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The topic of roller hockey becoming an NCAA sport has been brought up on the CRHL Western Region website. I thought it appropriate to address it on this site, with the hopes that teams/representatives from across the nation voice their opinion, as NCAA is a nation-wide issue. What do you all think??
There's definitely work to be done before roller hockey will become an NCAA sanctioned varsity sport across the country. I know the CRHL guys are hard at work with a specific mission plan in mind. I'm not sure what their exact timeframe is, but I'm willing to bet that it's not going to happen for at least five years. I'm sure some kind of clear route from high school must be set first, I'm sure the sport is going to have to spread beyond the number of colleges and universities that it is currently a club sport in, and I'm sure it's going to take at least that long to have a proven successful track record. I like the idea of it becoming an NCAA sport because of the public awareness it will create and because of how it will spread the sport. But, I think as a catch-22, the sport will have to spread widely and public awareness will have to be heightened before it can become an NCAA sport in the first place. That is what will make it most difficult.
Hi,
Excellent topic. I think that Ben Picker is right, and that any movement by the NCAA on inline hockey is going to be several years away. At the same time, I believe the groundwork that the Collegiate Roller Hockey League is putting down now will pay great dividends down the line. Kudos to Marshall Dickerson and all the CRHL regional directors for all the hard work they've put in these past few years. I'm greatly impressed at how much the CRHL has accomplished so far, and have no doubt that the college game will continue to grow until it can't help but be recognized by the NCAA.
Whether that's good or bad, I'll leave up to the experts :)
Sincerely,
Richard Graham
Editor
Inline Hockey Central
I consider myself a person who has been involved with college roller hockey since
its establishment. I have begun a team, worked for years with university officials,
worked for years with CRHL organizers, and have even received approval for the development
of one of the only campus located roller hockey facilities in the country.
There is absolutely no reason at this point in the development of college roller hockey
to be affiliated with the NCAA. The CRHL provides a structure that allows club sport
teams (the only recognized term for roller hockey at the college level) to compete on a
regional and national level. It is a well organized structure that continues to grow each
year. New teams are constantly entering the league, skills and organization of clubs also
rises, and events are run more professionally than most tournament series in the nation.
Establishing the CRHL with the NCAA does not change a thing. Clubs will still be recognized
as club sports. Universities will never give equal funding to a roller hockey program as
a traditional sports program. The game at the college level will not get increased media
attention. The participation level and level of annual growth increases will remain the
same. A university or NCAA governing body will not give special treatment to a roller hockey
program still in its early stages of development over sports like cycling, lacrosse, rugby,
and other club sports.
If the reasoning for NCAA sanctioning is for funding or exposure reasons, then I am sorry to
say that the person making the remark is not doing their job to manage their own club. It is
absolutely amazing how many funding programs and tools exist withina university for new
organizations and programs they wish to pursue. Established university IRA accounts, activity
fees from student tuition, and student election funding allocations are just a few means
of funding that with a little researching effort a good team organizer will find. If it is for
exposure, then the team is failing as a good public relations manager. Get out and do non-hockey
related activities on campus or in the community. Make an effort to send out press releases to
local media. Advertise games and events widely. Play scrimmage games at universities that do not
have current programs.
The change and growth is not going to happen by switching organization affiliation or waiting for
someone to step in and bring the sport to its greatest overnight. What is going to change the
sport is every one of the players, fans, officials, and university staff working together to
strengthen organization, develop program models, promote the sport widely, and actively help
out even after leaving the university or graduating. We need to do this as individuals and everyone
needs to do their part. That is how things will change.
I offer absolute respect and appreciation for the effort that Marshall and the other CRHL officials, as well as the presidents of each of the CRHL teams, has dedicated to growing the CRHL. We have all done a damn good job.
-Travis Burkhardt
President, Chico State Inline Hockey
www.csuchico.edu/hockey
Travis,
You made a few strong points on club organization, funding and such. But all that you talked about was alternatives to any reason why CRHL would want to be affiliated with NCAA. Granted this sport is not nearly developed enough to join, but there will come a point in time where taking CRHL to NCAA will be the next step. What exactly do you have against NCAA, besides not needing them? I can?t think of anything about being a part of NCAA in the future that would hurt CRHL, but there are many things it could help. For example, everything in your third paragraph (copied below) is purely close-minded speculation.
?Establishing the CRHL with the NCAA does not change a thing. Clubs will still be recognized
as club sports. Universities will never give equal funding to a roller hockey program as
a traditional sports program. The game at the college level will not get increased media
attention. The participation level and level of annual growth increases will remain the
same. A university or NCAA governing body will not give special treatment to a roller hockey
program still in its early stages of development over sports like cycling, lacrosse, rugby,
and other club sports.?
Even if you?re absolutely correct in the long run, please don?t discourage people from dreaming.
Chad Wallin
99-00 Pres. Cal Poly SLO Hockey
The NCAA is a governing body, the largest in collegiate sports. So it is only natural that this discussion take place. The main drive of going NCAA is not to get funding; I guess that drive is different to every person. You are correct Travis, that the CRHL has grown and continues to grow. We do not need to change it now.
Keep in mind that even before you can on the scene that this league was development, with teams playing on asphalt, with no publicity whatsoever. The league has come a long way, in the extent of teams playing, the organizational development, the competition level, and the professionalism of the sport. And it will keep going...but isn't the end result, the final dream, to become a national sport, televised, in newspapers, magazines?? To have kids look up to you, ask for your autograph....and so on.
Years back, who would've thought that professional roller hockey would exist, let alone be televised. And that happened. Roller hockey in high schools has become a CIF sport in some states/counties. Isn't CIF what NCAA means to us?? Also, if college roller hockey went NCAA, it would not be considered a "club sport" anymore now would it?
brennan edwards
cal poly slo, 1995-2000
The CRHL can never(at least that I can see) become NCAA. The reasons........1) title 9 will not allow for schools to "waste" a male sports slot on roller hockey. 2) If that happens, a lot of teams would break up or disband due to eligibility. 3) We would lose a lot of power. The NCAA would not let us(players, coaches,etc.) make any decisions or vote on them.
Who says CRHL can't be 'like' NCAA? What is the NCAA? Its just a title with benefits. All I can say is just make the sport known on your campus! When you have a game, tell everyone you know, put fliers up, do all that good stuff. Cause once you have a huge fan base then everything else will fall into place. Dont worry about a title. Sure, if it was NCAA we might be on sports center, but how many lacrosse games do you see on sports center? I think the best thing for this sport would be to get the word out on our campuses. If your games aren't on campus, then set up a carpool so that people can get out to the games. It might be a lot of work, but the payoff should be good.
Jeff
QB