My reply
<blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr>
I am responding to your email today but am also going to have other staff people respond as well. We have at least 2 people who handle inquiries like this; Tomy Ames (pronounced TOMMY) is the National Development Director and can add to my rambling the more serious answers to guide you and then some of the other regional Board members also will respond. Every one of them has been a player in the league and has also spearheaded their college club at one point. These guys speak from experiences (both good and bad). The good news is that guys like these have passed on plans and systems to other clubs to help them have better and more positive experiences. The struggles have been many.
I definately understand why people would encourage your son to play a sport in college other than hockey (ie: baseball). These people are trying to be realistic and they also are not aware of the progression of inline hockey in the schools. I love the sport and know the growth so I support and encourage EVERYONE to participate and change the direction. The sport has remained underground for many years in a sense. At this time, it only is at a club level as opposed to varsity, but it exists and is evolving rapidly. The upside is that the students guide the program and control the clubs and therefor it is THEIR league not ours really. We work for them and their interests. The downside is the fan base is poor and the sport can grow expensive without the backing or interest of the school and the money always comes into play. NCRHA and ECRHA contribute by teaching the interested player how and where to begin. We see our success with the sheer volume of teams, head count of participants, and tangible monies and support from the colleges.
There are a few things that you and your son can do. Tomy will elaborate much more:
1) Set goals for what **** wants to do specifically with roller hockey. Basically, at what level does he want to play and how much is he willing to put into it to get it to that level as both an individual and a team player. This also can ensure that if he goes somewhere with no team he can help build one on his own.
2) Find a school based on his academic interests. Some go to school for academics and the perk is they get to play roller hockey there. But now the tables are turned and students who otherwise would show no interest in going to college now want to go just to PLAY ROLLER! That amazes me because now they will try for that education.
3) Our national website (www.ncrha.org) lists all the currently active teams and schools. Additionally, not listed, are dozens of teams at schools that float in and out of the league and are just developing. He can weed out schools too by geographically selecting an area. The National organization is geographically divided into 8 regions. I run ECRHA which is the Northeast. If he wants to stay in this area then look at the school lists at www.ecrha.net
4) As I advised Mr. ** - get your son to sign up on the collegerollerhockey.net forums and post his name, hockey experience, and academic interests immediately. Teams are trying to recruit and they look at the messages. They will also give him helpful information and answer his (and your) questions. You should even look yourself. Look specifically in the forum called "Scouting Report". Feel free to post there as well (collegerollerhockey.net/b...m.php?f=2)
Once **** can zero in on specific schools then I can further put you in touch with their contacts. Also if he posts on the forum, other players will respond.
While I only wish to encourage you and **** to pursue roller hockey, he really has to have realistic goals and strongly consider #1 above. He will get out of it what he puts in, unless he finds a school with a very established program. In ECRHA there are some very established clubs who do receive support of some type from their school. For academics in the Northeast there are schools like Towson, U of MD, U of DE, U Penn, Rutgers, UCONN, and more who's programs are established and well grounded. But thats just the tip.
Start with the above 4 items and anything suggested by Tomy.
As far as the actual playing, teams attend full weekend events from October through April and play 2-4 games in that travel weekend against other schools. Attendance is low but we are trying. The game structure is advanced though and obviously we have great officials. We are NO-Check and though these guys will play incredible hockey, there is a lot of discipline. In return, there is a high level of respect for the game, sport, league, and teams that I have never seen in other known leagues and tournament series. There are not many awards and obviously no money purses but the reward is the experience of representing your school and being on the forefront of the sport's future.
Thanks for your email and write again. Tomy will also respond.
Rebecca Breitel,
ECRHA, President
NCRHA, Advisor
631.205.5018
www.ecrha.net
www.ncrha.org
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Rebecca