Inline Hockey vs. Hardball Hockey

A brief introduction to the differences between inline hockey, which is played on inline skates using a puck, and rink hockey (aka traditional hardball roller hockey) which is played on quad roller skates using a ball. See also more About Roller Hockey, about other Roller Sports, and about Skating World Wide.

What Is Inline Hockey?
Inline hockey is the game of hockey played on inline skates. It is sometimes played with a ball but it is most often played using a puck as the projectile. The World Skate Federation governs non-contact inline hockey and theInternational Inline Skater Hockey Federation governs a variation known as inine skater hockey that is uplayed using a ball and that allows checking.

What is Rink Hockey"
Rink hockey (aka traditional hardball roller hockey) is played with a ball instead of a puck, and it's almost always played on quad roller skates. The stick used in hardball hockey is a different shape than the stick used to play inline hockey, and it is sometimes called a cane because of its shape. I often call this second sport "quad roller hockey" so people will not confuse it with inline hockey, but it is more frequently referred to as traditional roller hockey, rink hockey, ball and cane hockey, or hardball hockey. Hardball hockey was a spectator sport an the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain.

How The Two Sports Are Different
The two sports have different rules and equipment, and they involve different types of skating. When you watch a game of hardball hockey, you will find it does not look like the same game as inline hockey. Inline roller hockey is similar to ice hockey, in that it includes a lot of fast "racing back and forth" action. Hardball hockey is a completely different game. The increased maneuverability of quad roller skates makes traditional hardball roller hockey a game filled with fancy footwork, twirling, tight maneuvering, and difficult trick skating. Both inline hockey and quad roller hockey are exciting games to watch.

How to Learn More About Rink Hockey
Many people in the United States, Canada, and several other countries have never seen a game of hardball hockey, because inline hockey is much more common in those countries. If you live in a country where inline hockey is more common than hardball hockey, you can learn about hardball hockey games in your area by contacting your country's National Roller Sports Federation.

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More About Roller Hockey

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Regional Skating Resoures World Wide

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