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FOREWORD BY:
Dave Cairns – Canada National Team Coach
In 1993 soon after the invention of inline skates the first
professional roller/inline hockey league, Roller Hockey International, was
created marking the
acceptance of this sport throughout the world.
Since this date the sport
has continued to grow at a fast pace even though limited by the lack of
playing facilities and the scarcity of relevant roller/inline hockey knowledge.
In the past few years the rate of construction of roller/inline hockey facilities
has increased substantially as a result of improved designs and lower
costs. The scarcity of roller/inline hockey knowledge remains as the last vital
ingredient that is still needed to sustain and accelerate the continued
growth and development of this exciting sport.
Beginning coaches may have sufficient knowledge to be able to focus on
their own teams. More proficient coaches armed with more knowledge are
able to focus on their opponents. The most effective coaches are able to
focus, analyze, and communicate the tactics, playing styles, and
interactions of both teams. They are the innovators who possess both the
knowledge and the understanding of the essential elements of this sport.
Roller/inline hockey programs around the world strive to accelerate the
development of their coaches as well as their players through these three
phases or levels described above. I am sure that
Roller Hockey: The Game
Within The Game, will be a vital tool that can be used for this purpose.
With a unique flow and writing style, Roller
Hockey: The Game Within The Game provides
all the fundamental knowledge of roller/inline hockey that every coach and player
needs to have. Its main premise is that the rink the players must use is
much different from the rink the spectators see. This innovative concept
is the foundation that enables every reader to rapidly gain a clear
understanding of the “game within the game” that is played on the “rink
within the rink”.
I recommend Roller Hockey: The Game Within The Game as
required reading to roller/inline hockey coaches and players around the world. It
will empower coaches and players at any level with the confidence,
competence, and passion to continue to advanced levels in this sport.
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ABOUT DAVE CAIRNS
CANADA NATIONAL TEAM COACH
Dave
Cairns was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada on September 10th, 1964. At
the age of 5 years he strapped on his first pair of skates and began to
play ice hockey. Originally as a goaltender, his hockey career led him
through high school, junior league play in the neighboring province of
Saskatchewan, and then on to the University of Manitoba.
After graduation he continued to play as a professional in Switzerland and
later as a coach in England, Switzerland, and Denmark. When a severe
automobile injury ended his professional ice hockey playing career in 1992
he returned to Canada.
With the creation of the first professional roller/inline hockey league, Roller
Hockey International in 1993, he began his involvement in the sport of
roller/inline hockey. In the first year of league operations he became
Player/Assistant Coach of the RHI VooDoo in Vancouver, British Columbia,
Canada. In 1994 Dave became Head Coach of the RHI VooDoo and led them to
consecutive Conference Championships through 1997.
In 1997 Dave coached the Canadian National Roller Hockey Team to a silver
medal in the world championships. In 1998 this team won the gold medal.
In 1999 Dave moved to Buffalo, New York as the Player/Head Coach of the
RHI Buffalo Wings. When RHI ceased operations in 1999 he was their most
successful coach having accumulated the most wins in RHI history.
Shortly thereafter Dave relocated to Southern California. Currently Dave
is a facility and development consultant with Sportcite Management Group
in Orange County, California.
Dave has developed and continues to operate the largest club level roller/inline
hockey program in North America at various roller/inline hockey rinks in this
area. He continues to conduct roller/inline hockey clinics for coaches and
players throughout the world.
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