This year, the winter olympics will be held in Beijing, China. One of the sports that has been added is a brand new sport – Air Hockey!
Air hockey has been a part of the official summer olympics program for years. The sport was first played at the 1908 games in London. Since then, it has been contested at every games. Although often seen as a kid’s game, air hockey can be quite the competition when played between two adults.
But does that mean putting down your drink and picking up a paddle is now official Olympic sporting attire?
Here, we will run down the rules of air hockey so that you can become an expert competitor or spectator at this year’s winter olympics games.
Table of Contents
How To Play
Unlike some other team sports where you have eleven players and a coach on your team, air hockey is typically played between two teams of five players each. The objective is to score goals by getting a puck past the goalie into the opponent’s net.
Like other sports, such as hockey and football, the hockey puck is the vehicle that transmits the ball-like action of the stick to the puck. The puck is always in motion during the course of play. It can be controlled with both hands, but is generally played with one in the air and one on the ground, with one player serving as the goalie.
Aside from scoring goals, you can also do so by preventing your opponent from doing so. For that, you will need to block their attempts to put the puck into your net. You have three methods to do that:
- Hang on to the puck tightly so they can’t shoot at it.
- Jump infront of the puck so they have to stop or slow down.
- Cover the puck with your body while lying on the ground, keeping track of it with your feet.
The better your block, the better your play.
Air hockey is a sport that requires a lot of space so that everyone can have an equal chance at playing. Because of this, it is not uncommon for a game of air hockey to last a good fifteen minutes. Moreover, you can watch and even participate in a game of air hockey with the help of an electric scoreboard that keeps track of the game’s actions. These kinds of scores are usually manufactured by companies like Gamezero and allow avid gamers to follow the action of their favorite team even when they are not able to attend the game in person.
Basic Stick Work
As mentioned above, the puck is always in motion during the game. That means the stick is always in the air and therefore has to follow a precise path to be able to strike the puck successfully. It is important to note that the stick in air hockey is very different from that in ice hockey. The latter is mostly used for propelling yourself towards the puck while the former is used for controlling the puck’s movement in the air.
To learn how to play the game, you will need to purchase a special hockey stick. This stick is designed to be longer than the average hockey stick so that you can reach the puck better. Moreover, the shaft of the hockey stick is narrower than in a typical one, this being done to increase its air drag, thus allowing you to be faster than usual while playing.
Skills Needed
Aside from the basic game rules, you will need the following skills to be able to play successfully:
- Ball handling skill – you will need to be able to control the hockey puck with both hands.
- Puck control skill – you will need to be able to position and maneuver the puck properly, especially during fast breakaways or while preventing your opponent from doing the same. This includes being able to decelerate and stop or turn on a dime. Moreover, you will need to be able to anticipate your opponent’s next move and read the play accurately.
- Wrist shot – in order to score goals, you will need to be able to shoot the puck with great accuracy and power. Moreover, you will need to be able to vary the speed of the shot so that you don’t simply rely on brute strength alone to score goals. The faster the better, though – anything above medium speed and you will find the goalie covered.
- Sliding technique – aside from taking a direct shot at the puck, you can also use your body to shield the puck from your opponent’s shots and slide it to your teammate who is positioned in front of the net. The key to this move is not simply sliding on the ice but rather being in the right position at the right time with respect to your teammate and the puck so that they can be affected by your movement. Moreover, you will need to keep track of where you are sliding as well as the location of the opponent’s players so that you do not run into anyone while performing this maneuvre.
- Feints – like in any sport, even non-contact ones like dancing, a good feint can be quite effective. In air hockey, you can use your feints to set up your shots by drawing the attention of the goalie or to deceive your opponent as to your actual intentions. For instance, if you want to take a high shot but your opponent believes you are going to put it low, he may block the shot completely, allowing you to put the puck into his net.
- Passing and shooting – aside from controlling the puck, you will also need to be able to pass the puck to your teammates in order for them to score. Moreover, you will need to be able to shoot while passing the puck as well. The key to both of these actions is not so much about the strength of your wrist but more about the precision of the pass and shot respectively. Like with any other sport, practice makes perfect and, as with anything else, with air hockey, the more you practice, the better you will become.
- Coach’s role – aside from instructing your teammates, the position of the head coach is a crucial one in air hockey. When playing, your team’s head coach will need to keep an eye on you and your performance, making sure you follow the rules of the game and that you use proper technique. Moreover, as mentioned above, blocking, feints, and sliding are all part of the game so that you can learn how to play them efficiently. Your head coach will need to be able to read the play as well as anticipate your opponent’s actions and make the right adjustments so that the team can perform to the best of its ability.
The Importance Of Teamwork
As mentioned above, two teams of five players each will face off in a game of air hockey. The teams are required to work together as a unit and rely on each other for support. This is especially important in situations where one or more of your teammates are not able to perform certain moves or tactics solely due to a lack of experience or skill. In other words, you don’t just want to be great at playing the game – you want to be great at playing together as a team.
For example, one of your forwards may be a brilliant shot blocker while the other is an expert in puck control. In order to prevent your opponents from scoring, your team needs the first forward to shoot the puck while the latter two protect the goal by preventing their opponents from doing the same. In situations like this, your coach’s and teammates’ experience and knowledge of the game will be essential in order to come up with the right strategy and play accordingly. Moreover, proper communication is also vital in order to prevent misunderstandings during the course of the game and allow everyone to play their role effectively. Finally, experienced coaches will be able to give you tips on how to improve your game and performance so that you can reach the top level of play possible.
Odds & Ends
Apart from the above, there are a few other things worth mentioning. First of all, air hockey is a fairly quick-paced game. This being said, experienced players are able to keep up with the action because of the high number of shots that are taken per minute. These numbers are usually around twenty per minute, making it one of the most action-packed sports out there. Moreover, since the puck is always in motion, it requires a lot of focus and attention so that you do not lose sight of it for even a second. This being said, if you are planning to play professionally or even at a higher level of competition, you will need to take a break every once in a while in order to prevent your eyes from burning out due to prolonged exposure to the sun. Finally, a quick tip regarding ice hockey and air hockey – do not wear your hair in a tight bun during gameplay, as this will make you even more of a target for your opponent’s shots. Instead, wear it down, allowing the free movement of your head and giving you a chance at dodging the puck.