What is inline hockey?
B · Beginner · The game · 1 of 4Inline hockey is played on inline skates with a puck, by four skaters and a goalkeeper on each side. A game is two periods of 20 minutes with a 5-minute break, and the teams change ends at half-time. There is no offside and no icing; the only line needed is the centre red line.
How it works
- On the floor: four skaters and one goalkeeper per team.
- Roster: 6 to 14 skaters and two goalkeepers.
- Game: two periods of 20 minutes, 5 minutes apart.
- Timeouts: one per team per period, none in overtime.
- Lines: only a centre red line; no offside or icing.
- Start: four skaters and a goalkeeper needed at the first whistle.
- Officials: two referees, the lead referee having the final word.
- Ages: juniors under 19, seniors from 15, masters from 38.
The glossary has the inline hockey, the team (inline hockey), the game time (inline hockey), the referees (inline hockey), the age categories (inline hockey) and the World Skate Inline Hockey Technical Commission.
Tricky cases
Is inline hockey the same as ice hockey on wheels?
Close, but with four skaters a side, 20-minute periods and no offside or icing.
Is inline hockey the same as rink hockey?
No. Rink hockey uses a ball and usually quad skates.
Can a team start a game with three skaters?
No. It needs four skaters and a goalkeeper, or the game is forfeited.
Who wears the C on their shirt?
The captain; up to three alternate captains wear an A.
Why the rule exists
Fewer players and no offside give space for skating and skill. A short game with a running puck keeps play fast.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Regulation | 2 x 20 minutes | 1.2 |
| Play-off overtime | 10 minutes | 1.3 |
| International surface | Plastic tiles from 2027 | IC 2.1 |
From the rule book
World Skate, Rulebook Inline Hockey 2027, Terminology and rules 1, 3.1, 4 and 5.3. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: the World Skate Inline Hockey Rulebook 2027.