Roller Hockey or Rink Hockey?
When most people think of Roller Hockey they think of a sport almost identical to that of ice hockey with similar padding and equipment except on rollerblades, and they'd be right. However, that is just one form of roller hockey.
Few people know that roller hockey in its traditional form, was actually invented in England in the late 1800's and is still played across the country and throughout the world today.
Traditional roller hockey or ‘Rink Hockey' as it is more commonly know, is played professionally in many European countries such as Spain, Portugal, France, Germany, Holland and Italy. The sport is also big in South American.
In these regions national league matches attract up to five thousand spectators and the biggest matches are also televised.
It is a non-contact ball game played on roller skates between two teams consisting of four outfield players and one goalkeeper, with each team allowed unlimited rolling substitutions from a squad of 10. It is played on any smooth, hard surface known as a ‘rink ‘.
The object of the game is to score goals by passing, dribbling and shooting a hard, small ball into the opposition's goal using a two sided hooked stick that resembles that used in field hockey.
Rink hockey is exciting to play and fast paced which makes for an entertaining spectacle. Players are very skilful on the ball as well as being incredibly fit and healthy to cope with the intense demands of the game.
Here in the UK there are around 20 clubs that belong to the National Roller Hockey Association, competing in national and regional league and cup competitions.
The sport is also played at international level too with England competing regularly at international tournaments across all age groups for both men and women with the best players selected from the competing clubs to represent their country.
Rink hockey in the UK is enjoyed by boys, girls, men and women of all ages and abilities and the NRHA is constantly working to introduce the sport to a new and wider audience in the hope of attracting more players, particularly young people, to rink hockey.
For more information about rink hockey please visit the NRHA website at www.nrha.co.uk.