Inline skating sports game and method of play

Abstract

A method of playing a game, comprising providing a playing surface that is generally rectangular with rounded corners having a length dimension of approximately 200 feet or less and a width dimension of approximately 85 feet or less, providing a pair of opposing goal nets, each associated with one end of the playing surface where each goal net defines a scoring area above said playing surface. providing a first team and a second team of players, each team alternatively having possession of the game ball and having an objective to score points by sending the game ball into the goal net. providing the first team and the second team each include six players and a goalie, where each of the six players wear inline skates except the goalies where players from the first team and the second team are free to collect the game ball after deflecting off the barrier.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 a) providing a field of play, wherein the field of play includes
 a first goal net, 
 a first goal area proximate the first goal net, 
 a first goal pad inside the first goal area and proximate the first goal net, 
 a second goal net, 
 a second goal area proximate the second goal net, 
 a second goal pad inside the second goal area and proximate the second goal net, 
 a game ball, and 
 a safety zone marking adjacent a perimeter of the field of play; 
   b) placing, in the field of play,
 a first goalie with a first team proximate the first goal net and wearing shoes, 
 three forwards with the first team, each of the forwards wearing a flag belt of a first color and inline skates or roller skates, 
 three defenders with the first team, each of the defenders wearing a flag belt of a first color and inline skates or roller skates, 
 a second goalie with a second team proximate the second goal net, 
 three forwards with the second team, each of the forwards wearing a flag belt of a second color and inline skates or roller skates, 
 three defenders with the second team, each of the defenders wearing a flag belt of a second color and inline skates or roller skates; and 
   c) moving, in the field of play the three forwards and the three defenders of the first team and the three forwards and the three defenders of the second team, where the game ball is possessed by the first team or the second team,
 where the defender or the forward of the first team or the defender or the forward of the second team can possess the game ball, causing the first team or the second team to an offensive team and the other team without the game ball to be a defensive team, 
 where the offensive team attempts to score a goal by causing the game ball to pass into the first or the second goal net and the defensive team attempts to prevent the goal by defending the first or the second goal net, and 
 where the offensive team may move the game ball by pass between the forwards and the defenders in any combination or where the defender or the forward with the game ball may skate while dribbling the game ball. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the field of play further includes a barrier around the perimeter of the field of play. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the barrier comprises one or more of dasher boards and a fence. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the field of play comprises a hockey rink. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , the moving further comprising stealing the game ball by a defensive player from an offensive player. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , the moving further comprising blocking the game ball when an offensive player is attempting to score the goal or to pass the game ball. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising awarding a penalty when a yellow card infraction or a red card infraction is committed by an offensive or defensive player, where the penalty results in a yellow card or a red card being issued. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the yellow card infractions include holding, grabbing, or fouling an opposing player and the red card infractions include fighting, shoving, tackling, checking, elbowing, or tripping an opposing player. 
     
     
         9 . A method of playing a game with a game ball, the game comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a playing surface that is generally rectangular with rounded corners having a length dimension of approximately 200 feet or less and a width dimension of approximately 85 feet or less;   (b) providing a pair of opposing goal nets, each associated with one of the ends of the playing surface such that each goal net defines a scoring area above said playing surface;   (c) providing a first team and a second team of players, each team alternatively having possession of the game ball and having an objective to score points by throwing or kicking the game ball into the goal net;   (d) providing the first team and the second team each include six players and a goalie, where each of the six players wear inline skates and each of the goalies does not wear inline skates; and   (e) providing a barrier around the playing surface for deflecting the game ball toward the playing surface where players from the first team and the second team are free to collect the game ball after deflecting off the barrier.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the team not in possession of the game ball has an objective to defend one of the goal nets by stopping the movement of the game ball by the team in possession, where the movement may be stopped by players of the non-possession team by either optionally (1) removing a flag attached to a player in possession of the game ball, (2) disrupting a throw of the game ball from one player of the team in possession of the game ball to another, or (3) disrupting an attempt by the team in possession of the game ball to throw the game ball into the goal net. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising
 (f) providing a pair of goal mats, where the each of the pair of goal mats comprises a long side with a first dimension of approximately 25 feet in length and a short side with a second dimension of approximately 10 feet in width, where the pair of goal mats are on the playing surface proximate each of the pair of goal nets and the long side is parallel with the width of the playing surface and the short side is parallel with the length of the playing surface.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising a goal area, wherein the goal area is a modified half hexagon shape. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the modified half hexagon comprises an end line perpendicular to a long side of a playing surface and approximately 25-30 ft. long, a left side line and a right side line that each projects approximately 25-30 ft. from the end line towards a center of a field of play, then angled lines approximately 10-15 ft. that are angled from each of the side lines towards the center of the field of play, with a top line of approximately 15-25 ft. that is parallel to the end line and connects with each of the angled lines, wherein the top line can be approximately 40 ft. from the end line (as measured by a line perpendicular to the end line and the top line). 
     
     
         14 . A goal apparatus for an inline skating sports game, the goal apparatus comprising:
 a rectangular goal net and an opening perpendicular to a field of play;   a first plurality of secondary goal nets, wherein the first plurality of secondary goal nets are within the rectangular goal net; and   a second plurality of secondary goal nets, wherein the second plurality of secondary goal nets are not within the rectangular goal net.   
     
     
         15 . The goal apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the first plurality of secondary goal nets are located in the corners of the rectangular goal net. 
     
     
         16 . The goal apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the second plurality of secondary goal nets includes a vertical secondary goal net and a horizontal secondary goal net, where the vertical secondary goal net has an opening perpendicular to the field of play and the horizontal secondary goal net has an opening parallel with the field of play. 
     
     
         17 . The goal apparatus of  claim 16 , where the horizontal secondary goal net is a round shape, a square shape, a triangular shape, an oval shape, or a polygonal shape. 
     
     
         18 . The goal apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the vertical secondary goal net a greater distance from the playing surface than the horizontal goal. 
     
     
         19 . The goal apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the first plurality of secondary goal nets are one or more of a portion of a spherical shape, a square shape, a triangular shape, a portion of an oval shape, or a polygonal shape.