What is rink hockey?
B · Beginner · The game · 1 of 4Rink hockey is played on roller skates, usually quads, by two teams of four rink players and a goalkeeper, who use sticks to hit a ball into the opponents' goal. A senior match is two halves of 25 minutes with a 10-minute break. Teams have strict time limits to attack, and fouls are punished with cards and free hits.
How it works
- On the rink: four rink players and one goalkeeper per team.
- Squad: ten players, two of them goalkeepers, plus up to six staff.
- Skates: quad skates, or safe inline skates.
- Senior match: two halves of 25 minutes, 10 minutes apart.
- Youth: 20-minute halves for under-17, 15 for under-15.
- Possession: 10 seconds to cross halfway, 45 seconds to finish an attack.
- Fouls: team fouls, then yellow, blue and red cards.
- Officials: one or two main referees and an auxiliary referee.
The glossary has the rink hockey, the team (rink hockey), the playing time, the possession time limits, the main referees and the skates (rink hockey).
Tricky cases
Is rink hockey the same as inline hockey?
No. Rink hockey uses a ball and quad skates; inline hockey uses a puck and inline skates.
Can a match start with only three rink players?
Yes, with three rink players and two goalkeepers.
Can the head coach also be registered as a player?
No. A player acting as coach, or the other way round, is not allowed.
Is there a rest between halves?
Yes, 10 minutes in every category.
Why the rule exists
A small rink and tight time limits keep the game fast and attacking. Cards with timed suspensions punish foul play on the rink, not only in the record.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Senior, under-23 and under-19 | 2 x 25 minutes | Art 3.3 |
| Under-17 | 2 x 20 minutes | Art 3.2 |
| Under-15 | 2 x 15 minutes | Art 3.1 |
From the rule book
World Skate, Rink Hockey Rulebook 2027, Rules of the Game, Articles 1 to 3. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: the World Skate Rink Hockey Rulebook 2027.