, right?
DannyG, preaching to all of us about how great USAHIL is and the leagues in his own backyard are going AAU, guess maybe they got tired of listen to you preach the same old story. I even hear that they make fun of you at the meetings for your support of USAHIL? Man it must be tough when lose your credibility with your own eh? At least Grimmy comes up with objective facts when he debates this. All you do is call me names. How did I get to be the focus of this? I don't have a problem with you supporting the organization of your choice. How about you talk about what AAU and USAHIL are actually doing for the sport, rather than just call me names?
I think it's great that AAU is going into ice, but I can see why USA hockey might not like it, lost MEMBERSHIP DOLLARS! Finally people will have another choice when it comes to ice hockey and it's about time. Guess USA Hockey might not be able to rule with the iron fist anymore. The key word here is "COMPETITION" I think it's great. Why should they be the only ones to sanction ice hockey? I agree, this can only be good for the sport.
Hell they can't even stay out of Inline and everyone knows what they have done to screw that up. I respectofully disagree, but then, you already know that.
I think AAU can hold their own against the almighty. AAU is the largest youth sports organization is the world so they must be doing something right. Rumor has it that USA Hockey is already in a panic. Didn't I already say it's going to be an interesting next few years?
<font color=purple>DannyG</font color=purple>
Last I checked, you had to buy a membership card from AAU as well.
One of the biggest complaints the last few years is that there is not just one governing body in inline. There are 9 thousand different nationals. Interesting you may want to see that problem develope in ice hockey now. Not that I am against aau expanding. I just find all of these coments interesting given past issues.
Just for the record....I am another one who reads Danny's posts, and also supports USA Hockey as the best alternative to grow the sport...regardless of whatever verbage is used by AAU concerning "Roller Hockey".
As Danny G has pointed out, "roller hockey" was basically a European sport played with a round wooden stick like field hockey, played on quads, with a ball that very much resembled a cricket or baseball, and which had very different rules from what we know as "inline hockey". It was at one time a demonstration sport in one or two olympic games....hence the Olympic association of USAC (then USARS starting in 1998 I believe) with the sport.
Inline Hockey as we know it was largely "invented" if you want, by Charley Yoder and others in the mid eighties....and due to his association with the USAC group through various quad figure, dance and speed skating competitions, which he hosted at his rink "Doc's" and for which I believe Charley was also a regional director, he got them (USAC)to lump his inline hockey under the general organization(meaning under USAC) which already existed for purposes of sanction and insurance as well as to help promote the sport.
Your demeaning attitude towards Danny G is not only "not appreciated", but is viewed with an extremey jaundiced eye. Whether you agree with his editorial views on the sport or not, attacking him personally ends up becoming a negative reflection on yourself, rather than a contributing editorial view.
Danny G is an individual who through strong views and great determination has managed to create a tremendous program in his own region, which has led to major growth of the sport of inline hockey in the region of El Paso Texas. Like anyone else with determination, he is prone, from experience, to hold strong views...if he didn't nothing would ever get done!
Like anyone else who stands up for what he believes is right, he has also become an easy target.
Now AAU want to come in and piggy back on his efforts to grow the sport in the region of El-paso...to pick up the players/teams which have grown largely out of Danny's efforts. Is it any wonder he is skeptical? They didn't nurse the sport in that region to become what it is now.
Can you not see what is actually happening here....AAU is acting like a parasite...basically using the vehicles developed by others to carry them along. They go after existing markets, not develop them....no doubt they have a decent organizational structure, but their success is premised (at least for inline hockey) on a predatory approach. The proof in the pudding is: "will the sport really be better for their involvement, or will they just be another pocket for us to fill"?
Understand when you attack someone who has worked as hard to develop the sport as has Danny G, you better have some real "lead" in your pencil....some of us readers DO know what it takes to get things done..and appreciate it...
Ultimately the battle to be the one who carries the Olympic torch, is not fought here in the USA, but outside of this country. It comes down to which organization can get the most teams on board internationally so that the minimum number of countries needed to make any sport an "Olympic" sport can be achieved.
The legal battle as to who is the "real" holder of the title "Olympic NGB for inline hockey" for the USA comes down largely to an interpretation of whether or not the current sport of inline hockey is more an off-shoot of the old "round-stick" once sanctioned Olumpic sport, or if the current game should be considered more an off-shoot of ice hockey.
Hence the dedication of some parties in the sport to keep the contact, and other ice hockey elements out of inline hockey...allowing these elements into the sport might imbalance the legal topography in favor of ice hockey and thus in favor of USA Hockey.....there is always more than meets the eye.
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