Getting started, what do I need ?

[NuggyBuggy 0]

Went for a whirl on my roller hockey skates at an outdoor rink the other day, never been on inlines before. Started to feel OK, then fell hard on my ass and realized that cement hurts a lot more than ice, especially when I was only wearing shorts. I hurt my knee and have a deep bruise on my butt. And that was just from the first time I fell, let's just say I'm having trouble walking right now. Was glad I decided to wear a helmet and elbow pads.

What equipment should I have at minimum when I'm starting out by myself ? If I just bought roller pants is there padding in the butt or will I need to buy a girdle as well ? It's pretty clear to me that I am going to do a lot of falling while I learn. I've studied product listings at all the major online vendors but still couldn't figure out what protection if any is in a pant.

Also, I notice that a lot of guys on this site say they don't wear cups ... forgive me if this is a completely dumb question, but why is this ? Are roller hockey pucks/balls so much lighter than ice pucks that there is little danger of being hurt from them ? Aren't guys careless with their sticks in roller ?

I'm asking here because frankly the guys at my LHS don't know anything about roller...

thanks guys.

[Thockey17 1]

I'd wear everything you would for ice hockey. Some rinks dont require shoulder pads, but other than that, its pretty much all necessary. Shind guards are a must.

A girdle provides alot of necessary protection(tail bone, thighs, etc.) as well as padding for falls. I find a girld/cup to restrict movement alot, so i dont wear 'em. I guess you can say i've been lucky to not have gotten hurt yet? Its a chance i'll take...

Roller hockey balls and pucks are lighter than rubber icehockey pucks, but will still cause alot of pain if you're hit with them. People will always be careless with sticks in any kind of hockey.

[NuggyBuggy 0]

I find a girld/cup to restrict movement alot, so i dont wear 'em. I guess you can say i've been lucky to not have gotten hurt yet? Its a chance i'll take...

So if I understand, you don't have any protection on your butt/tailbone area to protect yourself from a hard fall , and your family jewels are exposed to injury from an errant stick or shot to the groin ?

[Chadd 916]

WSI makes a nice jock-very thin girdle combo. I use it when I ref.

[Thockey17 1]

So if I understand, you don't have any protection on your butt/tailbone area to protect yourself from a hard fall , and your family jewels are exposed to injury from an errant stick or shot to the groin ?

You are correct. I feel that i rather skate and play better than get hurt. Its been over 4 years in countless amounts of games/tournaments/teams, and i've been injury free in that area since i stopped using a girdle.

[NuggyBuggy 0]

WSI makes a nice jock-very thin girdle combo. I use it when I ref.

Chadd, do you have a part # or a link for this combo ? I found one WSI combo but it didn't sound like it had any actual padding. Whatever I decide on, I think I am going to be stuck trying to get an LHS to special-order it because I live in Canada, so I want to know exactly what I should be asking for.

[skaog 1]

When I was a younger lad i used to just wear the required pads, I have recently purchased a nice girdel and would recomend it for a beginner. Just get a good light one and you will barely notice it. They help a lot with falls especialy with the added tailbone protection.

I also always wear a Cup, just incase I ever want kids one day ;)

[Chadd 916]

WSI makes a nice jock-very thin girdle combo. I use it when I ref.

Chadd, do you have a part # or a link for this combo ? I found one WSI combo but it didn't sound like it had any actual padding. Whatever I decide on, I think I am going to be stuck trying to get an LHS to special-order it because I live in Canada, so I want to know exactly what I should be asking for.

I can't get their website to load right now but I believe I have the attack shorts or something like that. The padding is very thin, not bulky at all.

[notorious#29 0]

WSI makes a nice jock-very thin girdle combo. I use it when I ref.

Chadd, do you have a part # or a link for this combo ? I found one WSI combo but it didn't sound like it had any actual padding. Whatever I decide on, I think I am going to be stuck trying to get an LHS to special-order it because I live in Canada, so I want to know exactly what I should be asking for.

Would this be it?

http://www.epuck.com/webapp/wcs/stores/ser...ategory_rn=1827

[kovalchuk71 212]

So if I understand, you don't have any protection on your butt/tailbone area to protect yourself from a hard fall , and your family jewels are exposed to injury from an errant stick or shot to the groin ?

You are correct. I feel that i rather skate and play better than get hurt. Its been over 4 years in countless amounts of games/tournaments/teams, and i've been injury free in that area since i stopped using a girdle.

Knock on wood? ;) :)

[DeI 18 0]

I use a Mission girdle for roller, not sure which one, but it was an older model (I think D2 or something) and it had an attached cup holder. It was comfortible and provided the necessary protection and mobility. This was for indoor roller, but I have played outdoor for years before this, and wish that I had invested in one of these earlier. If you plan on playing outdoor, I highly recomend a girdle.

[Chadd 916]

WSI makes a nice jock-very thin girdle combo. I use it when I ref.

Chadd, do you have a part # or a link for this combo ? I found one WSI combo but it didn't sound like it had any actual padding. Whatever I decide on, I think I am going to be stuck trying to get an LHS to special-order it because I live in Canada, so I want to know exactly what I should be asking for.

Would this be it?

http://www.epuck.com/webapp/wcs/stores/ser...ategory_rn=1827

that's it

[Thockey17 1]

Knock on wood? ;)  :)

The only time i was hurt badly playing hockey was when i shattered my knee in 4 spots. i was wearing Jofa 8060 shinpads, and they broke in half when i slid into the boards. No pad couldnt stopped that from happening. I ended up playing the rest of the game with my knee bleeding through my pants.

Besides that and a few minor things, i've been pretty much injury free my whole hockey career. Im going to keep playing the way i do, and if i get hurt......oh well. Its a chance i'll take.

[althoma1 574]

I wear rollerhockey pants, a cup, shinpads, skates, elbow pads, gloves, a helmet and a jersey. I don't find shoulder pads necessary for roller and I've never worn a girdle for roller - I've had some nice bruises from pucks/balls hitting me around the area the girdle would've protected, but nothing too serious.

Definitely get the rollerhockey pants though...when I first started I wore the ice pants and hockey socks. That get really hot. Get yourself a pair of roller pants with good ventalation and wear a jock and shin pads underneath - it's up to you if you want to wear a girdle, but I've never felt the need for one. If you're falling on your ass a lot because you're new or playing at a really high level and are getting banged up it'll be helpful, but for most recreational and competitive roller I don't know if it's necessary.