State of the Sport Report for Canadian Hockey Inline 2000-01
Canadian Hockey Inline (CHI) has operated as a development program of the Canadian Hockey Association (CHA) for the past four years, after the acquisition of the National Inline Hockey Association NIHA (1996). Like other development programs within the CHA, inline was being administered by CHA and CHI staff, and was provided direction by the CHA Board of Directors that set policy, regulations and rules for the entire organization of CHA (ice & inline). A National In-line Committee served as the CHI advisory group for the development of the new sport.
Over the past four years inline hockey has developed through the CHA that provided tremendous resources that no other sport organization in Canada could have offered the sport of inline hockey during it's infancy. Over the past four years CHA has provided the opportunity for the sport of inline to grow within a very structured sport organization environment. Inline hockey in Canada under the leadership of the CHA has provided controlled growth and stability during these development years. CHI has established itself as Canada's inline hockey leader and now in '2000 boasts membership of 95% of all organized inline leagues and players in Canada as members.
The sport of inline hockey under the CHA umbrella and through CHI staff, has grown and developed to the point that we have reached today (Aug/00). Inline hockey has now reached a crossroads within the CHA structure at the end of the '2000 playing season. The structure, network, programs and events that have been developed the past four years (under CHI) now must grow with it's own personality and inline culture. The CHA Board of Directors at the most recent summer Board meeting (Aug/00) have determined that CHI and the sport of inline hockey in Canada must now" spread it's wings". CHI and the sport of inline hockey have now reached the point that it must now stand on it's own as a sport and an organization.
The CHA Board of Directors (Aug/00) has agreed to support the formation of CHI becoming a separate entity, with it's own constitution, regulations and rules. The CHI will commence preparations immediately to make application to the CHA as an Associate Member and serve as a separate organization and
becoming a sport partner to the CHA.
The formation of Canadian Inline Hockey Association (CIHA) would open up new doors and opportunities for the players, leagues and the organization. The CHA would support the CHI staff to continue to operate and spearhead the formation of the New CIHA, in cooperation with the Community Leagues, Provincial & Regional contacts that we have worked with in the past.
Services, programs, communication and events will continue without interruption from the CHI office, based out of Ontario . You will continue to see a positive increased difference in how we operate and communicate. New operational procedures will make the organization more fiscally responsible and more streamlined to the benefit of our membership. The New CIHA, would be a tremendous opportunity for our players, teams and leagues to take inline hockey to new levels domestically and internationally. If you have
any questions or require clarification feel free to contact the CHI office at (519-354-1888).
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