Inline Hockey is a form of hockey played on inline skates, on a smooth, indoor or outdoor surface. Players use curved sticks to advance a plastic ball into the opposing team's goal.

Love hockey, but hate ice? Try inline hockey, which incorporates all the fun of hockey with none of the frigidness. Players use inline skates and sticks to control a smooth plastic puck and shoot it into the opposing team's goal. Those yearning for the physical contact of ice hockey should look elsewhere, as inline hockey prohibits checking. The team with the most goals at the end of three 20-minute periods is the winner.

Score goals by shooting the puck into the opponent's goal.

Inline hockey games consist of three 20-minute periods. Play begins with a faceoff. Teams consist of four players and one goaltender. Players control the puck using a long stick with a curved blade on one end. Instead of rubber, the puck is made out of smooth, non-bounce plastic. The puck may be redirected with any part of a player's body, but cannot be kicked or batted into the goal with their hands or feet. Alternate sets of players can be substituted at any time during the game. Players who commit penalties are sent to the penalty box for a designated period of time. While contact is allowed when playing the puck, checking is not allowed. Goals are scored by putting the puck in the opponent's goal. The team with the most goals at the end of the game is the winner.

Evidence of games between teams hitting an object with curved sticks dates back over 4000 years. The first instances of playing on ice appeared in 17th century Dutch paintings. These games spread throughout Europe, and eventually to North America. The first recorded ice hockey games were played in Eastern Canada in the mid 1850's. The first known set of rules was written in Montreal in the early 1870's. Inline hockey was first played in the late 1980's and the early 1990's. Roller Hockey International was founded in 1993 as the sport's first professional league. Today, despite a decline in the popularity of inline skating, inline hockey remains a popular sport in the United States and Canada.

Goals
Helmet
Inline Skates
Padding
Puck
Stick

Inline hockey is can be a dangerous sport due to the varying amounts of contact allowed. Injuries can include breaks, sprains and concussions. A helmet and padding should be worn at all times.

Inline hockey requires players to possess a mix of speed, agility, strength and endurance on inline skates. These can be attained through weight training and various skating drills.

Breakaway - when a player with the puck has no defending players, except for the goaltender, between himself and the opposing goal

Faceoff - method of starting play, where the puck is dropped between two opposing players on a designated spot on the rink

Inline Skates - boots affixed with four or five wheels arranged in a single line

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inline_hockey