Rules & Game Play

Click here to review game rules.

Click here to review game rules.

Click here to review game rules.

Click here to review game fouls.

Click here to review game definitions.

Click here to review game rules.

Click here to review game rules.

​Flip a Coin to begin the Game A coin flip is typically used to determine who initially serves the foosball at the beginning of the game.

​Serving the Ball After goals are scored, the team who was scored upon last serves the next ball. 

​Eligible Goals A goal is only eligible if it was touched by a player from either team prior to being scored.

No Spinning Official rules state that you must have complete control of the rods at all times. Spinning the foosball rods in a 360 degree rotation without touching the ball is a not just bad etiquette, it is an illegal move. The penalty for spinning the rod is a loss of ball possession at which point your opponent gets to gain possession of the ball on their 5-man rod.

​No Jarring Jarring is a term for when a player slams their rod(s) against the cabinet of the foosball table in an effort to move distract the opponent and/or make possession of the ball more difficult as the cabinet moves. This is an illegal move. The first penalty for this infraction is to place the ball where it would have been at the time the jarring a cured or your opponent can choose to reserve the ball on their 5-man rod, as they would for a spinning penalty. In the case of a repeat offense of this rule, your opponent receives a penalty shot from his 3-man rod. 

 Dead Balls If a foosball stops in the middle of two opposing team rods in the play field, the ball should be picked up to be served anew. Just like after a goal, the new serve goes to the team whom was scored upon last. If a dead ball occurs on the defensive side of the table behind the second defensive bar, the defensive player must move the ball back into playing position. 

Balls Hit Out of Play If a ball flies off the table area, it is ruled oyt of play and must be served by the team whom was last scored upon. This applies to a ball that hits any part of the cabinet that may bounce back into play; that ball is ruled a dead ball as well and must be served again.

The rules of air hockey have been put in place to keep for a fair and
balanced game against opponents. It also creates structure for the game
so there is a standard for things like who gets the first puck, how many points wins a game and a way to define fouls. The list of rules below will provide you the basics you need to know. However, if you are preparing for a professional tournament, you will need to be aware of all of the official USAA air hockey rules.

A face-off or coin toss decides which player gets the first possession of the puckThe first person to score 7 points by shooting the puck into the
opponent’s goal wins the game. When the puck breaks the horizontal plane inside the goal, a point is counted, whether or not captured by the electronic scoring device.

Once the puck is on a certain player’s side of the center line, he/she has 7 seconds to hit the puck back across the center line. Otherwise a foul is committed and the opponent receives possession of the puck.

Placing one’s mallet on top of the puck, known as topping, is a foul. The opponent receives possession of the puck.

A player cannot touch or strike the puck with any part of his/her body or with any object other than the mallet. Doing so causes a foul and possession changes hands.

If the puck is on a clear path into the goal and the player stops it with anything other than the mallet, this is goal tending. When goal tending occurs, the other opponent gets possession of the puckHitting the puck when it is on the opposite side of the center line, or crossing the center line completely with one’s mallet causes a foul. When this foul occurs, the opponent receives possession of the puck.

If the puck leaves the table, a foul is called on the player that caused the puck to go out of play due to offensive motion and the opposing player gets possession of the puck. Generally, when a player causes the puck to leave the table with a forward motion of the mallet, even defensively (known as charging), the foul is charged on them. An out of play foul results in the opponent receiving possession of the puck.

The Orbit Eliminator 4 Player Air Hockey Table is played as a survivor-style, 4-person battle to the finish!

Each time a puck enters your own goal, a light illuminates.

When you have allowed 3 goals and all 3 lights are illuminated, you are eliminated from the game and the remaining players play on.

At this point, you must insert a goal blocker into your goal to let the game continue without you while the blocker keeps the puck in play for active players.

If you would like to play with two people instead of 4, the goal blockers allow for 2-player game play using the same concept. Let the fun begin!

The Ellipse 6 Player Air Hockey Table is played as a survivor-style, 6-person battle to the finish!

Each time a puck enters your own goal, a light illuminates.

When you have allowed 3 goals and all 3 lights are illuminated, you are eliminated from the game and the remaining players play on.

At this point, you must insert a goal blocker into your goal to let the game continue without you while the blocker keeps the puck in play for active players.

If you would like to play with two people instead of 6, the goal blockers allow for 2-player game play using the same concept. Let the fun begin!

The player throwing is the pitcher attempting to retire the opposing side without allowing runs. This can best be achieved by pitching carefully at the corners of the plate. Put the pitch over the center of the plate and it’s a home run.

Two players or teams can participate. Each team member takes a turn pitching his team’s half of an inning.

Each inning is divided into two halves; one for each team. Three outs constitute one-half of an inning. The pitcher is allowed as many pitches as is necessary to get three outs. All runs scored against him are credited to the other team. When he has made three outs the other player pitches his half of the inning.

Usual rules of baseball apply. Three strikes is an out; a foul ball counts as a strike, but not as a third strike; any pitch that misses the “plate” (target zone) is ruled a ball. Four balls to a batter constitute a walk, and the batter is awarded first base.

Runs are scored by players rounding the bases and crossing home plate. Runs must be forced over to score.

At the conclusion of the regulation number of innings, the team with the most runs is the winner.

General Rules of Darts
• Hang the board as shown in the diagram.

• To decide who plays first, each player, or one from each side throws one dart. The player hitting nearer the center starts the game.

• Players throw three darts each throw.

• Darts only score that remain on the board on completion of a throw.

Tournament Dart Rules
• Each side starts with 301 points. The method of scoring is to subtract each score from the remaining total. The score of 301 is used mainly for games between two individuals. For team play, the opening score should be increased to 501 or 1001 depending on team size.

• Tournament games are usually started straight, but as an alternative, can be played by started with any double.

• The first to reduce his score exactly to zero is the winner.

• To finish, a double (or bullseye) which exactly reduce the score to zero must be thrown.

• For the purposes of Rules 3 and 4, “Bullseye” counts as double 25.

• If a greater score is thrown than is required to reduce the remaining score exactly to zero, then none of the three darts count to that throw and the score remains as it was before that particular throw was taken.

• Each game is called a “leg.” 3 legs make a match and the ultimate winner is the player who first wins 2 legs. This can be vaned.

Cricket is a favorite among bar dart games across America. It's strengths are that the rules are simple and it gives weaker darts players a chance against stronger players. The object is to close numbers 15 through 20 and the bulls eye by hitting them each three times before your opponent. Once a number is closed, you can then score points each time it is hit while your opponent is still trying to close it.

​Order of Play
Each team takes turns throwing three darts. After a player throws three darts they tally up any hits for that round on the scoreboard and collect the darts from the dartboard. If points are scored on a number or bulls eye keep track of the running points. If teams have more than 1 player they will take turns every time it is their teams turn to throw. This continues until numbers 15-20 and the bulls eye are closed out. Once everything is closed out by both teams the team with the most points wins.  

The game can also be played without points and the game is won by the first team to close out all numbers and bulls eye. This version is quicker since it does not require both teams to close out all numbers and bulls eyes and it also simplifies the games strategy.

​Cricket Dartboard Scoring
The scoreboard is set up with a 3 column layout with the dartboard numbers (15-20 and bulls eye) in the middle that need to be closed out. None of the other numbers on the board count in this game and should be considered a miss. The numbers and bulls eye are considered open until both teams have hit it three times. If one team has closed out a number or bulls eye it can be scored on until the opposing team closes it out as well.  

The single rings on the board count as one hit and should be marked with a single slash (/). The double ring on the outside of the board counts as two hits (X), and the triple ring counts as three hits (O). The outer bulls eye counts as one and the inner bulls eye counts as two. 

Once one team closes out a number or bulls eye, every hit gives that team points corresponding to the number on the outside of the dartboard. The outer bulls eye counts as 25 and inner bulls eye 50.

​Strategy for Darts Cricket
If played without points, as I mentioned earlier, the strategy becomes very simplified. Try to close out all numbers and bulls eyes before your opponent. If you are playing with points what you go for will depend on how the specific game is going and the strengths of the opponent.  

A good starting place is to try to close 20's since they will yield you the most points once closed out if your opponent hasn't closed them first. If you can close out your 20's early it is a great way to rack up some points early in the game.  

Players tend to have numbers that are easier for them to hit. If you know your opponent try to close out the numbers that are easier for them to hit. This will avoid leaving it open and allowing them to rack up points on you. If your opponent hits a number twice and you have yet to hit it once it may be a good idea to turn your attention to that number. Cricket is about having a good balance of offense and defense.  

For beginners it can be a good strategy to go for the bulls eyes from the start. Bulls eyes are tough for any player so not only does it give you a chance to have a lucky start but misses can easily hit other numbers needed. Once you get a lucky hit or two on other numbers focus your attention there if you haven't already changed targets for defensive play.