Meeting with Suffolk

Through objective representation of all members, the National Collegiate Roller Hockey Association shall govern and advance the sport of college roller hockey while maintaining the spirit of the game through athletic achievement and sportsmanship. -Mission Statement, National Collegiate Roller Hockey Association From Rebecca Breitel, President, Eastern Collegiate Roller Hockey Association Board Member, National Collegiate Roller Hockey Association September 17, 2003 Meeting with the School Administration On Monday, September 15, I had a meeting with Patty Munsch, the Campus Activities Specialist for Suffolk County Community College at the Ammerman Campus. Our meeting was to discuss the Roller Hockey Club participating in the Eastern Collegiate Roller Hockey Association (ECRHA) as the "Suffolk" team. This club is recognized by the ECRHA and the NCRHA (National Collegiate Roller Hockey Association) to be the representative team for Suffolk Community College. It is composed of 100% students of Suffolk Community College. Our meeting was specifically to discuss the support and status of this team and how it relates to club and student interest groups, club sports, and student athletics. Present at this meeting were: myself, Ms. Patty Munsch, the five student officers of the club, the ECRHA Referee in Chief, Mr. Baldwin (the recognized coach), Mrs. Baldwin and the student advisor, Heidi. In addition to the information shared and learned, Ms. Munsch suggested that we also speak with Art DelDuca of Campus Athletics. Patty went on to discuss how a group of students goes about applying for club status and further stated that there has never been a club sport at the school. It is exciting to all involved to know that this group could be 'pioneering' the way for club sports at Suffolk. Patty was very informative and receptive to the efforts of this group of students. Knowing the club would have a supportive and well-organized league to play in was a major advantage to having the meeting be successful. About the Team's Inception: In September of 2002, the ECRHA was contacted by Mr. Baldwin to inquire about how to help a group of kids form a college team and join our organization. He was supplied with all the necessary information. The call came 24 hours after our annual deadline for participation. I met with Mr. Baldwin on the side of the freeway in the parking lot of Hooter's on my way back from the Annual League Meeting in Pennsylvania. Having attended Suffolk myself and feeling as if the school was right in my backyard, I was filled with interest. Being part of the community for twenty years, I was very familiar with the roller hockey scene. I knew this inquiry could lead to the most successful and quickest team to come from Long Island and would be a very positive step in growing this sport in the local colleges. Mr. Baldwin already had a group of kids who had approached him to pioneer this effort. Once they knew we would extend the registration deadline to include them, they went to work fast. Within one week, they approached the school administration and set up dates for team tryouts. They set up a table that week at Student Activities Day. With the help of Mr. Baldwin we were able to get the league policies to the school and the players right away. I personally attended their tryouts and was not at all surprised to see in excess of fifty players. It was the speediest formation of a team that I have experienced in the time I have been with the ECRHA. I also attended their second tryout one week after in which upwards of 100 players came. I have to admit that I am not at all surprised with the growth and interest in forming this team. I am only surprised it took so many years before someone actually did it. With Long Island as the "hockey hot bed" of roller hockey in the Northeast, the area yields highly committed, dedicated championship players on all levels, from mites up to adults. All this is coupled with intense dedication by parents. Many of these players are well known across the country and will attend Suffolk Community College. It is unfortunate that no avenue exists to provide an athlete the ability to advance and truly make a future playing the sport. At a community college level, the desire to participate in a club of this camaraderie is even more evident than in other learning institutions. ECRHA is trying to change all of this, and steps like the rapid formation of such a successful team help lead the way. The Outlook: As helpful and enthusiastic as Patty Munsch was at our meeting and in previous conversations, the dilemma facing team is as follows: What benefits come from being officially recognized as a club? Or more specifically, how would that status actually benefit this particular group as an "athletics" group? Patty was quite clear that there is no specific difference between a club "sport" and a non-athletic club or interest group, and after the conversations it was clear that the school's budget was eaten up by insurance (of which we are trying to get a copy of to see if the policy would truly cover their participation in the ECRHA). Patty also stated that for an unknown reason to her, there were very few written and documented policies on record pertaining to the policies of clubs at Suffolk. She was working diligently to get many policies onto paper for the future of the school. More specifically, there has not ever been a "club sport" on campus to her knowledge prior to roller hockey. We discussed the legalities associated with the use of the school's name, colors, and logo; the permission to meet on campus, recruit, and fundraise; the possibilities of finding a place for the team to practice hockey on the campus, and the issues of insurance. In addition, we discussed if the club would like to be linked to all four of the Suffolk campuses or only the Ammerman Campus. Most importantly for the team, we discussed support of the club in terms of finances, be it the registration fees to play in the league, the travel costs, or costs associated with renting rink time to practice (off campus). This meeting was very informative, but disheartening to learn of the potential grim future of this team under the designation of "club". Suffolk's policy on becoming a club, as conveyed to us by Ms. Munsch, is that no minimum amount of interest needs to exist. Therefore, a club with only four participants would receive the same treatment and hold the same relationship with the school as a club with 100 participants. The emphasis was on the experience the student got out of the club. While this is indeed a viable and respectable outlook, the business emphasis of the participation level could potentially be very marketable and valuable to the school. Both views exist nationally and lead to inconsistent school policies for clubs across the nation. The Immediate Future of this Team As a team unit participating in the National Collegiate Roller Hockey Association, under the ECRHA, the future of the Suffolk team looks very successful. Some of this is due to the efforts of the coach to keep roller hockey growing on a collegiate level in this community, but most of it is due to the interest of the kids. Currently the club houses three squads with their primary team possessing a high degree of talent and skill. In their inaugural 2002-2003 season with the ECRHA, even though mandated to play in Division III, they easily proved to be a powerhouse on the rink. More importantly, they proved that their commitment and sportsmanlike behavior is worthy of representing any school in any Division. Along with Hofstra University and Briarcliffe College, they put Long Island on the map in the NCRHA - the governing body for college roller hockey in the United States. Suffolk returns this October to the ECRHA for a second season, but still without the official consent of representing their college. The team is working on completing this first step of being recognized as a club and thus being able to proclaim the official title "Suffolk County Community College Roller Hockey Club". While they are able to obtain all the necessary documentation to participate in the league, are mandated USA Hockey Inline Insurance through the league, and are theoretically recognized as the representatives of the school, legally they are still pending club status. Future and Support Upon approval of club status, the club application has to be resubmitted every semester. At times during the meeting with Ms. Munsch, I sat there concerned that the students of the team would feel that it was more work then it was worth, even though they know the league will continue to demand that teams take steps to form the legitimate school relationships. As a legitimate new college sport, it has to begin somewhere. The approval grants the club viable privileges and plants the roots to grow this team on a larger scale. It is a large step in the right direction. I only can have faith that the players will realize the importance of pursuing it and be relentless about the message they want to send to the school: Support us and let us represent our college! However, the club is still left to address their budget; a budget that can exceed $10,000 for one team. Registration for each team to participate in the league is $4,000 alone. Add the costs of travel, lodging, food, practice, uniforms, and additional items, and depending upon how many squads participate, a budget for three teams like Suffolk can exceed $25,000. When Will Roller Hockey Succeed? The path to success and obstacles that face the Suffolk team are not unique to Suffolk County Community College even though they are one of the very few community colleges participating in the country. Large name Division I and II teams are going through the same processes and meeting even more obstacles due to their larger sizes, inability to form intimate relationships with their administration, and chronic red sea of policies unique to their schools. Couple this with the sheer fact that the sport alone is still not widely received nationally and does not have the diligent respect of its 'ice hockey counterpart', and you have the formula to continue to oppress the growth of this wonderful sport, snuffing the dreams of thousands of college-bound roller hockey hopefuls. Our meeting with Ms. Munsch was very successful and the team is not going to give up pursuit of support and recognition. Patty had some additional ideas that are also on our agenda that include addressing the Athletics Department. With no varsity sports program at the school, limited offices for current staff, and a shortage of monies to cover a number of necessary educational issues, it seems unlikely that this team will ever get much of the support it is seeking. With the club's membership number increasing, the message should be loud and clear that roller hockey is carving its way into the future of this school and is there to stay. Thank you to Ms. Patty Munsch, Mr. Ken Baldwin, and the players of the Suffolk Roller Hockey team. To learn more about the Roller Hockey club at Suffolk County Community College and the ECRHA, you can contact Coach Ken Baldwin at (631) 724-5526 or the ECRHA main office at (631) 205-5018 or visit our websites: www.ncrha.org www.ecrha.net The National Collegiate Roller Hockey Association is home to 180+ college teams across the nation. Nearly one-fourth of those teams play in the ECRHA (one of the eight regional Member Organizations of NCRHA). The NCRHA and ECRHA, both not for profit roller hockey associations, pride themselves on the education, dedication, and motivation of their members and staff. All players must be students of their learning institution and conform to the high standards set in place by the members themselves. The level of respect for one another, the game in itself, and their University, is unmatched by any other roller hockey organization and is key to the success of the league. Aside from plaques, trophies, and medals for outstanding performances and Divisional Champions, the ECRHA also recognizes the achievements of clubs in the areas of Community Service, motivation, and dedication to their sport.