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| July 1, 2009
By Daryn Goodwin
Thoughts leading into the BIG SHOW
|  From NARCh HQ
We ended up with 343 teams that will be competing in the 2009 FINALS. Considering the economy, we’re very pleased with the turnout. 14 Pro Teams is the largest ever. With so many teams, many filled with players that grew up playing NARCh, we’ve decided to bring back the NARCh Pro Skills Competition, which should be a real joy to watch.
I get a lot of questions regarding match-ups for the FINALS and how we decide them. It’s not a perfect science but we will tell you that the most important thing is for teams have the opportunity to play teams from other markets that they’d never see if it wasn’t for participating in the NARCh FINALS. Secondary, we obviously don’t want all of the best teams playing each other in the prelims. The overall thought is that a team truly belongs in the playoffs, they’ll find a way to make it. Over 50% of the teams in each division will make the playoffs, and at that point every game is do or die.
When it comes to making and proofing the schedule, unfortunately there’s no secret program that we can just plug in. We spending a lot of time going over and proofing it to assure that once it is released, it’s correct and no additional modifications are needed. Every year the tournament starts on Friday and the schedule is always released on Sunday Night or Monday. This year should be no exception, so please plan on that rather than calling and asking us when it will be released.
NARCh Player Magazine just got completed and sent off to the printer. I’m very excited about how it turned out and can’t wait to see it. The magazine is just one of those things that you’ve come to expect from NARCh. It takes a lot of time and money to produce, so if you like it and appreciate it, feel free to let me know. Sometimes I feel like it’s not worth the time and money to produce, but it’s still really the only coffee table quality piece produced in our sport. I also like to think that if you’re talking to someone that knows nothing about roller hockey, that’s the first thing you should hand them to explain what NARCh and the sport is about.
Coaches Meetings are mandatory for those that have never participated in NARCh and very highly encouraged for those who have played in many events. Every event is a little different and the information we share is very important, so please make sure you attend if you’re a coach. Also, we’d like to also extend the offer to managers or team moms. We want to make your NARCh Experience a smooth one and the best way to do this is to make sure you understand everything that the event entails. The check-in process is a bit of a pain for all, but an obvious necessity. There’s nothing worse than waiting in line half prepared, then finding out that you’ve got to run around and collect loose ends. Or even worse, getting hounded by the NARCh Staff, which then becomes a frustration for us.
Last but not least, I shouldn’t have to bring this up but I will anyway. Make sure you read through your confirmation packet very carefully and everyone is in compliance with the qualifying rules. Every year we seem to catch a team or two that is not, and to use the excuse “We’ll we didn’t know?” does not fly. The rules have been up all year and your team should also receive a hard copy. The biggest no-no that I can think of is having a player show up to the Finals that did not play in the regional, or isn’t properly qualified. Remember, the player has to play to qualify. If we find out that a player is on the roster and didn’t play in the regional and properly qualify, the team will be forfeited out. Signing a kids name that didn’t participate is probably the worst thing that I can think of that I’ve had to deal with. Trust me, we’ll question the player and find out if he was truly there or not. We take our rules very seriously, as do all of the teams that play NARCh, so we go out of our way to enforce them and don’t really have a problem making an example of someone who does not follow the rules. Sorry, just felt this needed to be said one more time, even though it’s said all year long.
It’s the most exciting part of the roller hockey year and we can’t wait to get things kicked off at the Hershey Centre. Thanks for being part of it, and thanks for reading.
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