| Roller hockey, also known as inline hockey, | | | | for ice hockey. Costs run about $400 |
| is played on roller or inline skates with | | | | depending on quality. |
| wheels, which are placed in sets of three or | | | | |
| four in a single line. Skates are generally | | | | Roller hockey players wear loose jerseys, |
| priced at $100 and up. | | | | pants and socks. For protection, helmets with |
| | | | mouth guards, kneepads and elbow pads are |
| Aluminum sticks are preferred for roller | | | | recommended. Hockey glovesor at least wrist |
| hockey, however, wooden sticks covered with | | | | guardsshould be worn. More safety-conscious |
| fiberglass may also be used. This is because | | | | players may also wear shoulder pads and |
| concrete or cement, upon which inine hockey | | | | padded pants with shin guards as well as a |
| is usually played, is much harder on the | | | | jockstrap. |
| sticks than ice. The sticks, with suede or | | | | |
| rubber grips, are broader and bent at the | | | | Goalies, of course, need more protection. In |
| base, to maneuver the puck or ball and are | | | | addition to all the protective gear mentioned |
| priced at upwards of $20. | | | | above, a goalie must also be equipped with |
| | | | chest, back and throat protectors, |
| Roller hockey is played with either a puck or | | | | extra-padded leg pads, mask cages and more. |
| a ball. The puck is made of hard, vulcanized | | | | Roller hockey is a street game with as many |
| rubber and is made in regulation sizes; balls | | | | safety concerns as regulation hockey. In |
| are made of plastic. Both cost about $5 each. | | | | fact, roller hockey can be more dangerous |
| | | | since, although the game is not quite as fast |
| Goal nets are supported by steel frames with | | | | as ice hockey, concrete or cement does not |
| nylon nets and can be dismantled for storage. | | | | allow one to slide along the surface when one |
| They are approximately the same as those used | | | | falls, causing more scrapes to the skin. |