| The biggest difference between ice hockey and roller | | | | difficult because of its different characteristics of |
| hockey (inline hockey) is obviously the surface on | | | | movement on the court. |
| which the sport is played. Ice hockey is either played | | | | In general, the roller hockey player also uses less |
| on frozen ponds or on indoor ice rinks. As a result, | | | | equipment. While shin guards, elbow pads, gloves, and |
| ice hockey can be inaccessible to many people, | | | | a helmet are all necessary to play either sport, inline |
| especially those living in the southern United States. | | | | hockey players generally do not wear shoulder pads |
| Inline hockey offers one distinct advantage over ice | | | | or breezers (ice hockey pants). This is because roller |
| hockey in that it can be played on any paved | | | | hockey pucks and balls are not nearly as hard as a |
| surface. In fact, many inline leagues and pickup | | | | frozen puck and most inline leagues are non-checking. |
| games take place on outdoor basketball and tennis | | | | So which sport should you play? Ice and roller |
| courts. | | | | hockey are both tremendously fun to play, with |
| Besides the differences in playing surface, there are | | | | some subtle differences in style of play and rules. |
| several significant rule differences between the two | | | | Many hockey players actually play in both inline and |
| sports. The most significant of these rule differences | | | | ice hockey leagues. The type of hockey that is right |
| is that ice hockey is played with five skaters per | | | | for you is based completely on preference. Both |
| team, whereas inline hockey is only played with four. | | | | types of hockey can be extremely competitive and |
| Furthermore, a standard game of inline hockey has | | | | challenging. I recommend that one play in both types |
| no offsides or icing rules. In other words, skaters | | | | of leagues in order to gain a better feel for each |
| generally have more freedom to skate and shoot in | | | | sport. Either way, start skating and practicing as soon |
| inline hockey. Finally, many inline hockey leagues are | | | | as possible. Hockey is a tough sport to learn but a |
| played using a ball rather than a puck. For players | | | | rewarding one to play. |
| used to using a puck, adjusting to a ball can be quite | | | | |