Air Hockey Tournaments: Top Two Annual Tournaments

Air hockey tournaments aren’t as common or as popular as they should be, considering the rise in sales many manufacturers of the best air hockey tables can attest to. However, there are some smaller organizations in North America that host tournaments a few times a year. These organizations stick to the traditional rules of the game.

Currently, there are only two major air hockey tournaments. One tournament is hosted by the AHPA, while the other major tournament is hosted by the USAA. Both tournaments will require an enrollment fee and have a strict enrollment cutoff date. However, if you’re not ready for the big leagues, you should be able to find local tournaments for players of all skill levels, in your area.

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Air Hockey Players Association-Championship

Each July, the Air Hockey Players Association hosts their annual championship tournament. This tournament takes place in Colorado Springs, Colorado and each year, enjoys an even bigger turnout than the year before. This tournament allows players from all over the world to participate, and it’s the only tournament of its kind, to date. Currently, the AHPA is allowing tournament registration for amateurs, so if you’re serious about going up against the best players in the world, now is the time to enroll.

This championship event hosts a variety of divisions based on age, gender, and skill. There are also divisions for single and dual player events.

Whether or not a player will qualify for entry into the professional championship division will depend on their rating as a player, which is determined by the Air Hockey Players Association ranking. The event closely follows the standard rules of the game.

USAA World Air Hockey Championships

Each year, the USAA hosts the World Air Hockey Championships which often takes place the first month of spring. This tournament is open to players all over the world and includes games for singles and doubles.

They offer a reasonable entry fee for players, based on skill level. For the master level singles tournament, the fee is around one hundred dollars. Experts and pros only have to pay a fee of seventy dollars, while the amateur fee is a mere fifty dollars. This tournament is open to everyone and is categorized as a double-elimination tournament.

In terms of prizes, the USAA awards trophies to the top players in each of the events, in addition to a cash prize. Everyone that enters will also receive a tournament commemorative T-shirt.

Air Hockey Tournament Rules for the AHPA and USAA

The tournament rules of air hockey are slightly different than traditional air hockey played between you and a friend. To start, the table played on must be broken-in and approved by the board of directors. The type of overhead lighting used is also closely regulated.

The types of mallets used must meet certain requirements such as weight, color, and material. As an example, the mallets cannot weigh more than six ounces.

The USAA currently only approves three pucks for tournament use. This includes the following:

Lexan yellow
Dynamo green
Lexan red

Additionally, the pucks cannot be changed during a match without the consent of both the players. However, the referee can also insist on a puck change if there is an issue with its playability.

In terms of design, the puck is required to have a single layer of white plastic tape on the top.

During a Match

During tournament play, a game will start with a face-off and a coin toss. The coin toss is what will determine which side starts first.
The player that wins the coin toss is the one who will choose which side they will start on.
For the face-off, the referee will place the puck in the center of the table. Both players will be allowed to advance up to an inch to the puck, however, the mallets are not allowed to make any contact with the centerline.
When both of the players are in position, the referee will give the single for active gameplay.

Scoring in a Tournament Setting

In a tournament, if the puck stops in the goal and has broken the goal’s horizontal plane then it’s considered a score. If it stops in the goal but doesn’t tilt then it’s not considered a score.
If the puck ends up rebounding out of the goal’s mouth then the point will not count. However, pucks that rebound out of the mouth of the goal, striking the defending player’s hand and rebound back into the goal will count as a score.
If the puck makes contact with a player’s hand as it’s flying towards the goal, the point will still count just as long as it would have scored even if it hadn’t made any contact with the player.

Other Important Tournament Rules

A player will have just two minutes in between a match during a tournament. More time may be rewarded in special cases.
Once a game has been called, each player will have a total of fifteen minutes to report to the tournament director or ref. The countdown will start as soon as the game is called and will not stop until both of the players have checked in. If one or both players have not reported to the tournament director or ref within a ten-minute time frame then a different game will be called.
If a player reports late to a game they will lose one point for every fifteen minutes they’re late.

Local Tournaments

If you’re not sure whether air hockey is the game for you and you’d like to see some players in action, finding a local tournament is going to be your best bet. Unfortunately, in most states, you may have to plan on a serious drive if you’re seeking out a tournament since they’re not as common as you’d expect them to be. As I mentioned earlier, the tournament hosted by the AHPA is by far the most popular, but they only offer one major tournament a year. In terms of local action, you may have some luck finding others who are interested in this exciting sport by joining online forums.

Joining a local league and entering tournaments at this level can be a great way to build your skills and boost your confidence. With enough practice, you may be ready for the next upcoming tournament hosted by the USAA or the AHPA.

Create Your Own Tournament

If you’re having trouble finding a tournament in your neck of the woods, why not start your own? Finding a location for the tournament will be the first and most important step. You’ll want to find a place that already has a tournament quality table unless you plan on renting one or buying one or more. As long as the location has at least one table, you’ll be ready to go.

Once you’ve chosen a location, speak with the owners and discuss your interest in starting an air hockey tournament. Many small businesses may be into the idea since it means more traffic for their business.

If the owners agree, then you’ll need to begin advertising the upcoming event. This should be done three to four weeks in advance. You can advertise online or you can make flyers and post them around the neighborhood, at local bars, arcades, and any type of family fun center where you’ll find air hockey tables.

On the day of the tournament, you’ll need to bring tournament brackets to keep score. If enough players attend, you can plan on another tournament in the future. However, if there is minimal interest and only a few players show up, don’t be discouraged. Instead, make a connection with each of the attendees and ask them to help you spread the word for the next upcoming tournament.

If you have enough interest, it may be possible to start a bi-weekly or monthly tournament. If these events drum up enough traffic for the business that’s hosting it, they may even be encouraged to purchase an extra table so you can host an even bigger event.

Final Thoughts

Air hockey is a very challenging sport and one that’s enjoyed a new level of popularity in the past few years. But it’s also a sport that requires intense focus, fast reflexes, and a good strategy, in order to get an edge over the competition. If you think you’re ready for competitive play, then start researching enrollment requirements and fees.

As you can see, both the USAA and the AHPA have strict rules and guidelines that must be followed during a tournament match. Many of these restrictions can be very intimidating for people who have never enrolled in an air hockey tournament before. If you’re fairly new to the game, I recommend finding a league you can join and starting off by entering local tournaments where you can meet and play against other air hockey lovers of the same skill level.