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Dome Hockey Rules
Home » Game Rooms » Dome Hockey » Dome Hockey RulesDome hockey is a serious game to some players, so the International Table Hockey Federation (ITHF) and other groups have official rules governing tournament play. Hopefully, you won’t need these rules for a friendly game of dome hockey, but they might be good to know anyway.
• Game Length: You might not even have a choice in this area, because most dome hockey games have an automatic game length. Officially, however, table hockey games should last either five or nine minutes and possibly be divided into periods. If you finish with a tie, you play a sudden death overtime period.
• Face-offs: Face-offs occur at three times: after a goal, after a mechanical error (e.g. a broken figure), and if the puck lands in a place where neither player can reach it. In a table hockey face-off, you drop the puck at the center of the rink or at the last point of contact while some versions of dome hockey will shoot the puck through a hole at center ice.
• Goals: The most controversial moment in dome hockey is the in and out goal—that is, the puck goes in the net and bounces back out. Officially, this does not count as a goal and play should continue. A gracious opponent, however, might allow this situation to count as a goal.
Finally, keep in mind Rule 2.1 of the ITHF’s rule book: “Table hockey…has always been and will remain a gentleman’s sport.” Not only does this rule mean you should refrain from acts such as shaking the table, but it also means that you should strive to keep the game light and fun.
Related Dome Hockey Articles
- Introduction to Dome Hockey
- Where can I play dome hockey?
- Dome Hockey Playing Tips
- Dome Hockey Rules
- Buying a Dome Hockey Table
- Placing and Maintaining a Dome Hockey Table