Tell me more about the USC Inline Hockey Association!

Founded in 2008, the USC Inline Hockey Association is dedicated to providing the youth of Upper St. Clair and surrounding communities an introduction to the great and fun sport of inline hockey. The program offers a competitive hockey experience for every player in an environment that is physically and emotionally safe, positive and encouraging, and conducive to character building and good sportsmanship.

Visit our About page to learn more about our organization, including practices and games, and about the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Roller Hockey League (PIRHL).

Visit our Registration page to learn more about Season Dates, the Cost To Play and what Equipment you will need.

What exactly is Inline Hockey?

Roller and Inline Hockey are today effectively the same sport. The names are used interchangeably. Inline hockey is typically played indoors on a regulation sized rink with plastic flooring. Inline skates (four wheels in a row), with softer wheels for better stopping, are used. The primary differences with ice hockey are:

• Inline is 4-on-4, making for a more wide-open game!
• There is no offsides or icing in Inline hockey. Less whistles means more fun!
• Teams consist of anywhere from 7 to 12 skaters and one goalie, with usually 2 lines – lots of playing time!
• The PIRHL runs three 15-minute running clock time periods – lots of time to show your talent!
• Instead of a rubber disk, hard plastic pucks are used in inline. Very similar size and weight of ice puck.
• No checking is allowed – less injuries, and more open play!

Bottom line, it’s fast, fun and affordable!

My child already plays Dek or Ice Hockey. Can they also play Inline?

Yes! Most hockey players love all the hockey they can get! Many dek hockey and ice hockey players also play for inline teams. Inline hockey provides a fun and competitive way to enhance all hockey skills–skating, stick handling, game play, and more.

In the PIRHL, a player must be present for at least 12 of the 18 regular-season games to be eligible to play in the playoffs. The only major conflict would be if the majority of the dek or ice games fall at the same time as the inline games.

My child does not know how to skate. Can they still join USC Inline?

Yes! If a player is still working on mastering the basics, they can join a team as a Developmental Player. They will practice with the team, and be offered guidance on growing their skills along the way. As a safety precaution, Developmental Players may not be given game time until they are adequately able to keep up with game play. * Developmental Players are offered a discounted season fee.

If you are looking for additional skill development, RMU Island Sports Center offers a Learn to Skate & Play program each spring and summer.

The Bridgeville HockeyPlex also runs a youth inline hockey program called Vipers. There is a nominal fee to participate, and the season runs for two months between Easter and Memorial Day. It is a very welcoming program and a great way to introduce new skaters to inline hockey.

You will be surprised how quickly the kids pick up on this sport!

What is the time commitment for this league?

The season runs from late August when practices begin through playoffs in early March. Each week there is one practice and one game.

• Practices are one-hour long and are on the same set night per team.
• Elementary games are played on Saturday mornings at the Bridgeville HockeyPlex.
• Middle School games are played on Saturdays (morning or afternoon) at either the RMU Island Sports Center or the Murrysville SportsZone.
• High School games are played on Saturday afternoons or Sundays, at either RMU or Murrysville.

Practices are not mandatory but are strongly encouraged! For games, it is a PIRHL rule that a player must be present for at least 12 of the 18 regular-season games to be eligible to play in the playoffs.

I heard I need to get special insurance for my child to play?

AAU Insurance is required for all players and coaches. The cost is typically less than $20 and lasts for a full season. It covers any injuries that may occur during practice or games. AAU Insurance must be active by the first practice and reflect the USC Inline Club Code, which will be provided by the USC Inline Hockey Association board president prior to the first practice. * Please note–you should not purchase AAU Insurance for the season until you have this code!

Additionally, each player will be required to register with the PIRHL after teams are announced. You will need your AAU Insurance confirmation number to complete this registration.

What is Spond?

The USC Inline Hockey Association uses the app Spond to communicate with families. Once you have submitted the required deposit to register your child for the upcoming season, we will send you an invitation to join our league’s Spond group. Throughout the season, we use Spond to send messages about the league in general, and you will also be added to the sub-group associated with your child’s level of play (Elementary, Middle School, or High School).

The coach of your child’s team will communicate directly through Spond with team parents about practices, updates to the game schedule, and playoffs. You can also send messages to other parents through the app. It’s an easy way to keep track of all of the USC Inline communications in one place!

Where do kids go to play Inline for fun outside of the league?

Upper St. Clair has two great public parks with outdoor hockey rinks. Wiltshire Park has an inline rink with a tiled floor and boards. Johnston Park has a hockey rink with a concrete floor and fencing. Kids regularly meet up at these parks for pickup games or to practice their skills!

RMU Island Sports Center has open stick times throughout the year for a small fee — we recommend checking their Facebook page for the most up-to-date times!

The Bridgeville HockeyPlex is also available for rentals, including team get togethers or birthday parties!