The biggest difference between ice hockey and roller hockey (inline hockey) is obviously the surface on which the sport is played. Ice hockey is either played on frozen ponds or on indoor ice rinks. As a result, ice hockey can be inaccessible to many people, especially those living in the southern United States. Inline hockey offers one distinct advantage over ice hockey in that it can be played on any paved surface. In fact, many inline leagues and pickup games take place on outdoor basketball and tennis courts.
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Besides the differences in playing surface, there are several significant rule differences between the two sports. The most significant of these rule differences is that ice hockey is played with five skaters per team, whereas inline hockey is only played with four. Furthermore, a standard game of inline hockey has no offsides or icing rules. In other words, skaters generally have more freedom to skate and shoot in inline hockey. Finally, many inline hockey leagues are played using a ball rather than a puck. For players used to using a puck, adjusting to a ball can be quite difficult because of its different characteristics of movement on the court.
In general, the roller hockey player also uses less equipment. While shin guards, elbow pads, gloves, and a helmet are all necessary to play either sport, inline hockey players generally do not wear shoulder pads or breezers (ice hockey pants). This is because roller hockey pucks and balls are not nearly as hard as a frozen puck and most inline leagues are non-checking.
So which sport should you play? Ice and roller hockey are both tremendously fun to play, with some subtle differences in style of play and rules. Many hockey players actually play in both inline and ice hockey leagues. The type of hockey that is right for you is based completely on preference. Both types of hockey can be extremely competitive and challenging. I recommend that one play in both types of leagues in order to gain a better feel for each sport. Either way, start skating and inotomo practicing as soon as possible. Hockey is a tough sport to learn but a rewarding one to play.
No NASCAR aficionado worth his or her salt would be a certified fan without a few items of NASCAR collectibles. Just like with any other sports, it has been the tradition of true blue fans to purchase souvenir items and collectibles for them to take home as a reminder of their love for the game. For racing fans, there is a wide array of NASCAR collectibles to choose from. If you are a die hard fan of a particular driver, you may want to have die-cast cars which are mini-replicas of the actual car that they drive. Aside from die-cast cars, you can also purchase NASCAR t-shirts, caps, race tickets, travel mugs, key chains, watches, magnets - the list goes on and on!
For example, if you are a Jimmie Johnson fan, you can get a die-cast car as a NASCAR collectible. This die-cast car could be a miniature model of the Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS car that Jimmie Johnson is driving, with the signature blue color and the number 48 printed on both sides. Die-cast cars are the top items among the list of NASCAR collectibles that fans like to buy. Even if they do not get the chance to actually buy, ride or drive the ultra-expensive racing cars, at least they can take home a part of it through the NASCAR collectible items in the form of the die-cast cars modeled after the race cars driven by their NASCAR idols.
Depending on the brand, make and rarity of the NASCAR die-cast cars that you will buy, there will be a variation of the price. There are hard-to-find cars which may be costly for others, but for the serious collectors, the investment and satisfaction that they get in owning such NASCAR collectible items could be invaluable. However, there is something for everybody. Aside from die-cast cars, you can also buy apparel that you can wear the next time that you go to a NASCAR event. For the budget conscious, there are other NASCAR collectible items that you can choose from whose price will range from about a couple of dollars onwards. If you want to have a wide array of choices, you can visit Ebay.com, Amazon.com or go to the official site of NASCAR to get a glimpse of the NASCAR collectibles that you can add to your collection. You can also go to the official web site of your favorite race drivers. Following tradition and getting souvenir items for one of the most popular sports events in the world has never been more fun than by purchasing all of the NASCAR collectible items that you can buy to your heart's content.