| Inline hockey is a variation of roller hockey very similar | | | | across the playing surface at an angle to the forward |
| to ice hockey, from which it is derived. The game is | | | | motion of the player (the "T-stop") and at high speeds |
| played by two teams, consisting of four skaters and | | | | by turning both skates simultaneously at 90 degrees to |
| one goalie, on a dry rink divided into two halves by a | | | | the forward motion of the player, in the same manner |
| center line, with one net at each end of the rink. The | | | | that ice skaters stop (the "Hockey Stop"). |
| game is played in two 20-minute periods, or similar. For | | | | The chassis is made from metal (often aluminum) to |
| rink dimensions and an overview of the rules of the | | | | accommodate the stresses that stopping places on |
| game, see USA Hockey Inline Rules. Generally | | | | the skates, instead of plastic as is normally found in |
| speaking, only competitive level inline hockey is strictly | | | | inline skates. |
| bound by governing body's rules. Recreational hockey | | | | A popular design for inline hockey skates is to have |
| leagues may make modifications to certain aspects of | | | | larger wheels on the back than the front. This is |
| the rules to suit local requirements (size of rink, length | | | | supposed to maximize both speed, where the back |
| of periods and penalties). | | | | wheels are primarily in use, and turning, where the front |
| Inline hockey has similarities to rink hockey, but differs in | | | | wheels are in play. |
| the type of skate used and game rules. | | | | Hockey skates are generally lace-up instead of the 2 |
| Chief differences from ice hockey | | | | 3 clip design of modern inline skates. |
| Many persons encountering inline hockey for the first | | | | Popular brands include CCM, Bauer, Tour, Graf, Nike |
| time may already be familiar with ice hockey. Beyond | | | | and Mission. Speed is chiefly only restricted by the |
| the physical differences between ice skates and inline | | | | ABEC scale rating of the bearings in the wheels. The |
| roller skates, the chief differences between inline and | | | | ratings as of this writing are ABEC-3, ABEC-5, |
| ice hockey are: | | | | ABEC-7, ABEC-9, and "Swiss". The higher the rating, |
| inline hockey is generally played as a non-checking | | | | the faster the bearing. Grip is governed by the |
| sport (contact is allowed, but only when aiming to play | | | | hardness or softness of the wheels. The hardness of |
| the puck), and so is played in a slightly different spirit to | | | | a wheel is often referred to as the wheel's durometer. |
| ice hockey. Players tend to have more time on the | | | | The hockey sticks used in indoor inline hockey are the |
| puck, and the game is often more free flowing. | | | | same as used for ice hockey. For outdoor surfaces, |
| inline hockey has no offsides in the USA (this varies | | | | the blade material found in the more sophisticated |
| from country to country) | | | | (expensive) sticks may be inappropriate. A graphite |
| no icing (rink-long passes are allowed) (again, this | | | | blade may disintegrate with less than 1 hours use on |
| varies from country to country) | | | | an outdoor surface. Blades made with laminate |
| no neutral zone | | | | technology quickly de-laminate. The most durable |
| is usually played with 4 players (instead of 5 for ice) | | | | blades for outdoor use are composite, wooden or |
| and a goalie from each team on the surface at any | | | | ABS plastic. |
| one time. The game is played with a plastic puck | | | | Playing surface |
| (lighter than an ice-hockey puck) or with a ball. The ball | | | | Outdoor playing surfaces vary from plain asphalt for |
| may be hollow or be filled with a liquid. | | | | street hockey to sealed concrete surfaces. Street |
| Rules and equipment | | | | hockey is almost always played with a ball, as the |
| Rules of the game vary by sanctioning body. For an | | | | ability to control a puck is directly linked to the |
| up to date version of the rules in the USA, USA | | | | smoothness of the playing surface. Indoor inline hockey |
| Hockey Inline makes them available at its official rules | | | | is played on any suitable non-slip surface. Dedicated |
| site. Briefly, each team is made up of a goalie, a | | | | inline facilities use Sport Court or similar surface, which |
| defense man, and three forwards - a center and a | | | | allows maximum traction to inline hockey wheels whilst |
| right and left wing. Each side attempts to shoot the | | | | providing a smooth, unbroken gliding surface for the |
| puck or ball into the opposing team's net. Play is | | | | puck. The playing area may be surrounded by full |
| stopped for goals, penalties, time out (usually limited to | | | | boards similar to ice hockey with glass or fencing to a |
| one per team per game), or the ball/puck going out of | | | | height of around 2m, half boards (approximately knee |
| play. | | | | height), or for street hockey matches the playing |
| Face offs occur at the start or resumption of play | | | | surface may be simply marked out with cones. |
| according to where the stoppage occurred or whether | | | | Sanctioning bodies |
| a period is starting or a goal has been scored (the only | | | | There are two lines of sanctioning bodies for inline |
| times when the center face off is used). | | | | hockey: those that are related to the rollers sports |
| Protective equipment includes a HECC- or | | | | community and those related to the ice hockey |
| CSA-approved hockey helmet, typically with a full face | | | | community. Worldwide inline hockey is governed by |
| mask, hockey gloves, elbow pads, and shin guards. | | | | International Ice Hockey Federation, which organizes |
| Other protective equipment includes a jock or a jill, inline | | | | IIHF Inline Hockey World Championships. |
| hockey hip pads, and hockey shoulder pads. All players | | | | In the United States, inline hockey is actively organized |
| should refer to local rules for a complete list of | | | | by the Amateur Athletic Union, which is part of USA |
| equipment. | | | | Roller Sports, and USA Hockey Inline . The |
| The inline hockey skate is similar to the ice hockey | | | | Roller-sports groups are sanctioned by the International |
| skate and differs from normal inline skates in the | | | | Olympic Committee to oversee roller sports; however, |
| following ways: | | | | as inline hockey is not presently an Olympic sport, this |
| Inline hockey skates have no brake. Stopping is | | | | appears to have had little bearing on the development |
| achieved at slow speeds by dragging one skate | | | | of the sport. |