USA Roller Sports Congress & Expo (????)

[umroller]

Why is USA Roller Sports holding their "Congress" and Expo on an earlier weekend than NarCh and the Lets Play Hockey Expo in Las Vegas? I don't understand this move. Although USA Roller Sports is involved in other roller programs besides hockey; hockey has got to be one of the biggest and fastest growing that they do claim to govern. They are supposedly the only recognized national governing body for roller sports (including roller hockey) for the Olympics, which is a big deal. Therefore, why are they acting as if they are so seperate from the rest of the roller hockey industry and community? I am just trying to figure this out; maybe it's as simple as the fact that no ballroom/convention room locations were available during the same weekend as Narch and the Lets Play Hockey Expo. Roller hockey is splintered enough already, these varing organizations, such as USA Roller Sports, USA Hockey Inline, etc. need to do a better job of growing together, communicating, and working together or roller hockey will have a very hard time growing to the point where it is a viable sport for the Olympics or any other higher level such as NCAA recognition or even a "real" professional league.



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[MBurke]

I concur.

Mike Burke
Commissioner
Eastern Collegiate Roller Hockey Association
http://www.ecrha.net

[macmill1]

Hmm...failure to work together from the governing bodies.......shocking.
Al

[NLane]

I remember the days if you belonged to USA roller sports you couldn't skate in any event that wasn't sanctioned by them or they would/could suspend you. There were no weekend warrior passes then and you were totally at their mercy. So go figure why they don't want to recognize any other governing body for inline hockey!

[LetsRoll]

They also sued Inline Magazine a few years back for an article that exposed the practice you're thinking about. Self interest seems to be a much larger goal for them than the growth of the sport. Just my opinion. So sue me. You'll lose.

[LetsRoll]

I hope this congress is boycotted. It's totally unfair to Let's Play Hockey and NARCh, both of whom have had their events at the same time and place for at least three years. USARS could easily rent a ballroom at the Paris Hotel & Casino and invite the industry. Why they aren't is a mystery.

[missionhockey21]

I am just 16 and have not even heard of USA Roller Sports, but anyways by what everyone is saying I think it is totally unfair to have their convention at the same time as narch's and the lets play hockey expo. Why they are trying to compete with the two other orginizations when they can join together or at least be supportive of one another for the good of the sport is a mystery to me. It doesn't help them it just hurts all of them equally. I for one am supportive of narch due to the growth they have put into the sport.

[usars]

We would like to take this opportunity to clarify...
USA Roller Sports is the National Governing Body for In-Line Hockey in the US. This decision was made in April of 2002. USA In-Line is not eligible to become NGB because they are affiliated with USA Hockey who already has a winter sport in the Olympics. No NGB can host both a winter and summer sport. Therefore, USA In-line will not be the NGB of Roller Hockey unless they become independent of USA Hockey. As for Narch, this is a for profit tournament series, excluding them from NGB status.

As for our Expo being scheduled near the date of the Narch Expo, we schedule our events months/years in advance, according to our events and availability. We have no intension of upsetting any other organizations who may have similar events. This particular event covers all of the sports under USA Roller Sports.

As it stands, USA Roller Sports is the only organization that can carry In-Line Hockey under the USOC, for the reasons explained above, and in the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act (link: http://www.olympic-usa.org/about_us/documents/amateuract.htm).

These statements are truthful as USA Roller Sports understands them. Any discrepancies regarding this matter can be addressed at [email protected]

[colohockeydad]

USARS,
You made a statement "No NGB can host both a winter and summer sport". This may be a USOC rule currently, but some rules become outdated, reviewed, and overturned. This is an example of one of those rules.
Your organization should stick to speed and artistic. Step aside and let the people who have worked to grow the sport continue.

[RichardGraham]

Dear USARS,

Thank you for taking the opportunity to clarify USA Roller Sports' position on the topic at hand. I think open and wide-ranging discussions on all aspects facing our sport can only be helpful in the long run, as long as they don't degenerate into finger pointing and name calling. I'm glad Inline Hockey Central can serve as a forum for these discussions.

Sincerely,

Richard Graham
Editor
Inline Hockey Central

[umroller]

No one is arguing with the fact that USARS is the national governing body of all roller sports, including roller hockey, when it comes to the possibility of the sport becoming an actual olympic sport. What we seem to have a problem with is the lack on the part of USARS to attempt any kind of unification of national roller hockey organizations such as CRHL, USAHIL, etc. Our point is that by going off and having their own "summit" if you will, USARS is only serving its own interests and is even acting to the detriment of the sport in general, by promoting division and separation instead of unity and uniformity. As one of the people who previously posted in this thread stated, "I haven't even heard of USA Roller Sports." I believe that person is not alone by any means. If USA Roller Sports is going to claim to be a national governing body for the sport, it needs to reach out better to those who participate in the sport and to the other organizations that promote and organize the sport in this country.



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