It is a sport that requires a cool head, but even the assistant captain of Great Britain is liable to the red mist occasionally.

James Lynch from Ewell is in California with the U18s GB roller hockey squad ahead of the AAU Junior Olympics, which start today (Thursday), and the FIRS (Federation Internationale de Roller Sports) Youth World Cup next week.

The 18-year-old has been playing the sport since he was 12 years old, turning out for the Kingston Street Flyers at Nescot in Epsom.

Lynch then joined the Ash Avalanche, where his development as a forward took off, and now he also plays for Southampton Hornets in the South England Men’s Premier Division.

With six years’ experience under his belt, Lynch knows the physical dangers on the rink, as well as the mind games.

“To play, you need a good attitude, dedication and you need to be physically fit,” he said.

“You have to ignore trouble that people give you and just play your game – there can be a lot of fighting in the sport, and if someone slashes you with their stick things can kick off.

“You have to rise above it, because you can get kicked out of games.”

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The man in action: James Lynch is the assistant captain of the GB U18s

He added: “I have been involved in some fights, it happens, but I try not to because at the end of the day, I am the one who misses out on playing time.

“After a game we always shake hands – it is part of the game, everyone is like that.

“Unless someone goes out to intentionally hurt someone else, that’s not on.

“We don’t play to hurt people, we play to compete. Sometimes it can get dangerous, but that’s when those people get sorted out.”

Lynch’s trip to the US with the GB squad is entirely self-funded and is taking more than £5,000 out of his back pocket.

While the Epsom-born security maintenance engineer has secured some sponsorship from his employers Allen TPS in West Byfleet, having to cough up the balance means the teenager is working all the hours he can.

He said: “There is speculation that roller hockey might become a full Olympic sport in the future, but it needs more funding.

“I have been asking for sponsors for this trip, and people say ‘Why are you asking for sponsors, you play for Great Britain?’ – they don’t realise that it is fully self-funded.”

He added: “You would think playing for your country that it would all be paid for, but it’s not. And people don’t know very much about roller hockey, so they don’t want to know about sponsorship.”