Local Leagues
Before the age of 10 years most children’s experiences of sport are ‘muck around’ games with small groups of friends in the playground participating in whatever their groups favourite game is.

As kids get older, normally between 10 and 12 years, they are given the opportunity to participate in organised sporting activities either at school or within Clubs, and then make their participation choices based on what they enjoy and what they are good at.

Roller Hockey has no ‘playgrounds’ where kids can just turn up and play with friends so that they can learn if they even like the sport, nor does the sport have any significant exposure within the community.

Despite this, some kids hear of Roller Hockey and make the effort to attend a practise session of a Club. When they get there, with limited skills and very basic equipment, the gap between them and the other players at the practise is normally always obvious.

The Coach typically directs their players through a practise that consists of skills training, dribbling markers, shooting at the Goalkeeper etc, and perhaps plays a scratch match late in the practise. The new player, a member of the ‘Nike’ generation, then finds out at some point that the team plays organised matches every couple of weeks, at venues around the Region, and that in order to participate they will need to improve heaps, an get their!

Considering that the ‘new’ player’ came to practise with only an initial interest, and no experience of the sport, it is no surprise that most “just don’t do it” and eventually give up.

Action
There is an immediate and ongoing need to “promote, encourage and further the growth of Roller Hockey”, and we encourage affiliated Clubs, and other interested parties, to organise local entry-level competitions as an essential part of their Recruitment Strategies.

To find out more, click here to download a methodology for creating, marketing and operating a ‘Local’ league. For promotional assistance email the NRHA now!

Download – Local League Guide NOW!