Kids Hockey Equipment

Game Play On Competitive Air Hockey Tables

I remember playing air hockey as a kid, and having a lot of fun, though I do not remember having any specific guidelines that we played by, we just went at it in fierce (but fun) competition. Air hockey tables had been around for less than eight years when air hockey became a competitive sport. Rules and game play are governed by the USAA (United States Air-Table-Hockey Association). For tournament play, only the 8 foot air hockey tables manufactured by Dynamo are sanctioned. Approved tables include the Photon, Pro-Style, older Blue Top, Brown Top, Purple Top or Black Top with unpainted rails.

Besides a table, the only other equipment needed are two mallets (one for each player) and a puck. The most common mallet looks like a sombrero, and as a kid, I would grip the top part tightly as I chased the puck around the table. But this is not how the professionals do it. In competitive play, the mallet is gripped behind the knob using just your fingertips. This allows for more wrist action so that the mallet can be moved around the table faster.

I learned that this mallet grip, and a few other things sets competitive play apart from us recreational users. I also discovered a few other helpful tips to improve my game, things that professional players do on their air hockey tables.

For basic defense, competitive players often use the triangle defense. The mallet is kept centered about 8 inches front of the goal. This means only slight movements are needed to protect the goal from straight shots, and bank shots can be prevented by quickly pulling the mallet back towards the corners of the goal.

The top air hockey players are very good on the offense with drifting. Drifting is when you control the puck on your side of the table by moving the puck in a set pattern, which allows you to knock the puck down the table in a variety of attacks. This can throw off your opponent since they do not know how you will deliver the final blow on the puck. Very slight differences in wrist movement can affect which way the puck will go. Some of the more popular drifts are the center, diamond (or circle), "L", and diagonal drifts.

As an example, on the diamond drift the puck is moved clockwise in a diamond shape, being contacted by the mallet twice, once at the top and once at the bottom. The reverse diamond moves the puck in the same pattern, but counter-clockwise. Both of these drifts encourage shots from several points on the table, and with only minor adjustments can utilize time delays, change-ups, and other techniques.

A final strategy used by top players on air hockey tables are shots that are organized into "combos". This means a group of shots which appear to be hit with the same delivery but in opposite directions. This is caused by hitting the puck at slightly different locations on the mallet. Now, I hadn't thought of this before but it makes sense that where the puck is struck on the mallet (since it is curved) would affect the direction of the puck.

Though there are probably a lot more tips, these are enough to get started to improve my game. The next time I am around some air hockey tables, I will try the looser grip, and some drifting techniques to see if I can confuse my opponent!

About the Author

MJ writes for ClickShops Inc. where you can find a great selection of air hockey tables at www.airhockeytables.us.com.

The Butter-fly Hockey Goalie

The Butter-fly Hockey Goalie strategy

Being a graduate of the school of stand-up goaltending, it's a bit difficult to watch today's goalies drop so quickly. While covering the bottom of the net during a scrum in front is critical, goalies should try and stay on their feet as much as possible. They must be able to move to a spot and put themselves in the best position to stop the puck. Going into a butterfly simply leaves too much of the top of the net open.

From a young age, kids are always trying to lift the puck, and what a shooter wants to see is the goalie down. The shooter can then shoot high or make a pass, and the goalie cannot recover to make a stop. Any goalie I work with learns to read the entire play, be aware of potential threats, and react to the puck from the shooter's stick. Too many times I see the goalies commit to a butterfly before the player makes a move.

As in any sport, practice is clearly a key. Have your goalies start every practice with a proper stretch of the legs, tarsal, arms, and the neck. Provide five to ten minutes of drills without pucks and have goalies moving around in the crease, moving post to post, out to the top corners of the crease, shuffling or t-gliding across the top and back down to the post. Have your goalies work on these types of drills at the beginning of every practice because the better and faster they move to a spot, the better chance they have of putting themselves in the proper spot to stop the shot. The more pucks they stop, the more it builds their confidence along with the team's confidence in them. The little things they do in practice will pay off, and they will truly begin to believe in themselves.

As a fan, parent, and coach, it's fun to watch a team come together as a season evolves. It starts with hard work and culminates with individual and team success. A goalie cannot stop every shot they face; however, they can build the bridge that brings a team together. As goaltenders develop in the game, they quietly become the back- bone of their team. They will make the big save to secure a win! They will take a puck off the helmet and stand there waiting for the next shot! Your goalie will let in a bad shot in the first period, and then make multiple saves to give their team a chance to win. Goalies need to stand tall with poise and confidence every minute of every game. They are the last line of defense!

To all the hockey players and goalies out there, good luck, work hard, and above all, have fun!!

About the Author

Keane has always been passionate about hockey. He currently helps run a website where they sell hockey helmets and all varieties of hockey equipment. We also have a full line of custom painted goalie hockey helmets, come check them all out today.