Starting a highschool Inline league

**dhm_81** · 03-23-2004, 02:51 PM

Can anyone give me any background or information in regards to what is required to start a highschool inline program and league? Thanks in advance.

**Maskman** · 03-23-2004, 04:04 PM

You may want to post on the NCRHA.org message board under development. You will get alot of good info there.

**DannyG** · 03-23-2004, 04:23 PM

1. There are rules, regulations, and procedures in every high school athletic organization, both local and state, that you must follow. Your local or district Athletic Director will be able to familiarize yourself with these.

2. Do not ask, "Can we please do this?" You will be told that it is impossible to do what you are asking. Remember to ask, "How can we make this happen?" Do not ask "yes-or-no" questions, because you will get a "no," every time.

3. "We don't have the time," "We don't have the money," "We don't have the personnel," are three excuses you will hear from people who don't want to help you. Anytime you hear one of these, you must respond, "We will provide the time, the money, the personnel, under the proper supervision." hint: memorize that response, you will use it a lot!

4. Put together a list and a timeline of the procedure you must follow. Find out what was the last new high school sport introduced in your area. How did they do it with that one?

5. You will have to work on your interactive skills...Right away, deliberately go and ask people for help. Actually say to them as part of your introduction, "I need your help." Be up front with people, if you don't know an answer to their questions, say so, be honest, be direct, don't lie about anything. Don't hedge, Don't omit, Don't give half a story when people ask you for info.

6. When somebody hits you with a problem that they hope will make you go away, respond, "Well, I don't have a solution to that problem at the moment, but if we can find one, then that means we can do this, right?" Handle all objections/roadblocks in this way...get conditional approval: "...if we can resolve that...then we can do it...?"

Good luck. I have been at this job of recreation programming for over twenty-five years, I am about to try to start the same thing in our city. Keep in touch, let me know how you do. I will be glad to share notes. I am going to local district Athletic Directors (there are five here) over the next two weeks.

Hope to see you out on the blue floor...

<font color=purple>DannyG</font color=purple>

**RichardGraham** · 03-23-2004, 05:54 PM

Hi Dan,

GREAT reply. Thanks so much. If your advice is followed, I can see that new high school program being successful!

Sincerely,

Richard Graham
Editor
Inline Hockey Central

**Benny_Gulakiw** · 03-23-2004, 06:51 PM

You can also e-mail me directly at [email protected]. I can provide you with assistance and put you in touch with the right people. You can also find more information at www.inlinehockeyamerica.com.

Good luck.

Benny Gulakiw
President
Inline Hockey America

**hockeybum11** · 03-23-2004, 07:23 PM

It depends what state you are in. We started inline hockey about 5 years ago. We do it as a club sport. With help from the parent and the kids you can "make it" happen. You can not take no for an answer from the athletic directors to the school board. Every objection they have can be overcome. If we can get the program in Michigan it can be done anywhere. It took alot of work to get started but well worth it. Do not expect the school board or the athetic director to accept this off the get go. Many school in our area do not reconize the sport as a varsity sport. We still play and have a great time. If I can be of any help email me at [email protected]

**DannyG** · 03-23-2004, 07:54 PM

Yo, Bum dude:

...just curious...where are you from in Michigan...I graduated from Houghton High, back in '70, when the upper penninsula had only had high school ice hockey starting in my senior year...this after bantam, midget, and junior ice hockey had been around in the area for over 60 years...

<font color=purple>DannyG</font color=purple>

**Defense1st** · 03-24-2004, 10:11 AM

You can also go to the AAU website (www.aauhockey.org); all the info you need is on their website as well as who to contact in your area.

Phil Steur
Quickchange Hockey Corp.
www.quickchangeskate.com
1-877-641-1804
[email protected]

**hockeybum11** · 03-24-2004, 04:32 PM

DannyG
I graduated in mid 70s for the metro detroit area. You are right,ice hockey has been around for a long time. But inline hockey lost out to bowling as the most recent sports to be reconized by the MHSAA.