USA Roller Sports - Official Notice

U.S. Olympic Training Center, Colorado Springs, Colorado
October 1-2-3, 2004
- Subject to Board Approval - 10-8-04 -
and
Executive and Finance Committee Meetings occurring between
February 30 and October 1, 2004

The following actions resulted from the USA Roller Sports Annual Board of Directors Meeting, October 1-2-3, 2004, at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado. A copy of the motions upon which this summary is based is available to registered USA Roller Sports clubs. Other items included are a result of meetings of the Executive and/or Finance Committees and are so note.

USARS BOARD ELECTION RESULTS - Elected by the membership via Mail Ballot - Jane Wojnarowsky of Willoughby, Ohio, for another three-year term as the USARS Director representing Coaches, and Zygmund Marszalek of North Bellmore, New York, as the Hockey Athlete Representative to the Board for a three-year term. Charlie Kirchner, of Westville, New Jersey, was elected to serve another three-year term as an At-Large Director on the USA Roller Sports Board of Directors. Due to the resignation of Dave Morrell as a Grassroots Director, the Board elected David Adamy, of Franconia, Virginia, to fill Morrell's unexpired term, which will end with the close of the Annual Board Meeting in 2006. The results of the athlete election for the USA Roller Sports Athlete Representative to the USOC Advisory Committee and alternate, returned Steven Findlay, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, as the representative, and Julie Glass, of Olympia, Washington, as the alternate, for a four-year period beginning on January 1, 2005.

USARS OFFICERS - Approved the following officers who will serve one-year terms, beginning at the conclusion of the 2004 Annual Board Meeting and concluding at the close of the 2005 Annual Board Meeting: President/Chairman - George Kolibaba; Vice President - Jim Pollard; Treasurer - Charlie Kirchner.   Richard Hawkins, Executive Director, shall serve as the Corporate Secretary.

FOUNDATION TRUSTEE ELECTION - Elected the following: Term Expiring October of 2005, or until elections are held: Charles Wahlig, Bill Steigner, and George Pickard. Term Expiring October of 2006, or until elections are held: Budd Van Roekel and George Kolibaba (replacing Dave Morrell). Term Expiring October of 2007, or until elections are held: Betty Ann Danna and Jim Ball.

SHORTAGE OF FUNDS FOR WORLD TEAM SUPPORT IN 2005 - Because of a decrease in Olympic Committee funding, increased expense for additional international events, and a decline in other income, USA Roller Sports is not in a position to fully fund any of the teams that qualify to participate in World Championships in 2005. A new Fund Raising Committee has been named and is charged with developing a procedure for fund raising on behalf of USARS athletes, with accounting for the funds through USARS for tax purposes, etc.

BY-LAW CHANGE - Because the USARS fiscal year now coincides with the calendar year, amended Article IV of the USARS B-Laws to show that the Annual Board of Directors Meeting shall occur "no more than 120 days prior to the end of the calendar year."

LATE ENTRY FEE FOR INDOOR NATIONALS - A $20 per skater late entry fee shall be required from any contestant who has not paid their entry fee for the National Indoor Speed and Figure Skating Championships by the deadline date shown on the entry application.

2005 LAS VEGAS CONGRESS - USARS will conduct a Congress for 2005 in Las Vegas. There will not be a Masters Games or Expo – but exhibitors who wish to attend may do so on a limited basis as they did at the 2001 Congress.

COMMITTEEON COMMITTEES - Approved George Kolibaba, Charlie Kirchner, Jane Wojnarowsky, Annelle Anderson and Scott Hiatt-Athlete Representative, as members of the Committee on Committees, which will recommend committee members for approval at the 2005 Semiannual Board Meeting.

HALL OF FAME AND HONORS COMMITTEE MEETING SCHEDULE - The annual Hall of Fame and Honors Committee meeting will be held in conjunction with the Semiannual Board of Directors Meeting in February.

2005 SEMIANNUAL BOARD MEETING - Approved the Orange County area in California as the site for the 2005 USARS Semiannual Board Meeting. The preferred dates are February 4-5-6, 2005 (tentative meeting on Friday evening, meeting all day on Saturday and half a day on Sunday). The Hall of Fame and Honors Committee Meeting will be scheduled for a Friday afternoon, permitting arrival that morning.

REGIONAL REAPPORTIONMENT AT REQUEST OF REGIONS - Regions that want to change boundaries should obtain a letter (or vote) from each club president that indicates whether or not they support the proposed regional reapportionment. Speed skating regions can be different than figure skating regions (although this inconsistency makes tracking regions and representatives more difficult for those who are involved with both figure and speed skating). Based on results received, Regional Chairmen are asked to return to the Board with a formal proposal.

WORLD TEAM AGREEMENT AMENDMENT - Amended the World Team Agreement as follows: Add new item "5. With minimum notice of two weeks, agree to make personal appearances on behalf of USA Roller Sports whenever asked, with expenses for said appearance being covered by USARS. If unable to be present, I will provide a written explanation of the conflict that prevents me from representing my sport and USARS"...Renumber current item 5 as item 6.    (Approved by Executive Committee 4-21-04)

2005 INDOOR NATIONALS - Approved conducting the 2005 Indoor Speed and Figure Skating National Championships in Pensacola, Florida. Awarded the 2006 Indoor Speed and Figure Skating National Championships to Lincoln, Nebraska, and the 2007 National Championships to Fresno, California.     (Approved by Executive Committee 5-26-04)

FOURTH PLACE MEDALS FOR FIGURE SKATING REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS - Forth place medals will be given out for Standard Regional Roller Figure Skating Championships. Only three places will receive medals at Standard National Figure Skating Championships (The Junior Olympic program no longer exists for figure skating).

FIGURE AND DANCE DRAWS: Clarified Motion 20 of the 2004 Semiannual Board Meeting Minutes as follows: "For the 2004-2005 season, figures and dances for the Regional and National Championships shall be drawn on June 1, 2005. For Junior and Senior World Class events, the figures for the Regional Championships will also be drawn on June 1, 2005. World Class figures will be posted and announced by the Chief Referee on the first scheduledpractice day for Junior and Senior World Class skaters at the National Championships.

RECERTIFICATION CREDITS FOR COACHES - USARS figure coaches who attend the 2004 World Roller Figure Skating Championships in Fresno, California, may receive credit toward re-certification. Also approved the request to recognize participation in the Pacific Northwest Skate Camp with credit toward an extension of certification for current coaches.

Requests for recognition of participation in a meeting or event as a method of re-certification should be submitted by the host in writing and include the following: (1) date, (2) location, (3) meeting agenda, (4) meeting leaders, and (5) contact person responsible for submitting participant names to USA Roller Sports for certification points.

WORLD CLASS INLINE FREE SKATING - Effective September 1, 2004, participants in the World Class Inline Men and Women's Free Skating Open Divisions will skate a short and long program for the Regional and National Championships, in accordance with CIPA rules. (Approved by Executive Committee 3-30-04)

REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS JUDGES - Amended the following rule: AR 17.06 (d): All regional championships will be allowed to use one certified in-region A or B commissioned figure skating (artistic) judge per event as needed. (Approved by Finance/Executive Committees on 5-26-04)

FIGURE RULE AMENDMENTS - Approved the following amendments to the Artistic rules (and amend the corresponding rules for speed and hockey to include the same citizenship requirements):

AR 7.03.02 (a) Members in good standing with in the Canadian Federation who receive written approval from the Canadian Federation will be permitted to skate in USA Figure Skating (Artistic) Qualifying Championships, except in Junior World Class and Senior World Class events, both of which are used to select USArepresentative teams for World Championships. Canadian Skaters may not participate in USA Championships Show or Precision Team events which qualify to participate in World Championships.

(b) Foreign citizens that have represented their National Governing Body at a F.I.R.S. World Championships will be permitted to skate in a USAQualifying Championships, except Junior and Senior World class events. Foreign citizens may not participate in USAChampionships Show or Precision Team events which qualify to participate in World Championships.

AR 7.05.03 Figure Skating (Artistic) World Class Junior and Senior Events at the National Championships:

(a) To qualify for the national championships in a Junior and Senior World Class event, a skater/team must have proof of USA citizenship and receive the following minimum score from a majority of the judges at the regional championships. Regional placements and medals will be awarded.

(b) Skaters who qualify for a USA International Team must have a USA passport.

FIGURE RULE CHANGES - Approved the following rule amendments, effective with the 2004-2005 skating season.
1)         Premier Division - Add the 120 Waltz to Group I in place of the Marionette Waltz (138
2)         Premier Division - Replace the Fiesta Tango (100) with the Werner Tango (96) and the Joann Foxtrot (92) with the Marionette Waltz (138) in the Finals (this replaces backward dances with forward dances). The same as Solo Dance.
3)         Veteran Division - Change so that skaters/coaches 65 and older have the option to remain in Veteran or move to the Premier Division in Team Dance, Solo Dance or Figures.
4)         Premier Division - Skaters/coaches who are age 65 and older have the option to remain in the Premier Division or move to the Veteran Division in Team Dance, Solo Dance, or Figures
5)       Boston Boogie (100) can skate inside (B) or (D).
6)         Add to Primary, Juvenile, Elementary A, B and C Free Skating Events - A maximum of three spins in place of two spins. Sits spins will be allowed in Level C Free Skating Events.
7)         Move-Up for Classic Division Team Dance, Solo Dance and Figures - Amend to read that skaters have the option to move to the Premier Division at age 35 or remain in Classic Division, instead of at age 25.
8)        Add Figure 7 to the Primary "A" Figure Division in both Group I and Group II:
Group I: 1, 2-B, 7-A
Group II: 1-B, 2, 7-B
Due to changes in the content requirements, the following are recommendations to change AR8.02.05.
9) Reaffirm that Division "B" skaters can only skate in the "A" and "B" Divisions in the same Qualifying Championships.
10)       Reaffirm that Division "C" skaters can only skate in the "C" and "B" Divisions in the same Qualifying Championships.
11)       Reaffirm that Division "C" skaters cannot skate in "A" and "C" events in the same Qualifying Championships.
12)       Reaffirm that skaters who place in a higher division cannot return to a lower division in the same Qualifying Championships.
13)       At all Regional Qualifying Championships, all Level A events must be concluded before any Level B events are skated, and all Level B events must be concluded before any Level C events are skated.
14)       Add to the event schedule Esquire B Division in Solo Dance. (There was no place for skaters 35 and older in the B level. In JO this had the largest number of skaters in the Solo Dance Event.)
Dances to be skated for Esquire B:
Group I: Glide Waltz (108), Progressive Tango (100)
Group II: City Blues (88), Balanciaga (100)
15)       Changes for Solo Dance Novice B, 18 and older.
Group I: City Blues (88), Casino Tango (100)
Group II: Swing Waltz (120), Denver Shuffle (100)

Note: This will have the same level of dances as JO IC to cross over. (Approved by Executive Committee 8-16-04)

2005 INDOOR SPEED NATIONALS - The preliminary schedule for the 2005 Indoor Speed National Championships in Pensacola, Florida, is: July 17 - practice for Junior Olympic and Standard events; July 18-19-20 for individual events; Junior Olympic and Standard; July 21 and 22 for relay events; July 23 for Quad events.

QUAD SPEED SKATING NATIONALS - Quad speed skating events will be conducted at the 2005 National Indoor Championships in Pensacola, Florida. Effective for the 2005 National Championships in Pensacola, Florida, there will be no Junior Olympic quad speed skating events conducted at the Indoor National Championships. (Approved by Finance/Executive Committees on 5-26-04)

2005 OUTDOOR NATIONALS- Approved the following dates for the 2005 Outdoor National Championships in Colorado Springs, Colorado: Track Championships - May 26-27-28; Rain Day - May 29, 2005. Road Championships - May 30-31; Rain Day June 1, 2005

1. (c) Four Mixed Two Men and Two Women skating a total distance of 4000m. Each member skates a continuous 500m before relaying with another; women start. Add: Both women skate their first 500m before the men skate their first 500m, and both women skate their second 500m before the men skate their second 500m. (and)

2. (c) Four Mixed Two Men and Two Women skating a total distance of 2,000m. Each member skates a continuous 500m before relaying with another; women start. Add: Both women skate before the men. (Approved by Executive Committee - 3-21-04)

following statement in SR 141.1 (a) and (b): Each person must skate their first 500 meters before anyone

CORRECTED DISTANCES FOR OUTDOOR NATIONALS - At the February 2004 Semiannual Board Meeting, the following relay events were added to the 2004 Banked Track and Road National Championships: Freshman Three Boy - 1200 meter (now 2400); Freshman Three Girl - 1200 (now 2400); Senior Three Man - 6000 meter; Senior Three Women - 6000 meter; Master Three Man - 3000 meter; Master Three Women - 3000 meter. Relay teams must be made up from the same USARS club, not sponsored teams. Track relays will be made every lap. The distance for Freshmen Relay Teams was not correct and Junior Relay Teams were omitted from this motion, resulting in the following being approved by the Executive Committee: Amended the Outdoor National Championships relay events to include: Junior Three Man, Junior Three Woman, each skating 3,000 meters. Changed the distance for Freshman Three Boy and Three Girl Relays at the Outdoor National Championships from 1200 meters to 2400 meters. (Approved by Executive Committee - 3-21-04)

LOCAL LEVEL SPEED CLINICS - On 8-16-04 the Executive Committee on 8-16-04 approved a local speed clinic program, which was further amended by the Board as follows:
1. Level 1 and Regional Clinics can be used as a preliminary qualification for skaters to participate in the Banked Track National Championship by
meeting the required qualifying times which follow:

Distance	Freshman Boys	Freshman Girls	Junior Men	Junior Ladies	Senior Men	Senior Ladies	MasterMen	Master Ladies
300m	0:37.0	0:37.0	0:34.0	0:36.0	0:34.0	0:36.0	0:36.0	0:37.0
2000m	4:30.0	4:30.0
3000m				7:00.0		6:30.0		7:30.0
5000m			10:30.0		10:30.0		11:30.0

2.        Approval must be obtained from the USA Roller Sports Executive Committee to conduct a Level 1 or Regional Clinic. The written request must include the date and time, location, and names of the clinic leaders/coaches.
3.         If approved, an event sanction must be obtained from USARS.
4.         A listing of athletes who pre-qualify must be submitted to the USA Roller Sports National Office.
5.         To qualify for the Banked Track National Championships, athletes must attend a half-day Final Qualification Clinic that will be on the banked track the day prior to the Nationals. This Final Qualification Clinic shall be included in the $40 fee paid by athletes to participate in the Level 1 or Regional Clinic.
6.         This procedure for qualification to compete in the Banked Track National Championships shall be reviewed by the Board at their 2005 Annual Meeting.

REGIONAL AND NATIONAL SPEED CHAMPIONSHIPS CLARIFICATION OF AWARDS - In the Standard Speed Program, medals will be given to 1st, 2nd and 3rd placements, with a certificate being given to the fourth place athletes.

2005 WORLD GAMES SPEED SKATING ATHLETE SELECTION CRITERIA - Speed Skating will be included in the World Games in Duisburg, Germany, in July of 2005. Countries will qualify to send athletes to the 2005 World Games via placement at the 2004 World Speed Championships in Italy, September 4-10.

Team Size - The Comite International de Course, the governing international committee of the Federation International de Roller Sports, recognizes the five Gold Medallists in each of the distances contested at the World Championships. Three athlete slots are automatically given to Germany, the host country for a total of 8. The balance of the 16 slots allocated by country are awarded based on the points received by their national athletes. Following the conclusion of the 2004 World Championships, USA Roller Sports will be notified by the CIC of the number of qualifying positions that may attend the World Games as representatives of the USA.

Athlete Selection - Athletes will qualify to fill the available slots based on the following:

• Must qualify at the 2005 Outdoor National Championships to be a member of the World Speed Team.

• Athletes who won World Games slot for the USA at the 2004 World Championship and who attain a position on the 2005 World Speed Team will automatically qualify to represent the USA at the 2005 World Games.

• Any remaining slots not filled in this manner will be awarded based on the highest overall point total earned at the 2005 National Road Championships. First slot going to the athlete with the highest points, second slot going to the athlete with the next highest points and on until all slots attained for the USA are filled. (Approved by Finance/Executive Committees on 5-26-05).

The 2005 National Outdoor Championships entry form will include notice that upon qualification as a member of the USA World Games Team, athlete agrees to stay in condition, travel to and from the World Games on the approved dates and participate in the World Games.

SPEED SKATING DIVISION CHANGES (approved by Finance/Executive Committees on 5-26-04) - Effective with the 2004-2005 skating season, approved the following recommendations from the Speed Committee:

1) Junior Olympic Division Program to begin with Junior Olympic Elementary Division (10 years old). Tiny Tot, Primary and Juvenile would become standard events with four to qualify from each region (in accordance with recommendation 8). The Junior Olympic divisions would include only Junior Olympic Elementary, Junior Olympic Freshman, Junior Olympic Sophomore, Junior Olympic Junior, Junior Olympic Senior and Junior Olympic Masters. At Nationals the events for primary and juvenile had few participants and the times skated were close to the standard times.

2) Add Tiny Tot Divisions to the Standard Program Division Events. Add a 300meter race for a third division race.

3) Add Junior Olympic Primary Relays to the Standard Program Relay Events. This would take the Primary 2 Boy, Primary 2 Girl and Primary 2 Mixed to the Standard Program while eliminating them from the Junior Olympic Program.

4) Discontinue Junior Olympic Elementary, Sophomore, Senior and Classic Relay events. All of these relays will be absorbed into the standard program at Nationals. Regions may continue to include Junior Olympic relays as unofficial, non-qualifying events at Regional Championships. These events can also be included at any league or invitational meet.

5) Add Masters (35 & older) 4 man, 4 lady and 4 mixed relays. The skated distance will e 2000 meters with each skater skating 500 meters once, ladies to start and skate first in the 4 Mixed Relay. These will become new qualifying events at Regional Championships with qualifiers advancing to Nationals.

6) Add Juvenile (9 and under) 4 boy relay, 4 girl relay and 4 mixed relay to the Standard relay events. The skated distance will be 1200 meters with each skater skating 300 meters once. Girls start and skate first in 4 mixed relay.

7) Add Veterans (45 and older) 2 man relay, 2 lady relay and 2 mixed relay to the standard relay events. The skated distance will be 2000 meters with each skater skating 2 laps - five times each. Ladies start 2 mixed relay.

8) Increase the number of National Championships qualifiers from the Regional Championships from three to four for each event. 36 qualifiers for Nationals = 7 heats with 3 qualifying from each heat to quarterfinals. 3 quarterfinals of 7 with 4 qualifying from each quarterfinal to semifinals. 2 semifinals of 6 with 3 qualifying from each semifinal to final event.

9) Junior Olympic skaters may skate for a total for three years with Junior Olympic eligibility beginning when the skater enters their first Regional Championships in an individual division event. Entering a Regional Championship in a standard relay event will not affect Junior Olympic Division eligibility, even if there is a placement at the Regional and National competition.

10) The National Championships entry fee will be $55 for the first individual event, $55 for the first relay event, and $35 for each additional relay event. Each entry in Junior Olympic or Standard would be counted as a first event.

FUTURE HARDBALL HOCKEY NATIONALS - Approved conducting the 2005 Hardball Hockey National Championships, June 26 through July 1, at the YMCA Riverside Ice Arena in Cumberland, Maryland, hosted by Pat Ferguson. The alternate site is Salt Lake City, hosted by Jimmy Trussel.

Subject to final approval, the 2006 and 2008 Hardball Hockey Nationals are tentatively scheduled for Milwaukee, Wisconsin, dates to be announced.

Subject to final approval, the 2007 Hardball Hockey National Championships are tentatively scheduled for Salt Lake City, Utah, dates to be announced, hosted by Jimmy Trussel. Klamath Falls, Oregon, is the alternate location for 2007, hosted by Mark Runnels.

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS ENTRY FEE - Increased the 2005 Hardball Hockey National Championships team entry fee to $450 from $400. (Approved by Executive Committee - 8-16-04)

BRONZE DIVISION CLARIFICATION - Approved the following Hardball Hockey Bronze Division Requirements:

1.         Players 35 years of age and older.
2.         Female players 14 years of age and older.
3.         Male Novice players 15 years of age, but not yet 18 (1^ST or 2^ND year player).
4.         Male Novice players (1^ST or 2^ND year players) 19 to 34 years of age.
5.         No more than one player who has participated in Gold or Silver Divisions at the National Championships in the previous three years can be on a Bronze Division Team.
6.         Players competing in a Senior Division at the current National Championships cannot participate on a Bronze Division Team.

SILVER DIVISION RULE CHANGE - Approved the following amendment to the Hardball Hockey Silver Division:

1. Allow female players 16 years of age and older to compete in the Silver Division.

MULTIPLE DIVISION RULE CHANGES - Approved the following amendment to the Hardball Hockey Multiple Division Rules:

1. Any player may move up one age division and participate only in two different Divisions.

Examples: Pee Wee to Midget, Midget to Freshman, Freshman to Junior, Freshman Girls to Women, Junior to Silver or Gold.
2. There will be divisional movement allowed between the Bronze, Silver or Gold Divisions because they are of the same age group.

MEN'S WORLD TEAM TRAILS- Approved the following selection procedure for the 2005 World Hardball Hockey Team that will represent the USA in San Jose, California:

Preliminary Trials - A Preliminary World Team Trials is scheduled for Boyertown, Pennsylvania,

December 27-30, 2004, where a minimum of ten players will be selected to attend the Final Team Selection Trials in Montreux, Switzerland (or a location in Italy yet to be confirmed).

Bye to Final Trials - USA players who are competing in Italy, Portugal and Argentina will receive a bye to the Final Team Selection Trials.

Final Trials - A ten-member USA team will be selected during the Final World Team Trials the week of March 21, 2005, before the Cup of Nations in Montreux, Switzerland, and will be the team entered into the Cup.

2005 FIRS INLINE HOCKEY WORLDCHAMPIONSHIPS - The 2005 FIRS World Inline Hockey Championships will be conducted by the Comite International de Roller In-line Hockey (CIRILH) in Grenoble, France.This event is scheduled to take place for both men and women starting June 30 and running through July 10, including two days of practice. Using a formula approved by the USARS Roller Sports Executive Committee on March 21, and posted on the USARS website, USARS will qualify a 10-member Women's Team USA, and a 14-member Men's Team USA.

HOUSE HOCKEY MEMBERSHIP - Approved increasing the membership fee for a house hockey card to $20, with a $2 fee to go to the RSA for any memberships that are associated with RSA member rinks. (Approved by Executive Committee - August 16, 2004)

TO DO:Directive: Hawkins was asked to pursue developing a bid package and seeking bids from other cities to host the USARS Indoor Speed and Figure Skating National Championships.

Distance