Inline Roller Hockey
The Gameof the 1990s

Matt Gimms and Anthony Brancato face-off during an inline roller hockey game in LaGrange.
by John P. Hecker
Currently about two million people In the United States play roller hockey. The National Inline Hockey Association expects that number to reach 4 million In 1096. The National Sporting Goods Association ranks It as one of the top ten sports among 12 to 17 year olds.

If tennis was the sport of the 1970s, then maybe inline hockey is the game of the 1990s. Trying to stay in touch with the times, the Community Park District of LaGrange Park offered an inline hockey program during the fall of 1993 after receiving requests from residents to "get the kids off the streets."

Inline roller hockey, as it is played in LaGrange Park is very similar to regular ice hockey. The major difference is that it is played on "inline skates." (Many folks refer to them as Rollerblades; however, that is a trade name.)

The park district held an informational meeting prior to organizing the program in an effort to better gauge interest as well as to recruit volunteers to act as coaches and helpers. At this meeting a demonstration of skating and hockey skills was conducted by several members from the community. Approximately 50 people attended the first meeting with 12 volunteers signing up to help.

The park district contacted several schools, businesses and churches in an effort to secure a suitable parking lot or asphalt play lot to host the program. The park district itself had no suitable surface available at that time.

After convincing the local school district that our insurance carrier, Park District Risk Management Agency (PDRMA), would cover the program, the park district began the fall 1993 program on an asphalt playground. The portable rink system "Border Patrol" was purchased for $4, 200 and was transported each Saturday to the site (setup time took 45 minutes for one person). One hundred thirty-five (135) children played for the first eight-week program.

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Age groups were divided into the following categories:

Ages 6-8	Pee Wees
Ages 9-11	Squirts
Ages 12-14	Bantams
Ages 15-17	Juniors

Over half of the boys and girls in the program were from LaGrange Park. The surrounding communities fed into the program because no other villages offered the activity at that time.

Players are required to wear complete protective equipment including helmet with cage, hockey gloves, elbow pads, shinguards, protective cup and mouthguard. Each team is made up of 12 players, and players rotate every two minutes with a stoppage in play. For the two younger divisions, teams play four against four plus the goalie, while the older players play three on three plus the goaltender. Prior to each scheduled game, teams are allowed twenty-five minutes of practice time to warm-up and go over drills.

FUN AND SKILL DEVELOPMENT STRESSED
Although scores are kept for each game, no standings are recorded. Parents only have to transport their child once a week because no practices are scheduled by the league, except prior to each game time. Parental response to the program has been fantastic, especially because of the emphasis on fun and skill development.

NEED FOR A PERMANENT SITE
The registration for the spring 1994 program saw the participant numbers grow to 245 children. The park district continued to explore other possible site locations that could handle the increase in enrollment. After months of investigation it was decided to move the league to two lighted tennis courts in one of the parks. The site that was chosen was at Memorial Park, where four lighted tennis courts were located, two on the north and two on the south divided by a fence. The two north courts were chosen because of several reasons:
• They were in need of repair, so any damage caused by the activity would be inconsequential.
• They would allow the district to leave the portable rink system in place, without concern of theft or vandalism because the area could be locked.
• By constructing a wooden wall where the tennis nets hang, two surfaces would be created, thereby doubling capacity.

The "Border Patrol" rink system was placed around the perimeter of both rinks at the base of the fencing. Although the optimum size rink is considered to be 165' x 65', our rink surfaces measure only 110' x 55'. This small size rink has added to the excitement of the game, creating constant action around the goals.

OBJECTIONS FROM TENNIS ASSOCIATION
Representatives from the aging and declining ranks of the LaGrange Park Tennis Association voiced their displeasure to the park district's board of commissioners in taking over the north tennis courts. The contention of the tennis group was that the hockey program should construct a special facility if the program was so successful.

The park board had some tough decisions ahead, but decided to resurface the facility with a "road mix" asphalt which is harder than the traditional tennis court surfacing. This would allow for skating and hockey play without concern for grooving and scratching. The color coat system would not be added until a later date.

One of the most important factors in this park district decision was the unknown. No one knows how long this activity will be "hot." Why build a special facility when an existing facility is available and not being used—especially when we have a community that is landlocked, and every piece of space is spoken for!

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SAFETY
One of the biggest concerns that the park district has had is the safety of the participants. As mentioned previously, full equipment is required for all players. Referees are instructed to call the games very closely (body checking is not permitted) blowing the whistle quickly when the goalie has the ball or players are "tied up." Over 300 games have been played without a reported injury.

FINANCIALLY SELF-SUPPORTING
Participants are required to register in late summer for both the fall and spring seasons. For a $50 fee (non-residents $60), players get a hockey jersey and two ten-game seasons. The park district provides a paid league supervisor and referees (paid and volunteer). The program also operates a concession stand. Initial start-up equipment expenses included the "Border Patrol" rink system, four hockey goals, goaltender equipment and material to construct the center wall.

Entering into the fourth season, the park district is well into the "black," with enough reserves to set aside for future improvements to the facility.

THE FUTURE OF THE PROGRAM
This past fall more than 325 children participated in the program, and 360 children enrolled already for spring 1995! Currently about two million people in the United States play roller hockey. The National Inline Hockey Association expects that number to reach 4 million in 1996. The National Sporting Goods Association ranks it as one of the top ten sports among 12 to 17 year olds (one of the toughest age groups to reach for recreation agencies).

In the years ahead, ice hockey will see the impact that inline hockey will have on that sport. The fundamentals are the same and will only help to prepare the young skaters for the transition to ice. A recent example of this occurred when several inline players from LaGrange Park joined a house league ice hockey program this past fall. The league organizer made special mention that the teams had to bedivided up so that "all of the kids from LaGrange Park are not on the same team."

During the past several months, the Community Park District of LaGrange Park has sent out over 50 packets of information to interested communities related to forming a program. Further information is available by calling the park district office, (708) 354-4580

John P. Hecker is the Director of Parks and Recreation for the Community Park District of LaGrange Park. LaGrange Park, a community of 13, 000 residents, is located in Western Cook County, 11 miles due west of Chicago.

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