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Rollersoccer
Article by: © Michael J. Rosen 2012
"To Promote the Sport, Zack Incessantly Kicked His Soccer Ball Towards...Random Skaters Everywhere He Went."
Safety is key in this game, and we don't mean just remembering to leave your valuables at home before practice. Players strap on helmets. They wear shin guards. They may even use drops to prevent ear infections, since keeping your equilibrium "inline" is a must in rollersoccer.
In 1995, Zack "Soccerhead" Phillips started this soccer-on-skates game in San Francisco. The game is played five versus five on a standard roller rink; it's one point for a goal and two, if the ball passes through a defender's legs on the way to the goal. There are no hands, no designated goalies, and no way watching roller derby will prepare you to play in the annual Rollersoccer World Cup which, held since 2002, crowned the United States as champions in 2008.
A game that's gained international popularity with its "ultrafast tempo" and quick turnovers, rollersoccer involves the skills of several sports. Players master different types of kicks:
- side kick: Using the inside of the foot, a kicker can deliver accuracy and control.
- toe kick: The tip of the skate offers maximize power when shooting.
- instep kick: Making contact with the top outside of his foot, a player gets both power and accuracy with this most difficult shot.
The Rollersoccer International Federation says that despite the occasional face-plant, playing rollersoccer is one of the best ways to improve your inline skating. "Since the objective is the ball and your means are the wheels, your body learns to skate without your brain (anxiety, fear) getting in the way." Brainless-just as they say.
"Got balls?" as the site's welcome screen asks? Prove it at www.rollersoccer.com.
* In 1996, rollersoccer's creator decided to cut his hair into quite the "ballsy" 'do. With narrow lines of hair connecting pentagonal patches of hair, Soccerhead's scalp perfectly resembled a soccer ball. After years of self-styling to maintain the cut, Zack finally had the pattern tattooed onto his scalp. Talk about keeping your head in the game.
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