diff --git a/src/config/constants.ts b/src/config/constants.ts
index b8d3361..0ecb7d0 100644
--- a/src/config/constants.ts
+++ b/src/config/constants.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,8 @@
+// Game settings
+export const DEBUG = true;
+export const FPS = 60;
+export const UI_BOTTOM_PADDING = 60; // pixels - space below rink for UI elements
+
 // Rink dimensions (meters)
 export const RINK_LENGTH = 60;  // meters
 export const RINK_WIDTH = 30;   // meters
@@ -23,10 +28,6 @@ export const COLOR_RED_LINE = 0xff0000;
 export const COLOR_BLUE_LINE = 0x0000ff;
 export const COLOR_GOAL_CREASE = 0x87ceeb;
 
-// Game settings
-export const FPS = 60;
-export const DEBUG = false;
-
 // Player constants
 export const PLAYER_RADIUS_GOALIE = 12;    // pixels
 export const PLAYER_RADIUS_SKATER = 10;    // pixels
diff --git a/src/game/GameScene.ts b/src/game/GameScene.ts
index b44bba3..fbfe5bf 100644
--- a/src/game/GameScene.ts
+++ b/src/game/GameScene.ts
@@ -53,6 +53,10 @@ export class GameScene extends Phaser.Scene {
   // Track last reception attempt time for each player to avoid spamming attempts
   private lastReceptionAttempt: Map<string, number> = new Map();
 
+  // Pause state
+  private isPaused: boolean = false;
+  private pauseButton!: Phaser.GameObjects.Text;
+
   constructor() {
     super({ key: 'GameScene' });
   }
@@ -63,6 +67,7 @@ export class GameScene extends Phaser.Scene {
     this.createPuck();
     this.createPlayers();
     this.setupEventListeners();
+    this.createPauseButton();
   }
 
   private createPlayers() {
@@ -195,7 +200,41 @@ export class GameScene extends Phaser.Scene {
     graphics.strokeRoundedRect(2, 2, RINK_LENGTH * SCALE - 4, RINK_WIDTH * SCALE - 4, RINK_CORNER_RADIUS * SCALE);
   }
 
+  private createPauseButton() {
+    const centerX = (RINK_LENGTH * SCALE) / 2;
+    const rinkHeight = RINK_WIDTH * SCALE;
+
+    // Create pause button at bottom center
+    this.pauseButton = this.add.text(centerX, rinkHeight + 20, 'PAUSE', {
+      fontSize: '20px',
+      color: '#ffffff',
+      backgroundColor: '#333333',
+      padding: { x: 16, y: 8 }
+    })
+    .setOrigin(0.5)
+    .setInteractive({ useHandCursor: true })
+    .on('pointerdown', () => this.togglePause());
+  }
+
+  private togglePause() {
+    this.isPaused = !this.isPaused;
+
+    if (this.isPaused) {
+      // Pause physics and update button
+      this.physics.pause();
+      this.pauseButton.setText('RESUME');
+      this.pauseButton.setBackgroundColor('#2d6a2d');
+    } else {
+      // Resume physics and update button
+      this.physics.resume();
+      this.pauseButton.setText('PAUSE');
+      this.pauseButton.setBackgroundColor('#333333');
+    }
+  }
+
   update(_time: number, delta: number) {
+    if (this.isPaused) return;
+
     this.updatePuck();
     this.updatePlayers(delta);
     this.checkGoals();
diff --git a/src/game/main.ts b/src/game/main.ts
index d542050..34cc598 100644
--- a/src/game/main.ts
+++ b/src/game/main.ts
@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
 import Phaser from 'phaser';
 import { GameScene } from './GameScene';
-import { RINK_LENGTH, RINK_WIDTH, SCALE, FPS, DEBUG } from '../config/constants';
+import { RINK_LENGTH, RINK_WIDTH, SCALE, FPS, DEBUG, UI_BOTTOM_PADDING } from '../config/constants';
 
 const config: Phaser.Types.Core.GameConfig = {
   type: Phaser.AUTO,
   width: RINK_LENGTH * SCALE,
-  height: RINK_WIDTH * SCALE,
+  height: RINK_WIDTH * SCALE + UI_BOTTOM_PADDING,
   parent: 'game-container',
   backgroundColor: '#1a1a1a',
   physics: {