Inline Hockey at Risk

A personal reflection

• As a sport, we have been experiencing significant barriers to progress, experiencing a significant end of year deficit, late documentation detailing the playing season and issues over the rules we are governed by, these factors have added to the deep concern for many of us, impacting on all involved, volunteers and players, their participation and concern for the sport’s future.
• There is now an urgent need for dramatic change, to revive our sport, once celebrated as a unique sport in our country despite the challenges experienced when competing with “mainline sports” for members to play, lack of funding and facilities, and lack of support from regional and national sporting associations.
• The push to develop and increase membership for inline hockey to thrive and continue is a daunting task, somewhat overwhelming at times and hinges on support from parents and players alike who must contribute cost and time to ensure a forward momentum, igniting a sense of purpose and determination and welcoming all skill levels to ensure a future.
• Developing initiatives to assist development should be applauded and supported, provide a catalyst for discussion and growth. We should be looking to the future, leave our conflicts behind, remove negative barriers understand the risk and the opportunities where some see obstacles.
• Those who embark on such ventures deserve our utmost gratitude. They are the pioneers, the visionaries, and the catalysts for growth.
• Re-inventing our sport will require more than just enthusiasm; it demands dedication, perseverance, and a collective effort. We need to understand the magnitude of the task at hand, but if we genuinely care about revitalizing our sport then the risks become worthwhile.
• Our future is more than just playing our sport, although that is one of the critical factors, it is also about nurturing camaraderie, instilling discipline, and fostering a sense of belonging among our youth and most importantly future proofing for generations to come. Inline hockey has the power to shape lives, provide values, and create lasting memories.
• Inline hockey is a lifetime sport, has a sense of community, no matter what skill level players aspire to, there should always be a place in a team for anyone wanting to play.
• Our sport does have individuals who are dedicated to growth and creating a vibrant environment we can all be proud of. Your courage, passion, and resilience inspire us all. The risks we take today will reap rewards tomorrow. So, to those who dare to dream big, to those who refuse to be bound by fear, and to those who tirelessly work towards a common goal, we say thank you.
• There are various contributing factors to the more recent decline in players and subsequent participation. This has been in part caused by cost of playing gear, lack of funding, lack of facilities, personal conflicts, lack of consistent development and coaching programs but also coming out of a pandemic and the effect this has had on families, their incomes, and their ability to commit. Roller Sports worldwide has also experienced increased and decreased participation over a number of years, our issues are not unique to us in New Zealand.
• Together, we need to grow our sport, shift our focus towards proactive solutions, overcome recent challenges, reignite enthusiasm and provide a season for our players while we work on rebuilding and foster awareness.
  Inline hockey has its own culture, it also has a passionate membership who may not always agree with rules, initiatives, and views; however, the overarching focus should always be participation and increased growth. Providing an experience for our players where participation and development is the priority and is critical to our future.
• To achieve this vision needs a combined effort from the entire inline hockey community. We need to overcome the negativity, support initiatives, provide opportunities to play, develop funding resources with a “product’ we can promote. We need to re-build, while initiating dialogue with our stakeholders (our members), seeking their contributions through consultation to establish the best way forward.
• Internationally there does appear to be an upward trend, this should also provide us here in New Zealand with an opportunity to act and develop a vision and action plan to support our own development through collective engagement.
  Some of us have been involved from the beginning when inline hockey was first introduced into NZ, we have watched our kids become “addicted” to pucks and Abec numbers, curves and flex’s, become familiar with a whole new vocabulary arising from hockey (deke, dangle, leftie, hat trick) we have seen the animation and excitement from their first goal, their first penalty, their first win and we know the pride we get from contributing to that excitement, it’s time to rekindle that excitement and move forward.
• We have an opportunity, to restart, unite our efforts, kickstart our future, we need positive thinking, initiatives to support all members and their abilities, support for volunteers, referees, officials and those willing to provide experience to lead. We especially need your engagement to make this happen and to ensure a more vibrant future.