Air hockey is a popular game, tables for which can often be found in the halls of shopping and entertainment centers, clubs and cinemas. Very addicting, this game quickly became popular. Despite the fact that few players think about the rules, they do exist. Even the Association of Sports Air Hockey has been created.
Air hockey is played on a special table: a large, smooth surface divided into two zones for two players. The table is surrounded by a side to prevent the puck from accidentally falling off it. Nevertheless, for especially active players, it sometimes crashes. Special bits are used to control the puck.
There is a scoreboard on the table, which indicates the score and sometimes the time left until the end of the game. Before the victory, you need to score 7 or 9 goals, this number depends on the game settings.
The rules for air hockey are quite voluminous, but you only need to know a few of them to start playing. Believe me, in comparison with other fans of this fun and dynamic game, you will still look like a connoisseur: so far, few know these rules.
It all starts with a throw-in of the puck. Place it in the center of the table and count to three, after which opponents can touch it. As an alternative to this method, a lottery is used: whoever wins, throws in the puck from his side of the field. According to the rules, the second method cannot be used, but due to its convenience and simplicity, this is often done.
If the puck rolls to the opponent's side, you cannot hit it. In the event of a violation, the puck is passed to an opponent who throws it in from his half of the table.
During the game, it is forbidden to touch the puck with your hands or other parts of the body. Catching it and covering it with a bat is also impossible. For these violations, the puck is transferred to the opponent.
When throwing in the puck on his side, the player must send it to the opponent's half of the table in no more than 7 seconds. If he fails, the puck is passed to an opponent who throws in.
Separately, it is worth considering controversial issues, which are also governed by the rules. It happens that the puck gets stuck in the goal, but does not fall into it. Therefore, the game table itself does not count as a goal, but do the players need to score it? If the puck lies horizontally and it is impossible to hit it without hammering it to yourself, then it is allowed to reach it with your hands. In this case, it is passed for the throw-in to the opponent. But sometimes the washer gets stuck at a slight angle, it is in an inclined position. Then a goal counts.
When the puck flies out of the table, it is betrayed to the player who was defending at that moment. And if one of the opponents missed the bat, then the game stops until he picks it up again. The puck is then passed to his opponent.
