On a Roll.

Played on rinks at parks and recreation facilities and gymnasiums from Maine to Montana, inline hockey is taking the country by storm. One of today's

fastest growing sports, more than 3 million adults and children participated in inline hockey in 1997. A recent study revealing future participation trends in 27 sports and recreation activities, released by the National Sporting Goods Association, predicts a 10.3 percent increase in level of participation for 1999.

So we know the energy and interest are there. But where do you turn to get started? Two organizations, USA Hockey InLine and the World Hockey Alliance, featured below, are introducing thousands of new enthusiasts to the game that so man already love.

This Is USA Hockey InLine

Recognizing that the future growth and development of hockey will extend well beyond the boundaries of ice, USA Hockey took a bold step forward in December 1994, introducing the organization's official inline hockey program, USA Hockey InLine. Since the program's inception, USA Hockey InLine has welcomed more than 85,000 players, coaches, officials, and volunteers as registered members, and has become a model for the development of inline hockey programs worldwide.

The mission of USA Hockey InLine parallels that of USA Hockey -- to promote the growth of inline hockey in America and provide the best possible experience for all participants by encouraging, developing, advancing, and administering the sport. USA Hockey InLine offers the same level of knowledge, experience, and commitment to service that has made USA Hockey a respected national and international sports leader for more than 60 years.

The goals of USA Hockey InLine include:

* Broadening the base of players, coaches, and officials who participate in the sport of hockey.

* Facilitating and enhancing further education and skill development for players, coaches, and officials.

* Providing league directors with the resources and information necessary to offer quality programs for participants.

* Increasing the awareness of hockey throughout the United States, particularly in areas of the country where ice hockey programs are less prevalent.

USA Hockey InLine is the only inline hockey program in the United States that has implemented a comprehensive grassroots organizational structure for its volunteers and members. At the national level, membership is divided into 12 geographic zones, with registration offered in four different membership categories: Players (youth and adult), Coaches, Referees, and Weekend Warriors[SM] (single-event membership).

Benefits of membership in USA Hockey InLine include streamlined sanctioning procedures for tournaments and leagues; educational clinics, seminars, and manuals for coaches and officials; regional and national championship tournaments for players of all ages and skill levels; and an annual subscription to American Hockey Magazine, the official publication of USA Hockey and USA Hockey InLine. A comprehensive insurance plan offers liability, catastrophic, and excess medical insurance coverage to all registered members and sanctioned leagues.

The programs and activities of USA Hockey InLine are administered by a national office staff and an extensive network of regional and state volunteers. Zone and state coordinators serve as local liaisons for issues such as risk management, facility consultation, and regional communication.

Zone and state coaches-in-chief and referees-in-chief implement a national training and certification program for coaches and officials, strengthening USA Hockey InLine's commitment to be the leader in providing educational programs for inline hockey participants.

Unification and Education: The World Hockey Alliance

The World Hockey Alliance was founded to assist in the development and organization of roller hockey nationally and internationally, and is committed to growing the visibility and awareness of the sport. Through its cornerstones of unification and education, the WHA seeks to provide active support for grassroots programs, which are designed to make roller hockey more accessible.

As a direct result of your WHA membership and subsequent affiliation with experts in every area of roller hockey, your role as operator, owner, coach, or player will be made easier and more efficient. The WHA's many service-oriented programs, which include certification programs for referees and coaches; local, regional, and national tournaments; membership benefits; and insurance, are designed for new or existing programs.

Coach and Referee Programs

The quality of your program is contingent upon proper training for officials and coaches. By maintaining a national certification program, the WHA ensures consistent and fair play as it applies to roller hockey nationwide. This is a tremendous asset, as the talent of your players brings your facility to different levels of competition. Referees all across the country attend the same certification classes and call the game from the same rulebook. Not only will this consistency enhance referees' enjoyment of the game, it will also provide players with a well-managed program.

Many coaches at the grassroots level -- parents, grandparents, and community members -- possess enthusiasm and desire but lack the formal training to help a team excel in attitude, skills, and teamwork. The coaches certification program focuses on improving coaches' understanding of roller hockey, conducting an effective practice, and implementing successful game strategies.

High School and College

In an attempt to unify the sport, the WHA has included the nation's high school and college inline programs under the same banner.

High School Inline is a nonprofit program established to facilitate roller hockey at the high school level, making the sport available to aspiring roller hockey athletes. Through the WHA, state high school associations will work with participating finks to offer high school conferences an opportunity to compete in the High School State Roller Hockey Championships.

By getting in touch with the Collegiate Roller Hockey League, interested individuals can receive information on how to establish a college team, work with the club athletic director, and contact their regional director. And the WHA can facilitate this initial contact. This program will provide the necessary guidance, development, and regional support to maintain a successful league or team.

Select Program

The WHA's Select Program is designed to provide competitive players an opportunity to pursue excellence in open competition against others at the same skill level. This crucial step in player development allows facility owners, operators, and coaches to address the needs of many participants.

Women's Program

Roller hockey has attracted a great deal of interest among women. In fact, some areas are already conducting women-only tournaments. Developing a program exclusively for women can add a new source of revenue for many facilities, and the WHA will work with owners and operators to grow this emerging market.

Tournaments

The WHA offers a variety of tournaments to address the demands of all skill levels and age groups throughout the United States. Sanctioned tournaments and events at the national, regional, and local levels are all a part of WHA's commitment to the roller hockey industry.

For more information on the growing sport of inline hockey, please contact Kathy Spangler, CLP, NRPA's director of National Programs, at [phone].

RELATED ARTICLE: Regional and National Championships

Each summer, members of USA Hockey InLine are eligible to compete in the USA Hockey InLine Regional Championships, a series of playoff events held from May to July. The winning team in each age category qualifies to advance to the USA InLine National Championships, which is held in September.

RELATED ARTICLE: NHL Breakout

USA Hockey InLine is an organizational partner with the National Hockey League in presenting the popular NHL Breakout tour, a traveling weekend festival of street and inline hockey competition, instructional clinics, skills

contests, and entertainment. The tour welcomes hockey enthusiasts from all across North America. USA Hockey InLine provides logistical support for the tour, as well as registered and trained referees to officiate games and volunteer coaches to conduct free skills clinics at each site.

RELATED ARTICLE: In-Line Hockey..... Now the game gets AWESOME!

Whether on ice rinks, indoor courts, tennis courts or at the beach, the scientifically designed IceCourt[TM] is the fastest in-line hockey surface ever made.

Our unique surface design allows for great maneuverability at high speeds and better skate grip during tight turns and acceleration.

IceCourt[TM] floor tiles feature millions of tiny nipples which reduce the friction of the puck.

The puck glides like on ice ... Fast and Long.

Surface perforation prevents air pressure build-up underneath the puck. The puck glides flat without a tendency to lift or roll.

Precision panels simply snap together without the slightest trace of seams or gaps. A seamless surface prevents the puck from bouncing.

Tel. [phone] Fax [phone]

www.icecourt.com