Posts Tagged ‘hockey’

Is It A Sport, Is It A Plane, No It’s Roller Hockey

Sunday, January 24th, 2010

By Ian Botham Platinum Quality Author

Roller Hockey

The sport of hockey has many variations, including the Olympic sports of ice hockey and field hockey. Roller Hockey however, has also gained in popularity, as a recreational activity and as a competitive sport. It is an extremely fast sport, exciting for spectators to watch, and demanding a lot of skill.

There are two distinct disciplines within the sport, with their own equipment and rules. The original Roller Hockey is played, using traditional quad roller skates. When inline skates were invented, the new Inline Hockey evolved. Both sports are played in many countries but the US and Canada favor Inline Hockey. The different choice of skates results in a different skating style. There is more intricate footwork in Quad Hockey and it is easier for the players to maneuver. Inline Hockey contains more racing around and is similar to Ice Hockey action.

The goalies differ in that they use different gloves for each sport. Inline Hockey goalies use a catch glove, whereas Quad Hockey goalies block shots with a batting glove. Each of the Roller Hockey teams are made up of four skaters and a goalie. Inline Hockey, also known as Street Hockey, is played over two, 20 minute periods. Quad Hockey, sometimes referred to as Hardball Hockey, is played for an extra five minutes in each period.

Every sport wants Olympic status and Quad Hockey was a demonstration sport at the Summer Olympics in Barcelona in 1992. Many World Championships have taken place, with the Latin countries dominating. Portugal is the most successful country, winning 15 Quad Championships. Inline Hockey World Championships are rather more complicated as there are two different events each year. One is organized by the International Roller Sports Federation and the other is run by the International Ice Hockey Federation. The United States and Canada are the traditional leaders in the sport but Inline Hockey is becoming more popular across Europe and Latin America.

Women have come to the sport too, becoming increasingly organized. Both Roller Hockey disciplines have structured competitions. Inline Hockey has had Women’s World Championships since 2002 and women have competed on the world stage in Quad Hockey, since 1992. Again, the Quad Championships are dominated by Latin countries. Roller Hockey started as an amateur pastime, played on the streets and local rinks. Ice Hockey may still be the leading stick and puck sport, but the other versions are keen to catch up. Countries without a tradition of playing sport on ice have welcomed this type of hockey too.

Ian Botham (no relation) runs his own online sports goods mail order business as well as several sports related websites. If you need to look for some hockey equipment then check out this great Hockey Accessories site.

http://www.hockey-accessories.net/

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Hockey Goals

Sunday, January 24th, 2010

By Max Bellamy

Hockey goals play a significant role in the game of hockey. Hockey goals and nets used for street hockey, roller hockey, inline hockey, floor hockey, ball hockey, and even pond hockey differ greatly. Hockey goals are usually rectangular in shape with proportionate dimensions.

The standard size of hockey goals sold at most stores is 6 ft x 4ft x 2 ft. Popular manufacturers of hockey goals are Mylec, Franklin, and DOM. These manufacturers make heavy duty galvanized steel hockey goals with heavy-duty PVC tubing and deluxe nylon net. The PVC goals are the latest designs that can be adjusted depending on the age of the players. The size of the hockey goals ranges from mini-goals to official 6′ x 4′ hockey goals. Some hockey goals come with net supports and wheels to facilitate easy transportation to a side-line for training purposes and to save wear and tear in the goalmouths.

The International Hockey Federation clearly outlines certain specifications for the hockey goals. Rule 2 of the Hockey Rules Book clearly explains the various norms required for a hockey goal. The exact dimensions of the goals and their components and their position relative to the back-line are well explained in this part. For a healthy and competitive game, the hockey goals should not have any additional fittings that could cause danger to players. For example, hockey goals with wheels are not advisable. Any type of protrusion in the goals and their components should also be removed prior to any match.

The specifications are not only applicable to the International Hockey Federation event but also to other levels of hockey because they guarantee a safe environment for the players to practice and play.

Hockey provides detailed information on Hockey, Hockey Jerseys, Hockey Tickets, Hockey Equipment and more. Hockey is affiliated with Ice Hockey Goalie Equipment.

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Where to Buy Hockey Equipment

Sunday, January 24th, 2010

By Kent Pinkerton

It is a common misconception that the word “hockey” is synonymous to ice hockey. There are actually different types of hockey, and playing it on the ice is just one of them. Other forms include field hockey where players use hockey sticks to shoot a ball or a “puck” through the opponent’s net over grassy terrain. Another form of hockey is called inline hockey or roller hockey. This hockey sport combines inline skating and ice hockey in one game. This game is usually played on asphalt or concrete streets and it also uses a ball instead of a flat disk.

These versions of hockey are not as popular as ice hockey so the places where you can buy the needed gear and equipment can be difficult to find. This article will tell you exactly where to find them.

Inline hockey gear

Finding the right gear for inline hockey is not that difficult at all. Since this sport is like ice hockey in many ways, the sticks used in this game are not that different from the ones used in ice hockey. Safety gear is also the same as with ice hockey. Each player is required to wear helmets, shin guards, hockey shoulder pads, elbow pads, among other things. The main difference is the kind of skates used. You need to have inline skates which are sold in almost every sports shops out there.

Field hockey gear

This game is played mostly in European countries so you may have difficulty finding field hockey gear in the US. The hockey stick for this game is quite different. A first glance, you may think that it is a hockey stick for kids because it is short. Regulation field hockey sticks measure only a little over three feet. The need for protective gear is minimal for the players except for the goaltender.

Hockey Equipment provides detailed information on Hockey Equipment, Ice Hockey Equipment, Ice Hockey Goalie Equipment, Field Hockey Equipment and more. Hockey Equipment is affiliated with Hockey Tickets.

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Should Your Child Leave Home to Play Junior Hockey?

Sunday, January 24th, 2010

By Robert Probert

Ice hockey is very unique when you compare it to most other sports. While many youth hockey players and parents have dreams of their child going off to play an elite level of hockey such as juniors, college and eventually professional hockey. Many parents and youth hockey players think that they need to leave home at an early age such as fifteen or sixteen years old. Is this true?

Actually it is very debatable whether or not having a hockey player leave home in their early teen years is beneficial for that childs’ development as a hockey player and as a person. While many hockey players who live in hockey hot bed areas of North America probably will not have to worry about going too far from home, there are countless other hockey players that at one point or another have to decide whether or not it will help them to further their young career to move away from home to get more exposure and potentially better training and coaching.

In most cases I am of the opinion that it really is not a good idea for your child to leave home to go play hockey elsewhere before they are out of high school. I think that it is very important for the hockey players’ personal development to spend his or her high school years at the same school with all of their childhood friends. As long as your child has a fair amount of competition to play against in their hometown, wait to send them off to play juniors until after graduate from high school.

If however, your child plays hockey at a very high level and has enough skill to play in the top junior hockey leagues in North America while still being able to produce and be an elite player at that level, it might be a good idea to let your child leave home in order to further develop their hockey skills at a high level before graduating from high school. I cannot stress enough the fact that the percentage of players that this would apply to is very small.

While many young hockey players have dreams of becoming professional hockey players, in all reality the chances of that actually happening are incredibly slim. The best thing that your child should do when playing hockey is to concentrate on having fun. If when all is said and done your kid has developed into an elite hockey player that can go on to get his college paid for or even make some money playing hockey, then that should just be the icing on the cake.

As a parent it should be your duty to stress that your child has fun and not to push them. Hockey is an incredibly fun sport in so many ways, from the hockey equipment and the goalie masks to the early morning practices and the holiday hockey tournaments, it is incredibly important for your child to enjoy the journey of playing youth hockey which will not only help them to develop into better hockey players each year, but if they take the proper approach to hockey and having fun hockey will help them to develop into better people as well. Do not rush your childs’ development and if it is meant to be for them to leave home to seek out better competition to speed up their development, then you should be absolutely sure that this is what your child wants at this time in their life.

Robert has extensive knowledge on ice hockey and hockey equipment. He has recently posted articles about tackla hockey pants and pro stock hockey sticks at his new blog.

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College Hockey

Sunday, January 24th, 2010

By Max Bellamy

Hockey is a sport in which two teams trying to maneuver a hard round disc called a puck into rival’s net, using a hockey stick. This sport is also played at college-level, and each college or institution may have its own hockey team. Intra-collegiate or inter-collegiate hockey tournaments may be held all year round. Many colleges provide necessary infrastructure, guidance, finance, and support for development of hockey. Colleges may have different teams and clubs. A single college may have more than one hockey team, and support groups. Hockey at college level may include field hockey, ice hockey, roller hockey, and its various forms such as Air hockey, Ball hockey, Bandy, Broomball, Bubble hockey, Floorball, and Foot hockey.

Air hockey is played indoors by using a puck on a special table known as Air Hockey Table. Ball hockey is somewhat analogous to ice hockey, but instead of a puck, a ball is used. Bandy is a form of hockey played with a ball on a football-sized ice ground, usually in the open. Bubble hockey is played on a table sealed with plastic. Floorball, or Floor hockey, is a type of hockey played in a gym using a plastic stick, and hollow ball. Furthermore, Foot hockey is played with a hairless tennis ball, and using only feet. Ringette is an ice hockey variation, designed for female players. It uses a straight stick, and a rubber ring. Skater hockey is a kind of inline hockey, played with a ball. Table hockey is an indoor game played usually on a flat surface like a tabletop. Underwater hockey is played on the floor of a swimming pool.

The National Hockey League (NHL) displays names of hockey teams on its website. Some of the names are New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders, Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, Atlanta Thrashers, and Carolina Hurricanes. Other examples include Chicago Blackhawks, Columbus Blue Jackets, Calgary Flames, Colorado Avalanche, Anaheim Mighty Ducks, and St. Louis Blues.

Hockey provides detailed information on Hockey, Hockey Jerseys, Hockey Tickets, Hockey Equipment and more. Hockey is affiliated with Ice Hockey Goalie Equipment.

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