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Inline Roller Hockey – Getting Started

In the United States the sport of hockey doesn’t receive near the same level of notoriety that other sports such as football, baseball, or even basketball receive…although we believe that it certainly should. However, that does not mean that the sport isn’t immensely popular across the nation through ice and roller hockey leagues. In fact, hockey is one of the most popular organized sports across North America, and has been for well over 100 years.

Hockey leagues are offered nationwide at numerous hockey rinks, with most offering a variety of leagues for children and adults of all ages and skill levels. However, these leagues are not limited to solely ice hockey. As inline skating has gained in popularity over the past decades, so has the interest in Roller Hockey. All of the same basic rules apply to roller hockey that apply to ice hockey, with the only major variations existing in the playing surface and the type of skate you are using. Minor rule variations may exist from league to league, but the substance of the game is still very much the same.

There are many characteristics in the sport of roller hockey that make it vastly appealing to people of all ages. First, it is relatively inexpensive to become involved in when compared to ice hockey. Second, there are many leagues available that help make the competition level remain fairly even. Additionally, you can play the sport in any or all of the four seasons, regardless of your geographic location. Finally, you can put a team together of many of your friends who also enjoy the sport. There are many other reasons as well, but these are just some of the many.

If you are interested in becoming involved in roller hockey, you will need to purchase certain equipment to be eligible to play. The basic equipment is what you will need, any additional items are solely your decision:

• Roller Hockey Skates (no brake is required)
• Hockey Stick
• Hockey Gloves
• Hockey Helmet (with or without mask and HECC Approved)
• Hockey Shin Pads
• Hockey Elbow Pads
• Roller Hockey Pants
• Jock Strap (men) / Pelvic Protector (women)

Equipment Tips

An appealing characteristic of roller hockey is that is less expensive than ice hockey. The most important part in selecting your equipment is that you make sure it fits correctly. There is no sense in spending oodles of money on high-end equipment if it does not fit properly. Make sure your equipment fits properly, then worry about price if you so choose.

In that same mindset, a crucial purchase will be your roller hockey skates. Make certain that your skates feel comfortable and fit properly. If they are not comfortable and/or do not fit properly, you will be in lots of pain when you have to make those quick stops and turns.

If you are just starting in roller hockey, do not hesitate to save yourself a few bucks at first by just wearing some sweatpants over your shin pads. However, we strongly recommend that after a few times out that you purchase a pair of roller hockey pants. Roller hockey pants are lightweight, breathable, and reinforced in the knees and seams to be durable. Sweatpants are suitable in the beginning, but you will quickly find yourself sweating in places you never knew you could sweat.

Getting Started

If you are interested in getting started in roller hockey, but you don’t know how, try starting with a friend or joining a league at your local roller hockey rink. You can search for a rink in your area by clicking here. Once you find a rink close to you, you are well on your way to seasons and seasons of fun.

Go to http://www.hockey.us for all your equipment needs!

About the Author

Brandon Ryan

If I can roller blade, can I also ice skate? How do I brake?

I’m going ice skating for the first time tomorrow.
I can roller blade just fine, how is ice skating different?
Any tips on how to brake, clothes, or anything else I should know?

The ability to roller blade will definitely help you out, but it won’t guarantee a strong grasp of ice skating. Certain styles of roller blading do not translate well to the ice, so it’s kind of a crap shoot. You have to be conscious of your edges and stay low if you feel like you are going to fall; bend from your knees, not your waist. Make sure your skates fit snuggly; you shouldn’t lose circulation, but the fit should be just a notch looser than that.

If you know how to hockey stop on blades, the ice skates should be similar, but just take the stop a little slower. You can also do a plough stop; like in skiing (pizza pie/french fries technique). Spread your legs apart and angle your toes inward while pushing your weight outward from you heels; feet should angle inward at about a 45 degree angle. Bend your knees and sit back a bit… you should at least slow down considerably.

The very skinny girl in green in doing a plough stop in this pic:

http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=251748460&size=o

The girl in the very front on this picture, wearing pink is doing a pretty good plough example:

The girl in the foreground in the green dress is doing one here:

http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=251747433&size=o