| Should Snowboarders Stop Skateboarding? | | | | to train for ice. Number one, you will improve your |
| Some players worry that playing roller hockey will | | | | conditioning. Inline skating uses virtually the same |
| worsen their game on ice. Their concern stems from | | | | muscles as ice skating, and carrying a stick isn't much |
| the difference in technique between the sports. While I | | | | different. How many games have you seen when one |
| can understand the reasoning behind this logic, I think | | | | line seems to be out of gas? Victories have been |
| players who deny themselves the opportunity to play | | | | achieved simply because one team endures while the |
| inline hockey are doing themselves a disservice. Look | | | | other lacks the physical fitness to keep up. It's one |
| at it this way: would it be wise for a snowboarder to | | | | thing to suffer defeat because you were outplayed, |
| avoid skateboarding, fearing his carving might suffer? | | | | but personally I never EVER want to lose because my |
| Would you cease writing with a pencil because you | | | | opponent was in better shape. Roller hockey will |
| wanted to keep your penmanship pure by only writing | | | | unquestionably improve your stamina. |
| with a ballpoint pen? | | | | Other reasons to play include: |
| Can You Prevent Bad Habits? | | | | - Learn how to work as a team, specifically making |
| Sure, skating on the ice isn't the same as rollerblading | | | | and receiving passes |
| on the street. The ice gives where the street remains | | | | - Examine where to best position your body against a |
| firm. Inline skates generally have heavier boots, and | | | | defender |
| stopping sometimes involves dragging. I am not | | | | - See if you can get better at carrying the puck (or |
| ignorant to the fact that you can develop bad ice | | | | ball) with your head up |
| skating habits on inlines. However, these lazy habits | | | | - Determine what kind of dekes seem to work against |
| can be avoided if you are cognizant of what you are | | | | opponents |
| doing. Many roller hockey players are less efficient on | | | | - Discover what things irk you and how to discipline |
| ice because they are used to lifting their leg higher | | | | yourself to keep a cool head |
| when finishing a stride. To help with this: | | | | Will Going to the Movies Make You a Better Player? |
| - Try to avoid picking your feet on your follow through | | | | Also consider this: If you aren't playing inline hockey, |
| and you should be fine | | | | what will you be doing instead? Watching TV? Playing |
| - One thing that can make your wheels feel more like | | | | Xbox? Hitting the gym? If it's the gym, you might have |
| blades setting them up to be rockered, so the middle | | | | a case against playing inline hockey:-) But seriously |
| wheels are closer to the ground than the outside ones. | | | | think about it that way. Instead of asking, "Will inline |
| Using 80mm wheels in the center and 76mm and the | | | | hockey worsen my ice hockey game?" you might |
| outside can better simulate the feeling of an ice skate | | | | contemplate, "Will going to the movies make me a |
| - Some roller hockey skates even have a rockered | | | | better ice hockey player?" My point (and probably the |
| chassis so you can still use the same size wheels on | | | | conclusion of my argument) is this: there are many |
| all four slots. | | | | things you could do for your game that are worse |
| What Can You Learn? | | | | than playing roller hockey. |
| There are numerous benefits to playing roller hockey | | | | |