Roller Hockey

General Rules

• Each team consists of at least 5 players where 4 perform as the skaters, and one should be designated as a goalkeeper. The players' roaster limit is restricted to 7 players, including a goalie. 
• A team is only allowed to participate with a minimum of two skaters and one goalkeeper; else they are not allowed to play the matches.
• All the participants have to follow the safety rules and should wear a helmet with a full face mask along with the hockey gloves and shin guards. All the players have to play with the roller skates and hockey sticks.
• The goalies have the choice either to wear roller blades or shoes. The referees can also wear skates or regular shoes. 
• The participants are allowed to enter the goal crease once the ball crosses the crease area. A goal is not valid if it is made while the skaters were interfering with the goalkeeper.
• The goalkeepers are entirely prohibited from leaving their crease area so that they can freeze the puck and bring it back.
• The game has 2 rounds of 25 minutes. Some other formats include three rounds each of 8 minutes. The match can be paused only when there is an injury, penalty shots or time outs. There are 2 minutes break in between the matches.
• In case of a tie, the winner is decided by a final sudden death shoot out. 
• If the playing puck goes in the net from the defensive side of the court, then the shot isn't counted. 
• If the defending team shoots the ball out of the boundary or gets a penalty, then the attacking team has the priority to hit the ball.
• A team loses possession if it intentionally stalls the ball out after scoring a successful goal. 
• If a player sticks the ball from a height above their shoulder or hand to pass it to other teammates, then they have to change the possession. The skater with possession has the chance to choose whether to pass the ball or handle it by the stick without passing it further. 
• The game officially begins with the referee's whistle. To stop the game, the referee blows a whistle. The game is resumed by their verbal command of "Game on".

General History

The game was initially known as the "roller polo", which was first played in 1878 at the Denmark Rink, situated in London, England. In 1882, the National Roller Polo League was organised, and hence, the sport was introduced in the United States. 

 

The league, at that time; consisted of teams from seven different cities. With the increasing demand of the game, the Massachusetts Roller Polo League also began which consisted of 14 teams. The popularity of the game was highest in the 19th to 20th century. In the 1990s, the game spread its roots in Asia as well. 

 

The sport expanded its wings throughout the European continent in the early 1900s. In 1936, the first-ever World Championship was organised in the city of Stuttgart, Germany. In 1961, the sport made its successful debut in the United States National Championships. 

 

In 1979, Roller Hockey was also included in the Pan American Games, but unfortunately, since 1995 the game discontinued. However, the World Championships of roller skating have been a part of the World Roller Games since 2017, predominantly conducted by the World Skate. 

 

In 1992, roller hockey was an exhibition sport in the Summer Olympics. Today, there are three events of roller hockey: Men Roller Hockey World Cup, Women's Roller Hockey World Cup and the U-20 World Cup of Roller Hockey. 

 

In 1995, the sport was introduced in India with the establishment of the Roller Skating Federation of India (RFSI) affiliated with the World Skate Asia. 

Rink Hockey

It's a variant of roller hockey, existed even before the inline skates were invented during the 1960s. The sport is performed with quad skates. It is also regarded as quad hockey, international-style ball hockey, roller hockey and hardball hockey. ,

Inline Hockey

Inline Hockey is a popular variant of roller hockey similar to ice hockey. It is also regarded as Ball Hockey, Longstick Hockey, Deck Hockey, Rock Hockey as well as Skater Hockey. Inline Hockey is a contact sport derived from the ice skating, played on an ice surface. The rink on which the inline hockey is played doesn't consist of any icy surface. The game is played in three rounds of 15-20 minutes with 4 players and one goalie in each team. The International Inline-skater hockey federation governs this sport.