The amateur competitive roller skating programs
of the USA Roller Skating (USAC/RS) have been
in place since 1937, training talented skaters
into the best in the world. Today USA Roller
Skating (USAC/RS) membership exceeds 32,000
skaters in the three branches of the sport --
speed skating, artistic skating and roller
hockey. These members, in turn, belong to more
than 1,100 amateur skating clubs across the
United States.
In addition to promoting roller sports
nationwide, USA Roller Skating (USAC/RS)
organizes and facilitates opportunities for
competitive roller skating by:
* registering and educating skaters and
clubs, and certifying judges and
officials;
* providing insurance for competing skaters,
coaches, and for sanctioned competitions;
* developing program and competition rules;
* conducting seminars for skaters and
coaches;
* approving requests for amateur roller
sports competitions;
* hosting regional and national championship
competitions;
* selecting and training USA skaters for
international competitions.
When deciding whether to become a USA Roller
Skating (USAC/RS) skater, there are many things
to consider. You want to be sure that you are
entering a program that can provide you optimal
education, competition, safety and fun. USA
Roller Skating (USAC/RS) meets all of these
needs, through:
* participation in competitive authorized
events, including exhibitions and roller
skating shows, which could lead to
national and world titles;
* certified coaches that are, without
question, the best in the world;
* secondary insurance protection: $25,000
medical and $1,000 dental coverage.
* local and national sport development
seminars;
* opportunities to develop friendships
across the country and around the world;
* guidelines on how meets are to be run,
including certified officials to help
assure safe meet conditions and fair
competition;
* published rules and regulations so that
everyone has a fair chance;
* two free issues of U.S. Roller Skating
magazine, containing official notice of
USA Roller Skating (USAC/RS) board actions
and rule changes;
* opportunities to hold office with USA
Roller Skating (USAC/RS) and local clubs,
and to become a commissioned official.
To take advantage of these benefits and become
registered members, skaters may join
independently through a club in their area. A
$25 membership fee permits participation in any
sanctioned meet, regional or national
championships for the competitive season from
September 1st through August 31st.
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In order to give athletes the best
opportunities for participation in artistic
skating, roller hockey or speed skating at the
skate center and in competition with other
clubs, find out if your local rink has an
official USA Roller Skating (USAC/RS) club
charter. It's USA Roller Skating (USAC/RS) that
gives a club written, official permission to
compete with other clubs and protects skaters
from unsafe competition.
Each chartered club becomes part of one of nine
USA Roller Skating (USAC/RS) Regional
Associations. Clubs have a vote in USA Roller
Skating (USAC/RS) regional concerns, and club
members have a direct, individual voice in
discussions about competitive skating through
their regional association. The USA Roller
Skating (USAC/RS) Regional Association approves
the officials selected for the regional
championships and accepts bids for hosting this
prestigious competition. Skaters who succeed at
any of these nine regional championships
advance to the national championships.
A USA Roller Skating (USAC/RS) club is eligible
for membership in regional and/or state
associations well as more localized leagues.
Through these affiliates, your club is entitled
to participate and vote on issues on a local
and national level. Within the region,
inter-club and invitational meets can also be
organized, eventually paving the road to
possible leagues of teams who host regular
competitions. Many of the regions also offer
the opportunity for additional recognition
through awards banquets held at the conclusion
of each season. These local competitions
culminate in a regional championship each year,
from which skaters progress to the national
level and possibly on to the international
level.
Your club will also receive a monthly issue
(except August) of U.S. Roller Skating, the
official magazine of USA Roller Skating
(USAC/RS). This magazine contains timely and
informative news on roller skating such as a
calendar of events, competitive results, sports
medicine articles, judges information,
competitive requirements, official notices and
feature stories. Individual skaters are invited
to subscribe at a cost of $12 per year.
In addition, roller hockey clubs will receive
the monthly newsletter, Powerplay. Filled with
up-to-date tips, competition results,
informative articles and up-coming events, it
holds the bond of communication between other
USA Roller Skating (USAC/RS) hockey clubs
across the country.
Many communities can take advantage of USA
Roller Skating (USAC/RS) clubs in the area by
targeting other programs that have already
attracted people of all ages. Opportunities
include a cooperative arrangement with a local
school's physical education class, or helping a
youth group find alternative activities for its
members. Local parks and recreation departments
often will offer to promote the program as well
as handle registration.
Sanctions
In order to hold an official meet with clubs
outside of the host facility a club needs
formal written permission from USA Roller
Skating (USAC/RS), or, in other words, a
sanction. When USA Roller Skating (USAC/RS)
issues this permission, it means the
competition will be conducted fairly, safely,
and in compliance with USA Roller Skating
(USAC/RS) rules of the sport. For their own
protection, skaters should never compete in
meets that are not sanctioned. Specific
guidelines concerning sanctions are outlined in
the General Rules manual.
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Coaches are encouraged to join the USA Roller
Skating (USAC/RS) Coaching Program, a service
that involves a variety of education and
certification levels. Coaches benefits from
knowing that they have the resources to be the
best in their field. Skaters are certain to
receive the very best training, while rink
operators enjoy the benefits from having a
fully-qualified professional taking charge of
the competitive program and possibly send
skaters on to regional and national
championships.
Benefits of the program include training
programs and continuing coach's education,
$25,000 accident/injury insurance while
coaching in a registered USA Roller Skating
(USAC/RS) club facility or a sanctioned
competition; and free liability insurance while
coaching in a registered seminars. It also
gives the privilege of coaching recognition by
the U.S. Olympic Committee, eligibility for
commission as an official without additional
fees, and eligibility to be a club officer in
any discipline.
Registered USA Roller Skating (USAC/RS) coaches
are also provide free of charge National
Governing Body technical manuals, distribution
of General Rules and appropriate discipline
teaching manuals, recognition pins for
championship achievement, and a subscription to
the official USA Roller Skating (USAC/RS)
magazine U.S. Roller Skating, and the monthly
coaching newsletter Roller Skating Coach.
When a club receives permission to host a
contest, it must enlist qualified officials for
the event. Officials, including a meet
director, must also be members of USA Roller
Skating (USAC/RS), and their qualifications can
be determined by the commissions they hold. The
level of commission is determined by training,
testing and experience of the judge, referee
and/or tabulators. Meet directors are certified
by attending a meet directors certification
program sponsored and conducted by USA Roller
Skating (USAC/RS).
USA Roller Skating (USAC/RS), a non-profit
corporation under Section 501 (c)(3) of the
Internal Revenue Code, is the National
Governing Body (NGB) for amateur roller skating
in the United Skates under the Amateur Sports
act of 1978. USA Roller Skating (USAC/RS) is a
member of the United States Olympic
Committee(USOC), the Federation Internationale
de Roller Skating (FIRS), and the Pan American
Sports Organization (PASO).
For more information, call, write or e-mail to:
USA Roller Skating
P.O. Box 6579
Lincoln, NE 68506
(402) 483-7551
FAX (402) 483-1465
WWW@USACRS.com
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