To: All Federation Internationale de Roller Sports (FIRS), International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), "PRO" and all international "non-aligned" affiliates --
Att: All "National", "Regional", "State", "Provincial", "Collegiate", "Recreational", "PRO" organizations and leagues -- to all interested 'inline' roller-hockey teams, clubs, players and fans around the world --
...a "Cross"...a "Check"...a "Chalice"...
August 1, 2004
Please forgive our having to write to you only in "English", as our command of other languages -- "Afrikaans" or "Chinese" or "Czech" or "Danish" or "Dutch" or "Finnish" or "Flemmish" or "French" or "German" or "Italian" or "Japanese" or "Korean" or "Malay" or "Norwegian" or "Portuguese" or "Russian" or "Spanish" or "Swedish" or "Thai" or -- etc., etc., etc. -- is rather limited --
We are writing to you as and on behalf of the organizers of an upcoming international 'inline' roller-hockey tournament/event -- "The Maltese Cross-Check-Chalice & Spring-Breakaway" -- to invite your network of clubs to participate in this very unique and special celebration of our game. Scheduled for next year -- March 14 - 20, 2005 (during "Spring-Break") -- on the beautiful, historic, surf and sun-swept Mediterranean island nation of Malta.
In considering this invitation for teams to come to Malta next year, we believe that your network of clubs might be a great recruiting-ground for teams and/or players (men and women) that might be interested -- and would have a lot to look forward to -- in participating in this endeavor. We are contacting you early so that we can get an idea as to whether your team(s) might be interested in being a part of this very special tournament. We need to know this for media purposes, logistical requirements and the relative balance of the draws that we would be 'icing'. It also gives your teams a "heads-up" in planning and $aving for this amazing 'inline' adventure, should any of you decide to become a part of it.
Here is a brief and very basic precis of what is planned for in Malta (as well as outlined to other international teams via e-mail):
A 72-team, 4 division (24-team "PRO"; 16-team "Men's"; 16-team "Women's"; and 16-team "Co-ed") 'inline' roller-hockey tournament to be played-out on 2 state-of-the-art portable 'inline' roller-hockey rinks (including modular-tile floor system; dasher boards; scoreboards, benches and where possible, stands for spectators) located in the Palace Square and Freedom Square in the bustling and colorful capital fortress-city of Valletta. Both of these rink/venue sites are incredibly majestic and ambient locations to play-out what is sure to become (over time) an exciting and prestigious international outdoor roller-hockey tournament.
Rules/Game Management will be as per the FIRS International Rule Book; FIRS Officails/Referees will be in charge of game management.
The rink/venues will be played within (140' x 72' - 156' x 80') Athletica Gameplex dasher-board, retainment, bench system(s); upon Mateflex III modular-tile floor system(s); with Unitec scoreboard(s); and portable stands for spectators.
Other countries where we have already confirmed interest and participation of clubs include the USA, Canada and Mexico in North America; Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, England, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Scotland, Slovakia, Spain, Ukraine and Sweden in Europe; Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan in Australasia; Argentina, Brazil and Ecuador in South America; and Namibia and South Africa in Africa. We have spoken to team/federation representatives in all of these (now) 35 countries who have said that they would be very interested in coming to Malta to compete in the tournament as we have hypothetically presented it to them (as we are to you).
We believe the "Co-ed" draw in particular is going to be a whole lotta' fun for the men and women in this first-ever international "Co-ed" competition. As per rules that were developed and used in the Chicago North Avenue Beach League, in "Co-ed" play at least one (1) female skater must be on the court/floor at all times (as "Goalie" does not count) -- including penalty situations where a female team-mate is in the "penalty-box". If a female player scores a goal, it counts as 2 points -- this encourages playing to the women and can be rather exciting in close games and "power-play" situations -- especially for teams that have stronger female players. "Co-ed" teams should roster at least three (3) female players in order to qualify their team for the "Co-ed" draw.
All 3 "Men's", "Women's" and "Co-ed" divisions are to be "Semi-Open" -- NO active (within the last 2 years) "professional" (or paid "national") 'ice' or 'inline' hockey players will be allowed in any of the divisions. All team rosters will be screened and verified through the various international federations, professional leagues and their regional/divisional affiliates to ensure compliance with this "NO-PRO" rule.
The 24-team "PRO" division is for those qualified teams and players who are looking for a higher level of play, or that as "PRO's" they cannot compete in the other 3 "Men's", "Women's" and "Co-ed" -- "NO-PRO" -- divisions.
There will be a "ZERO" tolerance policy towards "fighting" and "intent to injure" penalties -- any such penalty will result in the immediate disqualification of penalized player(s) from that game and all remaining games for the length of the tournament. The team(s) of the disqualified player(s) will then have their game roster(s) screened for the remainder of the tournament to make sure that said disqualified player(s) will not be 'snuck' back into the line-up(s). Two (2) such player disqualifications from one (1) team will lead to the immediate review of that team's continued play in the tournament.
The "NHL Alumni Celebrity All Stars" hockey team (made up of famous "Hollywood" movie and television actors, rock 'n roll pop stars and former National Hockey League All Stars and "Hall Of Famers") has also been invited to be a part of the event. Along with running 'inline' roller-hockey clinics for the locals, we expect to have them play in an end-of-the-tournament "All Star" fund-raising game for local Maltese charities.
We will also be integrating optional University of Malta academic seminars highlighting Malta's colorful, strategic and important place in both nature and world history to offer an unusually unique and enlightening aspect to especially a college or university team's participation in the program/event -- one that will surely bring even more positive exposure to the creative teaching (and learning) strategies their respective schools, programs and students embrace -- and this makes it an easier 'sell' to their various concerned entities like school administration officials and teachers, family, friends, fund-raising, etc.
We will be presenting the event package to MTV (for possible "Spring-Break" programming broadcast) and ESPN, as well as other international production/broadcast companies.
And to top it all off --
A $175,000 USD 'purse' will be up for grabs (based on full draws in all 4 divisions -- 24-team "PRO"; 16-team "Men's"; 16-team "Women's"; 16-team "Co-ed" -- will constitute a "full" draw).
The 'purse' break-down (all in USD, based on full draws in all 4 divisions):
"PRO" Champion = $30,000; 2nd = $15,000; 3rd = $7,500; 4th = $3,750
"Men's" Champion = $20,000; 2nd = $10,000; 3rd = $5,000; 4th = $2,500
"Women's" Champion = $20,000; 2nd = $10,000; 3rd = $5,000; 4th = $2,500
"Co-ed" Champion = $20,000; 2nd = $10,000; 3rd = $5,000; 4th = $2,500
There will also be additional $1,000 USD "MVP" cash awards and $500 USD "Best Forward"; "Best Defenseman"; "Best Goalie" and "Best Captain" (as well as "Special-Mention/Fun") cash awards for each division.
A tournament website (for complete information, rules and online registration/reservation) will be up by January 1, 2005.
The Cost --
What will be included (in event "travel packages") from the event travel-partner is:
Round-trip international airfare; 4-star hotels for 8 days/7 nights (doubles, triples); buffet breakfast; ground transfers (to/from airport/hotels, plus 15 - 20 minute continuous hotel/rink/venue event shuttles); public transportation; sightseeing excursions; 4-game tournament play minimum; special events and academic seminars; ceremonies; beach and club parties, etc. -- all packaged for $1,000 USD (including all taxes) per-person. This particular "travel package" price would be for European-based teams only. Travel packages for those teams coming from USA/North American gateways are $1,200 USD (including all taxes) per-person ("West Coast", "Rockies", "Southern"-based teams add $150 USD). Africa, Asia, Australasia and South America travel packages are $1,750 USD (including all taxes) per-person (based on the international gateway costs and excluding any local connecting airfares).
All teams will be required to book and confirm their team's international air travel, hotels and participation in the event/tournament only through the event travel-partners (this allows us to ensure airfares, hotels, ground logistics and event "travel packages" that will be greatly discounted and affordable to everyone).
All player/participants registering for the Maltese Cross-Check-Chalice & Spring-Breakaway will be required to sign the AWSM PROVISIONS, CODES AND CONDUCT AGREEMENT upon their reservation.
There will be a 12 player, 1 coach minimum per team roster in order to register.
There will be a $1,250 USD per-team registration fee ($2,500 USD per-team, for the "PRO" division) to be paid on or before October 1, 2004.
There will be a $350 USD discount on team registration fee if paid on or before September 1, 2004.
A $350 USD per-person deposit is due by November 1, 2004. All remaining balances are due by January 1, 2005.
If any team is interested in participating in the event, please e-mail us back your reply and tentative booking request, with the number of players, coaches and fans you expect to have travel with you. We will e-mail you a (".pdf") tournament registration/reservation package within about one (1) week (approximately 1 MB) of AWSM receiving your request (if you cannot open the attachment, go to www.adobe.com -- go to "Downloads" and click-on the Adobe Reader icon for the free and newest version of Adobe Acrobat Reader). Confirmation in the event draw(s) will be based on a dated, "first-paid-first-played" basis, so timeliness in confirming will be important in securing a team spot. A team's spot in the draw will only be "confirmed" upon full payment of the $1,250 USD (or $2,500 USD "PRO" or appropriately discounted) team registration fee.
In filling-out the tournament draws, the organizers reserve the right to select -- and will show preference to -- teams from different continents and countries first, then followed by the criteria "first-paid-first-played" -- and then the balancing of the overall draws. In light of all of these factors, there is sure to be a premium on each team's promptness in confirming their commitment and participation in the tournament.
The importance of the event's extraordinarily historic, geological and multi-cultural location -- in the exotic Mediterranean Sea -- at the stunningly beautiful crossroads, cliffs and beaches of ancient Western civilization (the oldest man-made structures on earth are found here) -- as well as the significance of both the 'purse' and the proposed academic seminars with the University of Malta -- should make The Maltese Cross-Check-Chalice & Spring-Breakaway a "must-do" on everyone's 'inline' calendar -- we are marketing the "Collegiate" part of the draw as the ultimate wide-open, challenging, rewarding and fun ("Spring") "Breakaway" -- its up to you guys (and girls!) to "bury it"!!!
Thank you for your kind consideration of our invitation -- and feel free to forward this e-mail on to all interested clubs and players (you might know) out there in the vast (and fast) 'inline' roller-hockey world.
Regards,
The "A-Team" at AWSM Endeavors, LTD.
e-mail: mkramer25@hotmail.com or awsmendeavors@yahoo.com
P.S.: "Team" telephone contact name(s) and number(s) would be appreciated -- especially of those club representatives who can speak "English" -- this might make information transfers go more smoothly for everyone there (as we stated -- our rather limited "Afrikaans" or "Chinese" or "Czech" or "Danish" or "Dutch" or "Finnish" or "Flemmish" or "French" or "German" or "Italian" or "Japanese" or "Korean" or "Malay" or "Norwegian" or "Portuguese" or "Russian" or "Spanish" or "Swedish" or "Thai" or -- etc., etc., etc. -- is surely not as helpful).
Submitted by: Yasuko Kawamura E-mail address: awsmendeavors@yahoo.com Takes place in: 2005 During month: Mar City: Malta Country: Europe Date submitted: Aug 02, 2004 at 11:27
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