So It's Summertime...

Baseball and barbecues are the requisite pastimes. Sandals and shorts are the proper attire as the mercury rises. And tee times are tedious to book as golf is in full swing. So where does that leave hockey? Forgotten until fall? Not necessarily.

Some of the best pickup games -- both on roller blades and on foot -- come during the elongated summer days. Pick a day, any day, but pick one that's right for at least seven friends. This could very well be the toughest part of the game: collaborating with other players on a day and time. Yet once that day is established, stick to it. Be it a Wednesday evening, a Saturday afternoon or an early Sunday morning, routine is your best bet. My suggestion is to choose either a morning or an evening playing time to avoid the dreaded midday humidity.

Then there's the equipment -- the heavy, smelly equipment. In the summertime, a player can improvise in his decision what to wear. Gloves, always. Elbow pads and shin/knee pads, usually. Helmets are optional depending on the ferocity of the game; however, beginners should always take the precaution of wearing one regardless of the level of play. Pull on a pair of shorts and a tee shirt like any playground basketball player, and you're set.

OK, there is one player who doesn't get the luxury of wearing lighter or less equipment -- the goalie. Whoever your goalie might be, make the game worth his while. Bring him a jug of water or Gatorade for the game, and promise him a beer or a chicken parmesan hero or whatever he wants after the game...my suggestion is to draw the line at cleaning his rank equipment.

Summertime is also the best time to get onto Rollerblades. Whether it's your first time on blades or the first time in five years you've even seen your rusty old blades buried in the garage, most parks or beach boardwalks or even vacant tennis courts will serve as an ideal setting to practice your skating and flailing. If it's your first time, it's always nicer to start out with a partner -- someone who can observe your spastic technique and offer advice to improve. Whether you're renting in-line skates for the day or buying a new pair, don't forget the necessary safety equipment: knee and elbow pads, wrist guards and a helmet, of course. If you're dusting off your old blades for a long overdue skate in the park, you might need to oil up the wheels beforehand. Give the wheels a spin with your hand. Then if needed, give the bearings and wheel joints a goodly spray of WD40.

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