In 1988, Bryan Garland took over a recreational foot-hockey league in Buena Park. The sputtering organization was not in good shape. After attracting a high of about 30 adult teams in the mid-'80s, the 10-year-old league had dwindled to just 15 entries.

Today, however, Garland and his partner, Gil Morrison, can scarcely believe that this same league--since moved to Garden Grove--consists of more than 85 foot- and 190 roller-hockey teams. (Ann Victor, director of public relations for the Anaheim Bullfrogs of the professional Roller Hockey International League, said the duo's California Street Hockey Assn. may be the largest organization of its kind in the country.)

"We always thought we could run a successful league (back in '80s)," said Garland, who operates the league full time in conjunction with the city of Garden Grove. "There were a lot of East Coast transplants from (hockey hot beds) Boston, New York and Chicago living in the area. But I don't think any of us predicted it would become this popular."

Galvanized by the recent popularity of in-line roller skating and professional ice hockey, street hockey is among the fastest rising recreational sports in Southern California. There are more than a dozen adult and/or youth street hockey leagues in and around the Orange County area. While a few of these leagues have foot-hockey divisions, the majority of them are upstart organizations catering solely to the burgeoning number of roller-hockey enthusiasts.

Some of whom are obsessed.

Shari Hitt plays hockey about five days a week and is in three roller divisions in the Garden Grove league. Her Black Widows team takes part in both the all-women and adult rookie divisions. In the latter category, her unit goes up against male dominated teams. She also plays on a co-ed team.

The Long Beach resident said she has participated in a multitude of sports from volleyball and softball to skiing and mountain biking. Yet she's given them all up since she took up roller hockey about two years back.

"There's no other sport that compares," she said. "It uses everything you've got. You have to use your physical and mental (abilities). I love it. It's an addiction."

Sally Jamison of Cypress may be the ultimate roller-hockey mom, with five boys age 8 to 15 participating in the Garden Grove league. And her in-line-skating, 6-year-old daughter is eager to join a team.

Jamison doesn't find her children's passion for roller hockey difficult to fathom.