Step 1

[KenFas]

Step one of helping this sport is really simple. Almost everyone playing hockey is playing at an organized league or facility. If we can get a roster to send to an ESPN or TSN that says we would like to see NARCH on television every year they might start to listen. I can tell you that where I play we have 200 rec players another 80 or so travel players ranging in age from 8 to 40. If we got all the signatures from our club plus all the parents and friends that come watch these players our roster would push 1000 names, Now add everyclub IHC readers play for all the sudden 100,000 names doesn't seem so far off. This would be an impressive roster for a network to consider. Everyname on a roster is a potential veiwer. Thus attracting sponsorship exposure for ad revenue and to a network its all about the money. The only question is where to send the rosters and who would organize each clubs or teams effort? Maybe Richard can help think this through so we can get accurate info to send a network. Then we need to voice our opinion to the governing bodies. One example I am a USA Inline member in last months Issue of American Hockey 4 total pages were dedicated to Inline Hockey the rest was Ice. You want to govern the sport of Inline hockey than treat Inline as a partner to Ice and not the stepchild of Ice. USA Inline has done much to improve over the past two years, But its not enough. Take Bigger steps. Members voice your opinion don't sit back and wait. Good Luck

[xport_urself]

You could start an online petiton which u send to some people and they send to more people and each time writing their name until it got to a set amount. And then send the petition in to a sporting network.

Just a random idea.

[reaper_rider]

This is what I had mentioned previously.
Perhaps we can have an online petition setup here at IHC?

[chrisg21]

Guys,

I have read for days the threads regarding the state of inline hockey, and I have been really pleasantly surprised with the numerous thoughtful, concise, posts, and the steps some are trying to take to further support the sport. I really applaud your initiatives, and forward thinking regarding our sport.

One small thing I would like to add is, we have all been brought together by Inline Hockey Central, and I was wondering just how many of us have actually taken the time to support it? I recently subscribed through Paypal, which is pretty damn simple I might add, not because I am looking for member parts of the site, or anything like that, truth is about the only thing I visit with any regularity is the message boards, but because I want to see this site continue. Through an established sites continuance, we help to further build the credibility, everyone seems concerned with. I know the costs of keeping a website running, and it is far greater than purely monetary, there is a lot of time involved as well.

Anyway, don't want to be preachy, but if you haven't, why not take a moment and subscribe for the sake of this site, and the sport. Just my .02, and no, I do not know Rich Graham, I'm just a guy looking to help promote a grass roots sport.

Solidarity,
Chris

[Titan55]

Ok, here is an idea that I have read in another of our posts. We should get something together and ready for the NARCh finals. I mean, think about it, 300 plus teams, add the parents and its a possible 100 000 signatures! I mean the people will see that we are tring to get NARCh televised and they will just on the chance to help us out! I think this would be the best approach right now. Then after NARCh hit all the teams who didn't have the chance to go!
Those are just my thoughts right now!
I would just like to tell everyone who has been a part of this so far thank you very much, it means a lot to me, and I know it means a lot to all of you too! Lets keep pluggin' away, and I think we're on to something!
Phil Christie, Ontario Hyper Titans #24
One Love!

[bullyx2]

bear with me here as i'm as intersted as anyone in more exposure for the sport, but i'm playing devil's advocate.
it seems to me that most of the people who would be be interested in having the NARCH finals telivised, are going to be at the NARCH finals, therefore wouldn't be watching on TV.

[Titan55]

Yes, that is true, but I mean, they wouldn't be playing it live, they would probably tape it and play it on a later date!
One Love!

[bullyx2]

that's cool, i certainly didn't intend to rain on the parade as i'd love to see it televised. that is just what i'd say were i an espn executive having this pitched to me.

[reaper_rider]

This might spawn a slew of flames as it might sound negative, but Im not a big supporter of any online subscription from a philosophical standpoint.

[Benny_Gulakiw]

Hey, this is America and you certainly have a right to your opinion and nobody should spawn any flames over it. We all have opinions that I'm sure other people don't agree with.

But those of out there that don't have a problem with online subscriptions and have a few bucks to spare should step up. Because the simple fact is none of us would now be having this discussion on how to inprove roller hockey if it were not for Rich Graham and inlinehockeycentral.

Benny Gulakiw
Vice President of Operations
Buffalo Wings Roller Hockey

[j_bo]

Sorry, but I am with reaper-rider.. for one...there a numerous places out there that offer free webhosting, etc. etc...so I don't monetarliy support IHC... although, I have and will continue to click on his ads, as this also generates an income for the site, even though it is a small revenue producer. This just happens to be a popular place to meet. There are other's out there.

Also, I am sorry to be a "party pooper", "negative nuthead" , "devils advocate", or whatever. Without NARCH getting involved from the get go, there is no chance of getting any type of committment from ESPN or anyone else for that matter. Without the support of advertisers, which Richard has come across as "greedy dirty liars", where is ESPN gonna come up with the revenue to produce such a telecast?

Signatures won't do squat until you find out where the $$$$$$ is gonna come from to produce something like this. You MUST have the support of the inline/ice hockey manufacturers, and NARCH to even consider this. Without such, you are not only wasting your time, but the time of all those people signing there names to useless paper.

I also agree, that USAINLINE HOCKEY has done poop! At least from what we see of our sorry local league, and the so called "insurance" that they provide for all players. Long story, won't get into it.

Don't get me wrong, please. Who of us wouldn't love to see this on TV? I love roller hockey, and prefer it over ICE. Just in my opinion, you are doing figure eights. Find the support for it 1st, then go for the big dogs.

Like I hear from so many players... "Afterall, this is ONLY roller hockey". (shame on them!!!)


These of course, are only my opinions. Like everyone else, I am entitled to them, as you are yours. j-bo

[morrisville75]

your right

[evman117]

first off i just want to say that i really like morrisville75's eloquence and master of the english language. secondly, i can't see NARCh sponsoring being televised on ESPN. that would take thousands upon thousands of dollars, and like somebody said before, NARCh has grown by leaps and bounds in the past few years, all without the help of television. if i were a NARCh bigwig, there would be no plus in this yet. now i think if there happen to be a thousand teams or something, and an ESPN exec happened to walk in and watch on of the platinum games and saw the many many people watching, that might do something. anybody know one? if you do, invite him!

[morrisville75]

i know what i write is sad
even worse i got 112 posts here with that

[eulogy01]

In response to " if i were a NARCh bigwig, there would be no plus in this": I can kind of see your point, but it is still a flimsy one. If NARCH were to be televised, that would be a big plus for them. Forgetting for a moment, the publicity the our sport would receive, NARCH would have a whole new weapon to get money out of sponsors. Being on TV would also help increase awareness of the tournament, and also give them a way to reach potential participants.

For the devil's advocates that have posted in this thread, your comments also have some merit, but also fall short. No executive would ignore 100,000 letters requesting something, especially something as possible as roller hockey on TV. Much like this message board, where for every one post, there are at least five lurkers who have the same opinion, so will our 100,000 letters. This is a concept that these execs. know.

There was a good suggestion that came up, with regards to getting NARCh participation. Their network of contacts is definitely something that can be used to our advantage. Go.

[xport_urself]

oops, sorry reaper i must have missed it.

[reaper_rider]

It's okay, seems like j_bo is thinking better than most of us. Narch definetly needs to get invovled before anything starts.

[reaper_rider]

Morris,
I understand you're young and it's okay to not have the greatest vocabulary at your age. Keep posting! However, avoid the brief, pointless posts like "you're right" or "huh, that's funny". Share something with a little more depth:)

Keep posting Morris!

[j_bo]

Euology.....I have no qualms about your ideas at all....let me put it this way...what sport has more average attendance than the NFL, and is in the USA?? (cause world cup soccer by far has the most worldwide)... It's SUPERCROSS... yep... their average attendance is way above the NFL's...and they struggled for more than 10years to get a tv deal... now of course, they are a all over espn2 because of the "X" game mentality....but.. THEY had all the major manufacturers BEGGING all together to get a regular gig on espn...I just say that it's a very tough road to hoe.....that you need some MAJOR effort by the MANUFACTURERS and the organizers.. whether it's NARCH or whoever....

Yes.. 100,000 signatures sounds impressive, and to most of us it is very impressive... but sorry....that doesn't mean squat to the powers that be. You have all kinds of variables to who actually signed the thing in the 1st place. It's all about that great word " demographics", and who could they sell product to.

Don't let my opinions get you bummed out or anything.. just trying to give an insight on what's ahead of you and all the other's banging away at these nice ideas..... Good Luck...j-bo

[evman117]

morris, i wasn't being derogitory towards you, its just quite funny to see "your right" in a post. and to eulogy, think what pro beach hockey had going for it, sponsors,(v-form, franklin) a beach, bikini's, a few fans, and tv. and look at us, making fun of it left and right. there has to be more than 100,000 signatures, cause i gauruntee you that ESPN has learned from those 3 am broadcastings that non-ice hockey is a tough sell. one more point, how long did you hear about aggressive skating before you saw it on TV? for me, it was several years. the x-games had base of fans and pro's participating in it before it hit off, and thats what we need to do.

[morrisville75]

that is all right

i do write very big messages sometimes

[eulogy01]

The example of motor bikes is a good one, however, it is not an apples to apples comparison. The motorcross tour was trying to get a "regular gig", because they were trying to have the season broadcast. What we are hoping to do, is simply have the finals broadcast. That would be what, 4-5 days.
You did make an excellent point about manufacturer involvement. I think that they will see that our campaign will be able to help them in some way, shape, or form. They will want us to succeed, and will probably help (not all of them, but some).
I am already expecting the PBH grenade to be thrown our way. I intend to point out the flaws of that league, and how it is different from what we want.
Finally, I do not take offense to anybody's comments. In fact, the more you throw at me, the better prepared I'll be to handle those comments. Keep em' coming.

[NHSIHA]

Ken and others,

that is what we are trying to do with the NHSIHA, Inc., the National High School Inline Hockey Association, which by the way is a Non-For-Profit entity. We are looking to establish throughout the entire USA dealing with both Jr. & Sr. High Schools across the country a "National" League that will have a championship at the end of each June. The league will consist of regions throughout the usa ( TBD ) and then will have regional finals and then a national final. We agree that you have the elite tournaments, NARCH, AIRHS, just to name a few but no national league similar to the Little League Baseball program. We will need help in getting this off the ground from many of you, the current volunteers in your georgraphic region. Our league fees will be quite modest and our annual player dues will be modest but we will be adding many player and team benefits once we get this rolling. So All of us at NHSIHA encourage all of you who are really " Dying" for a real NGB to handle this to get involved with us. All help is welcome and all ideas/thoughts are Encouraged NOT Discourgaged.

So please feel free to email us at [email protected] with any thoughts,questions, comments or concerns and again we would love to get some volunteers to help get the GRASS ROOTS Back into the Inline Community and watch as the NHSIHA Gives back to its players and teams.

thanks,
NHSIHA, INC.

National High School Inline Hockey Association (NHSIHA )