We all had those friends in high school– the ones with the great basement or the garage with the cool pool and foosball table. Some of your favorite memories involved playing foosball with your friends, late into a Friday night.
It’s possible that you weren’t even playing the game quite right. There were always extra challenges and tricks built into your most cherished garage games.
So– what are the foosball rules, exactly? Have you been playing it incorrectly all along?
Read on to find out.
What Is Foosball?
For those who are unfamiliar with the game, foosball is a table game played with rods fixed to a special table. It’s a game created to mimic the game of soccer. The rods mimic the lines of defense and attack that are usually used in soccer:
- A goalkeeper
- Defensive line
- Midfielders,
- Attackers
The point of the game is to successfully get the ball into the goal of your opponent. While you can play with up to four players team, a foosball game can be a one-on-one game, with one person playing both their attack and defensive positions (13 “players” per team).
There are a few foosball-related vocabulary words you should keep in mind if you’re thinking seriously about the game. These include:
- Men – foosmen figures connected to rods with handles on the side to control
- Pass – to move the ball between you and another player
- Defense – any attempt to stop your opponent from scoring
- Offense – any attempt to score a goal on your opponent
- Goalie – the opening at the back of the field that you must protect from the opponent’s goals
- Dead Ball – when no player can reach the ball with their men as it has rolled out of reach
- Tic-Tak Shot – ball accidentally ricochets against players of the same rod
- Jarring – slamming on or more rod against the table to foul the other team
- Reaching In – foul that involves reaching onto the table with your hands
- Drop Fake – player pretends to just about hit the ball hard with their men, but instead avoid the ball as a fake-out
- Goalie War – game with only goalie rod and defense rod on the table
- Spinning – foul that involves spinning in a 360 degrees spin without actually touching the ball
This quick overview isn’t all there is to the game. Keep reading for more!
History of Foosball
The history of foosball is one you’ve likely never heard before. There are a few distinct origin stories that speak to where this popular game came from.
To some, foosball began as a parlor game somewhere in the 1880s or 90s. A few other characters also claimed responsibility in the 1930s, including Lucien Rosengart and Alexandre de Finesterre.
Finally, the first person to officially patent the game was Harold Thornton in 1923. He shared the idea with his uncle, Louis Thornton. Louis Thornton would continue to bring the patent idea to the United States and file the patent in 1927.
Foosball Today
Foosball is extremely popular worldwide. Depending on where you are, foosball goes by one of the following names:
- Germany and Russia – kicker
- France – baby foot
- Mexico – futbolito
- UK – table football
- Hungary – csocso
- Turkey – langirt
The International Tournament Soccer Championships (ITSC) was created in the 1970s to regulate a game that Americans were playing more and more frequently. Tournaments have been held all over the country– some with prizes of over $1 million dollars.
Foosball Table Setup
We promise that there are specific parts of the foosball table. These include:
- Rods – silver pieces that fit horizontally through holes on both sides of the table and used to move attached men back and forth and make them “kick”
- Goalie rod – controls the goalie piece and is located in a guarding position in front of the door
- Grips – handholds on the end of the rods to make them easier to control
- Midfield rod – controls the five men on either side of the midfield line of play
- Storm rod – located within opponents territory, controlling three offensive men that can be used for scoring strategy
- Goals – Scoring space behind each goalie position
- Hole – small open compartment where ball is placed in order to serve
- Scoreboard – numbered, sliding tiles for scoring behind each goalie that allows you to keep track of your points up to 11
- Defensive rod – controls the men in front of the goalie rod
Feeling ready to play?
Foosball Table Gameplay Tips
Don’t be just any regular basement player. Follow these steps of this guide— you might feel more comfortable with the game!
Defense
Play the ball–not the man. Even if your opponent’s attackers have possession of the ball, keep your hands on your goalie and your defense stick. It is important to protect the front post and your defenders from across the other side, as the attacker is trying to shoot.
Shooting
The type of game requires a steady focus on shooting the ball. This takes more strategy than physical strength!
We recommend moving the ball to your middle attackers and flipping the stick toward the goal to try and score against the goalie. If there isn’t a clear route through the middle, pass to your wider men in a “pull” shot. Pull your wide man into the position of the center player, and flick the ball to the open space that is clear of the distracted goalie of the opponent.
Passing
Most of the game involves passing the ball back and forth between your men.
Try to perform a wall pass by sending the ball from the midfielder to the attacker. aim at the wall side of the table where your attacker is waiting.
A lane pass is when the ball moves into the space between your opponent and kicked by your player to the forward three attackers.
The Mental Game
Foosball is a game that can be won with skills and talent, but certainly requires the right strategies and state of mind. Develop a “sweet shot” that is unbeatable. Watch real-life soccer games and implement some of those plays during your foosball game.
Decide who should play defense and who should play offense if you have more than one player on your team.
Mind Your Goalie
Don’t move the goalie around in order to block oncoming shots. Keep the goalies positioned in the center to stay focused and determine how they need to move to block certain attacks.
Use Side Players
Don’t just use the center man on the field to shoot a ball. It’s too predictable and easy for the opposing team to block. To get around the defense, use players on each side and pass the ball back and forth along the side players.
Go For Shots
Don’t wait– make as many shots as you can while playing the game of foosball. This will keep your opponent on their toes. The faster and more repetitive shots will likely take them off-guard as they attempt to recover.
Stagger Players
Stagger your players across the field of play to maintain as much coverage as possible. Lining up your men creates gaps that a ball might go through, and puts you in a vulnerable position.
Foosball Rules to Remember
Don’t unintentionally cheat your foosball game! If you remember anything, recall these rules:
- Foosball is played with 2-8 players
- Conduct a coin toss to see who gets to kick-off
- Don’t unfairly distract your opponents
- A goal is good if it was touched by a player on either team before entering a goal
- A player can hold the ball with one of their men for no greater than fifteen seconds at a time
- Spinning rods or jarring the table is considered a foul
- The last team to serve will re-serve if the ball flies off of the foosball table
- Reaching into the table results in a free kick for the other team
- A ball rolling into the goalie without being touched doesn’t count
Other things to keep in mind include the responsibilities of the goalies. They must send the ball back into gameplay once it’s dead. All players must be ready to continue playing.
If a ball enters the goal because of spinning, it is dead and gets served back into gameplay by the goalie.
During goalie foosball, the game ball must touch at least two of your men, and stop for one or more full seconds before any player can take a shot.
You win by making 5-11 goals– depending on your choice of play.
Have a Little Fun
Ready to play foosball again? It can be an extremely enjoyable and casual social activity for you and your friends– just like the good old days!
We’ve got more than just foosball rules. Check out the rest of our blog for more recreational advice and games!
