Foosball Tables EU

Table Football Rules

Official rules inspired by the International Table Soccer Federation (ITSF). Learn how to play like a pro.

Setup

  • 1.A standard foosball table has 8 rows of players (foos men): 4 rows per team, with 1 goalkeeper, 2 defenders, 5 midfielders, and 3 forwards on each side.
  • 2.Players stand on opposite ends of the table. In doubles, teammates stand on the same side, one controlling the offensive rods (5-bar and 3-bar) and the other controlling the defensive rods (goalkeeper and 2-bar).
  • 3.A coin toss determines which team serves first. The winning team also chooses which side of the table to play on.
  • 4.Ensure the playing surface is clean and the ball rolls freely. Check that all rods rotate smoothly before starting.

Serving

  • 1.The ball is served through the serving hole on the side of the table. If no serving hole exists, the ball is placed at the midfield 5-bar rod.
  • 2.After a goal is scored, the team that was scored upon serves the next ball. After the first game, the losing team serves first in the next game.
  • 3.The ball must touch two player figures on the 5-bar rod before it can be advanced to another rod. The server must ask if the opponent is ready before serving.

Scoring

  • 1.A goal is counted when the ball enters the goal and stays in the goal area. A ball that enters the goal and bounces back out still counts as a goal.
  • 2.A ball that is hit from any rod and enters the opponent's goal is a legal goal, including shots from the defensive rods.
  • 3.Standard matches are played to 5 goals per set. A match is typically best of 3 or best of 5 sets.

Fouls & Violations

  • 1.Spinning: Rotating any rod more than 360 degrees before or after striking the ball is not allowed. The opposing team is awarded possession.
  • 2.Jarring: Slamming or lifting the table to affect ball movement is a foul. Repeated jarring may result in a technical foul.
  • 3.Distraction: Yelling, waving, or any deliberate attempt to distract the opponent is not permitted during active play.
  • 4.Time limits: A player has 10 seconds on the 5-bar, 15 seconds on all other rods. Exceeding these limits results in loss of possession.

Match Format

  • 1.Singles: One player per side controls all four rods. Players switch sides after each game in a match.
  • 2.Doubles: Two players per side. The forward player controls the 5-bar and 3-bar rods, while the back player controls the goalkeeper and 2-bar defense rod.
  • 3.Tournament matches are typically best of 3 or best of 5 sets, with each set played to 5 goals. In some formats, you must win by 2 goals if the score reaches 4-4.

Terminology

  • 1.Snake shot (pull shot): A wrist-flick shot from the 3-bar where the ball is pinned on top and pulled to the side before shooting.
  • 2.Bank shot: A shot that bounces off the wall before entering the goal.
  • 3.Push/pull shot: A lateral movement of the rod before shooting, either pushing away from you or pulling toward you.
  • 4.Tic-tac: A rapid passing sequence between two figures on the same rod used to set up a shot.
  • 5.Dead ball: A ball that has stopped in an area not reachable by any player figure. It is re-served or placed at the nearest rod.
  • 6.Aerial shot: A ball that goes airborne and enters the goal. This is a legal goal as long as the shot was not a result of spinning.

These rules are inspired by ITSF (International Table Soccer Federation) official regulations and adapted for general recreational and competitive play. For official tournament rules, please refer to the ITSF website.