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You may have heard the term bubble hockey or its synonym, "dome hockey," but how much do you really know about the game? Let's take a closer look at why so many people love the bubble.

What is Bubble Hockey?

In a nutshell, bubble hockey is an arcade game played by two people. The game is comparable to foosball except that it looks like a miniature hockey rink instead. You control six figures on the board including three forwards, a goalie, and two defensemen. All of the figures are on rods that you can move backwards and forwards using the rods. The goalie, however, can only move from side to side to protect the goal. Movement of the players is made by pushing, pulling, and twisting the rods. You should know something about traditional hockey if you want to do well in dome hockey because the play and the scoring are the same.

Why is it Called Bubble Hockey?

Bubble or dome hockey gets its name from the plastic covering that is placed over the table so the puck won't fly off. This version of the game is very popular in the United States, particularly in arcades. On the other hand, if you are traveling outside the U. S., you are more likely to see table hockey which is a similar game that lacks the protective dome. That doesn't stop players in the U. S. from also referring to the game as table hockey or sometimes rod hockey because of the player control mechanisms.

Who Invented Dome Hockey?

Don Munro, a Canadian, supposedly invented table hockey in the 1930's. The dome came later, probably out of necessity. You can only lose so many pucks or hit so many innocent bystanders before someone decides to make a design change.

Can I be a Real Team?

Interestingly enough, the most popular versions of bubble hockey do feature actual teams. Some of these are teams from the National Hockey League (NHL). Others actually feature competing international teams, such as the U. S. team competing against the Russians or the Canadians. The nice thing about this is the bubble hockey table can be sold in different countries without changes being made to the teams.

How I Compete in a Championship?

If you are a serious bubble hockey enthusiast, you can find ways to compete with other like-minded individuals. If you go to countries where table hockey is popular such as Sweden, Finland, Russia, and Canada, you can find tournaments and championships fairly easily. Back in 2005, for example, the World Championship was held in Latvia. Players from 22 countries competed but Hans Osterman from Sweden walked away the winner.

Of course, you don't have to travel. The International Table Hockey Federation can let you know if there are leagues you can join in your part of the world. While you're more likely to find bubble hockey leagues in the northeastern part of the country, you’ll find the tables and the leagues as far south as Nashville and sometimes even further south than that.

Where else can I play?

You can find bubble hockey tables in lots of places. Arcades are still around in most cities, and these often feature the tables. Entertainment centers which feature bowling, laser tag, miniature golf, go-karts, and similar activities often have game rooms featuring dome hockey, too. And don’t forget that any place where you'll find foosball, pool, or darts is likely to have one of these tables, too.