A fast team sport played on inline skates with hockey sticks and a puck or ball on a smooth indoor or outdoor surface.
Origin and rules
Inline hockey emerged in the 1980s as inline skates became popular for off-season training by ice hockey players. World Skate now sanctions two main formats: Inline Hockey, played with a puck, and Roller Hockey, played with a ball.
How it plays
Teams of four skaters plus a goaltender play on a smooth rink slightly smaller than an ice rink. Three periods last 15 minutes each. The rules are similar to ice hockey but without offside, with smaller goals, and no body checking permitted.
Competition
The World Skate Inline Hockey World Championships and continental cups are the top international events. The United States, Canada, the Czech Republic, France, and Italy lead the elite ranks. Inline hockey is not Olympic but was included at the World Games.