What's this boot hockey thing people keep talking and tweeting about?
Nothing can ever truly match a good game of ice hockey, but over 20 years ago a few clever folks in Northeastern Minnesota and parts of Canada created something special with a few simple modifications to their favorite sport. What is now known as boot hockey (or simply “boots” in some circles) borrows most of its rules, regulations and required playing equipment from ice hockey with one major exception – players wear broomball shoes in lieu of ice skates.
Being required to run instead of being able to skate changes everything as far as handling, passing and shooting the puck is concerned. Players quickly learn that they must keep their feet moving at all times to avoid becoming a stationary target for defenders trying to rip the puck off their stick. Stopping is also difficult on boots once individuals reach a decent speed, as the flat bottoms of broomball shoes cause guys to slide a few feet after slamming on the breaks. Once a player gains mobility on broomball shoes it’s easier to become familiar with the other slight differences from ice hockey, which will certainly vary depending on the host league or tournament.
Instead of the standard issue rubber puck used in ice hockey games, boot hockey features the use of a sponge puck. The same size and shape of the real thing, the sponge puck is a much lighter – and safer – alternative to a hockey puck. Using a sponge puck prevents participants from having to gear up in full hockey equipment (standard gear includes a helmet, hockey gloves, broomball shoes, shin pads and elbow pads.) Goaltenders wear full gear (including hockey pants, leg pads and blocker/catcher) and also wear broomball shoes in place of skates.
As far as the rulebook is concerned, most forms of boot hockey bear very few changes from ice hockey. Teams place one goaltender and five "skaters" on the ice, penalties are called the same way and play is stopped for the same reasons (icing, offsides, etc.). The one major difference is the use of a floating blue line for offside purposes. That means once a team gains the offensive blue line, they are considered onside until the opposing team clears the puck past center ice.
Experienced boot gamers will tell you the other differences between ice hockey and boot hockey all depend on factors such as what the weather is like and what kind of broomball shoes your're wearing. For the most part hockey skills translate to the boots, but in some case the ability (or lack thereof) to move swiftly on broomball shoes stands out above all. Plenty of good hockey players gain weight after their competitive careers end and disappear in a game of boots, and just as many talented athletes with no hockey experience find a role out there thanks to footspeed alone.
When really looking closely at this under-appreciated game, it combines legitimate aspects of most every other popular sport into one activity. Obviously ice hockey is what the game is built around, but the floating blue line allows teams to set up on the opposing half of the playing surface and work the puck around until a solid opportunity presents itself (a la the halfcourt offense in basketball). The extended periods of running, stopping, accellerating and veering off in all directions are much like that which take place in a game of soccer, and pucks are batted out of the air (like baseball) at a far higher rate than your typical ice hockey game thanks to the added bounciness of a sponge puck. With the fast pace and combination of coordinaton, athletic ability and determination required to play at a high level, it’s a shame the sport has yet to gain steam in other major hockey markets around the world. Rinkrats everywhere: help us make this great game a national pastime and get on the boots!
Being required to run instead of being able to skate changes everything as far as handling, passing and shooting the puck is concerned. Players quickly learn that they must keep their feet moving at all times to avoid becoming a stationary target for defenders trying to rip the puck off their stick. Stopping is also difficult on boots once individuals reach a decent speed, as the flat bottoms of broomball shoes cause guys to slide a few feet after slamming on the breaks. Once a player gains mobility on broomball shoes it’s easier to become familiar with the other slight differences from ice hockey, which will certainly vary depending on the host league or tournament.
Instead of the standard issue rubber puck used in ice hockey games, boot hockey features the use of a sponge puck. The same size and shape of the real thing, the sponge puck is a much lighter – and safer – alternative to a hockey puck. Using a sponge puck prevents participants from having to gear up in full hockey equipment (standard gear includes a helmet, hockey gloves, broomball shoes, shin pads and elbow pads.) Goaltenders wear full gear (including hockey pants, leg pads and blocker/catcher) and also wear broomball shoes in place of skates.
As far as the rulebook is concerned, most forms of boot hockey bear very few changes from ice hockey. Teams place one goaltender and five "skaters" on the ice, penalties are called the same way and play is stopped for the same reasons (icing, offsides, etc.). The one major difference is the use of a floating blue line for offside purposes. That means once a team gains the offensive blue line, they are considered onside until the opposing team clears the puck past center ice.
Experienced boot gamers will tell you the other differences between ice hockey and boot hockey all depend on factors such as what the weather is like and what kind of broomball shoes your're wearing. For the most part hockey skills translate to the boots, but in some case the ability (or lack thereof) to move swiftly on broomball shoes stands out above all. Plenty of good hockey players gain weight after their competitive careers end and disappear in a game of boots, and just as many talented athletes with no hockey experience find a role out there thanks to footspeed alone.
When really looking closely at this under-appreciated game, it combines legitimate aspects of most every other popular sport into one activity. Obviously ice hockey is what the game is built around, but the floating blue line allows teams to set up on the opposing half of the playing surface and work the puck around until a solid opportunity presents itself (a la the halfcourt offense in basketball). The extended periods of running, stopping, accellerating and veering off in all directions are much like that which take place in a game of soccer, and pucks are batted out of the air (like baseball) at a far higher rate than your typical ice hockey game thanks to the added bounciness of a sponge puck. With the fast pace and combination of coordinaton, athletic ability and determination required to play at a high level, it’s a shame the sport has yet to gain steam in other major hockey markets around the world. Rinkrats everywhere: help us make this great game a national pastime and get on the boots!