Rollerblade Games

Roller skating rinks from the 1980s have been transformed into rollerblading centers. Skate parks are cropping up in cities and suburbs and frequented by skate boarders and rollerbladers. Books about extreme sports for in-line skaters fill the shelves at the library.

Rollerblading can be adapted into a team sport; try some rollerblading games and challenge your skills on wheels.

  1. Roller Hockey

    • Roller hockey is much like ice hockey, but done on rollerblades

      Roller Hockey is played like ice hockey, but on in-line skates. It can be played at a rink or in the street. The rink should be marked with a width about half the length. Traditional rinks are between 60 to 100 feet in width and 140 to 200 feet in length.

      A goal is placed on each end of the field, about six feet wide and four feet tall.

      Players are divided into two teams, with no more than five players from one team on the field during play, including the goalie.

      Wooden sticks of no more than 63 inches and a standard-sized puck are used.

      Start with a face off with three or four players on each team. Players attempt to move the puck to the goal and score points.

      Play time can vary and should be agreed on before the game starts. Roller hockey can be played in two, three or four periods, with one to three minutes of rest between. Each period can be as short as three minutes or as long as 20, but should be consistent.

      The team that scores the most points by getting the puck past the opposing team's goalie and into the net wins.

      Other team sports that can be adapted to rollerbladers include basketball and soccer.

    Shoot the Duck

    • This is a figure skating move that can be adapted for in-line skaters and turned into a competition among players.

      Skaters roll around a rink, park or playground. A DJ signals the time to "shoot the duck." This can be accomplished by playing music, then stopping the music when skaters should assume the position; or the DJ can simply holler, "Shoot the duck."

      Skaters squat down on one knee and hold the other leg straight out and continue to roll forward. This is similar to a sit and spin position in figure skating, but the in-line skater does not spin.

      If on a rink, players can try to knock other players over. The last one rolling wins.

    Elimination

    • Elimination tests your speed on rollerblades.

      Elimination is a speed skating game. Players need a rink or other kind of loop to mark laps. The object of the game is to be the fastest skater.

      Skaters round the rink or loop a predetermined number of times. The slowest skaters to complete their laps are eliminated, while the fastest players continue to the next round until the fastest skater is determined.