Why go to nationals?

[DannyG]

Actually the question ain't rhetorical...doin' a survey...I really want everybody's answer:

At this point in the 2004/05 hockey year, which 'nationals' are your team(s) headed to? With USAHIL in NJ, NARCh in Fla, AAU in 'Nawlins', SixPac USA, TORHS, et al., where are you planning to go, and more important (what I really want to know), what is causing you to go there? Location? The organization itself? your perception of the event quality/importance?

The shakeout of national organizations is going to continue over the next few years, and where these operations host their nationals is going to be a factor in who succeeds.

While I have my own guesses as to why anybody chooses anything, it would be nice to see a forum discussion on this...

How 'bout it? Where ya goin', and why???

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

[Hystyk28]

Cheapest beer and rentals!

[calselect89s]

Danny
I believe our teams (Women's and Girl's)will be at AAU and possibly NARCh. AAU was a great tournament with good competetion. The teams had a great time there. We are going to NARCh's winternationals (ice schedule allowing). Hopefully this summer we will squeeze in NARCh in Florida, for the tune up to the AAU. Money is the big issue.

[jofess15]

NARCH and TORHS. they have the best hockey in my opinion.

[rhhof]

Interesting subject -- I'd love to know what comes of it -- I study things about the game too and would love to add this one to my collection.

My feeling is that most have a sales pitch and gear. From the ones that I have attended: Narch is apparently the one everyone wants to win, my feeling is that they are North American and its a bigger task than most other series that only have a few international teams. Torhs is close and the one Ive attended most - teams played for and coached have a relaxed fun atmosphere all the time at every tournament anywhere including extra fun at nationals the past few. Competition levels have changed in these tournaments to allow the "a" level players to compete at the same events which is good...personally I dont think it will effect or draw from others like TOPCAT or ECHO out here on the east because they are appealing to all levels and the apparel and flair of ECHO and the prizes and raffles of TOPCAT dont compare to that of Torhs and NARCh at the regional or regular tournament level its just something different and thats appealing. Parents love to see different things like that even though others want to see wins and goals for their kids

Adam
Roller Hockey Hall of Fame.com
P.O. Box 890
Bound Brook, NJ 08805

[TeamBreakaway]

Well from a coaches and administrators point the Nationals is the tournament that ends your season. It's the tournament of all tournaments. What we prepare the teams for and what they look forward too. The biggest thing is that at the Nationals you get to see teams that you don't get to normally see. You get to test what you have taught your teams throught the year and what the boys have worked so hard to accomplish. Winning a Nationals is what everyone gears themselves to do and no matter how many regionals you win the ultimate goal is to win that Nationals.
Our teams have played many different Nationals. We played at least 3 different one's this past summer. Every team gets something different from the different nationals. At the Nationals you match up against teams that are equivelent to or better then yours. It has got to have some luck as well. One big thing this happened to us this past summer was to match up against the same 3 teams in three different nationals. You know how that goes. You can only play so many times against the same team before you either find a way to beat them if you haven't already done so or they find a way to beat you if you've always beaten them.
This year We have our eyes set on NARCh some of the teams are still going to do TORHS, 2Hot4Ice really impressed us last year and that might be another Nationals that we will look at, USA Inline is in our back yard this year and no traveling to do so that will be a good one to go to and AAU is the last one to look at. I'm not sure about going to New Orleans. The last problem with the Nationals is fitting them into the summer plans and also making sure that they don't overlap. I know that there will be a small problem with State Wars because it overlaps with USA Inline as well as AAU. This is something that I guess everyone is looking at.
Sorry for being so long winded but you asked for everyone's 2 cents.
Pedro
Nike Team Breakaway COach



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