Basic foosball rules
The rules explained below are a selection of the official rules of table soccer, which we consider necessary and sufficient for playing with friends and family.
To have a good time, it is not necessary to establish possession times, or to call certain fouls, or to add limitations to the passes that can be made, much less to carry out anti-doping controls!
However, if you are curious or if your level is very good and you want to compete like the professionals, you will find below information about the official rules of table soccer in force in international competitions.
Players and teams
Players
2 to 4 players. Children 3 years of age and older must be supervised by an adult and play with a foosball table appropriate to their size.
Equipment
2 players: logically you compete 1 against 1.
3 players: the most skilled player against the other two.
4 players: two against two, with balanced teams.
How long does a foosball game last?
There are two variants:
Variant 1 – Table soccer match with predefined time
A match lasts 10 minutes divided into two 5-minute halves with a 2-minute break in between.
Players switch sides of the table after the break.
Logically, the team that has scored more goals at the end of the game wins. If there is a tie, one more ball is played and the first team to score a goal wins the game.
Variant 2 – 5-game foosball match = 25 goals
In official competitions a match consists of 5 games. Each game ends when a team scores 5 goals.
They switch sides, if agreed upon, after each game.
The team that wins 3 of the 5 games wins the match.
The last game must be won by a two goal difference up to a maximum of 8 goals.
Rules: serving protocol, fouls…
Who’s first?
As in any soccer match, the toss of a coin decides heads or tails.
Serving protocol
Fair play – and the official rules of table soccer – require this protocol to be followed:
1 – The player places the ball next to one of his figures on his bar in the center of the field.
2 – Ask the opposing player “Ready?
3 – When you receive the answer – Ready – you can put the ball in play.
4 – The first move must be a pass to a player on the same bar, it cannot be a direct shot on goal.
Serve at the start of a new game
If the match is a 5-game match, starting with the second game, the team that lost the previous game shall serve the first game.
Dead ball
If the ball becomes stationary and out of reach of both players, the game is stopped and the ball is put into play by the team that started the current game from its bar closest to the dead ball and following the serving protocol.
Phantom goal
If a ball enters the goal, the goal is valid even if the ball rebounds and re-enters the field of play.
Kickoff after conceding a goal
The team that has conceded the goal shall put the ball into play following the same serving protocol explained above.
Ball out
If the ball goes out of the foosball table after being hit by one team, the opposing team will put the ball in play from its defensive players’ bar or from the goalkeeper.
Exchange of positions
The two players of the same team cannot change their positions – the rods assigned to them – while the ball is in play but can do so when play is stopped for any reason.
Time-out
Each team may request two time-outs per game, for a maximum of 30 seconds. Only the team in possession of the ball may call for it. If the ball is not in play, either team may call for it.
Faults
Play will stop if a team fouls.
What is a foul?
- Interrupt the movement of the ball while it is in play in any way other than with one’s own rods.
- Strike or move the table.
- Switching positions while the ball is in play.
- Failing to comply with the serving protocol and making a direct shot when putting the ball in play.
- Blocking or hindering the movement of the opposing team’s rods in any way.
- To make the pinwheel, that is, to rotate a bar making the figures spin as if they were a fan. It is a type of move forbidden in the official rules, although playing with friends or family it is often considered valid.
We recommend that you agree NOT to do spinning rods except for children who usually love to do this type of movement, it comes out instinctively and they have a lot of fun. But as we see in the following video, some adults can’t help themselves either.
How do you shoot a foul?
- Only the shooting player and the defending player remain on the table.
- The shot is not direct, it must follow the serving protocol.
- The foul is considered to have been taken when the ball moves away from the forward bar, there are no second chances.
- It is considered that the defender has blocked the shot when the ball stops or, after passing through the defensive line, moves away from it.
- After the shot the game stops. If there is a goal, the team that has conceded the goal shall put the ball in play from the center of the field. If there is no goal, the ball shall be put in play in the position it was in when the foul was called.
And that’s all! With these basic rules, the foosball game is well organized and orderly.
Of course you can make changes to the rules, but whatever you decide, all players must be in agreement and well informed before the game starts so that there is no trouble later!
Official foosball rules
In case you are curious -or need to- here are the official rules of table soccer in force in 2022. The most recent version is dated 2022 and is available in English only. The rules in force from 2016 until 2022 are in several languages. You can check for any updates directly on www.tablesoccer.org/page/rules in the menu on the right.
Table soccer has been considered a sport for many years and now aspires to become an Olympic sport. This is what the international table soccer federation is working on with the support of national and regional federations around the world. If table tennis is Olympic, why can’t table soccer be?
TheInternational Table Soccer Federation (ITSF) is based in Nantes (France) and dictates the rules governing official international competitions, including all aspects of the game: players’ clothing, tables, regulation balls and handles, code of ethics, time-outs and of course the various rules of the game, including fouls, penalties and anti-doping controls!
Tips for playing foosball
Expert plays
Typically, people just hit the ball when it passes near one of the player-dummies they control.
But those who really know how to play the game have their tricks. We encourage you to learn, practice and use these movements:
Lateral pass, pass between the lines, lateral pass, shot on goal and…. GOOOOOOOOAL!
Guide and tips for buying a foosball table
If you are thinking of buying a foosball table for your own use or to give as a gift -what a great present- we encourage you to read our buying guide. It will help you make a good decision and choose a product that fits your needs.
Considerations for choosing and buying a table soccer table
There is no such thing as “the best foosball table” because not all of us have the same needs, nor the same preferences, nor are we going to make the same use of the game.
Each one must find “his best product” by taking into account these variables:
1 – Size
Important variable to take into account for two reasons.
First, because it conditions the space that is necessary to play comfortably, taking into account not only the size of the table soccer table itself but also the space needed for the players to move around the table.
And secondly, unless you have the space to have a fixed foosball table in a permanent place -if you are lucky enough, congratulations!- it is necessary to store it somewhere after use. In that case make sure it fits in the space you have available.
2 – Weight and portability
If the playing place and the storage place are not the same we will have to move the table soccer before and after each playing session. In that case the weight of the table soccer is a very important variable. We must also take into account whether one person can move it or two are needed and we will value that it has wheels in case it is a large and heavy foosball table.
3 – Stability during game play
It is important that the table soccer is not moving while we are playing.
But what if we buy a lightweight foosball table and invite our friends from the football team to play!
If the game is aimed at adults we need a table soccer table of robust construction, with good size, weight and grip.
If only kids are going to play we can afford a smaller and lighter foosball table.
4 – Quality of materials
More quality means more durability and better gaming experience. And a higher price too. But you already know that.
5 – Spare parts
It’s not a big deal if you’re just playing now and then, but it does matter if you want to get your money’s worth by competing week after week
Companies specialized in foosball tables not only ensure a better quality of their products but also provide spare parts if necessary: players, bars, shock absorbers, balls…
6 – Complements
Some foosball tables add a plus to their product that can tip the balance of our purchase decision to one side or the other: scoreboard, spare balls, sound effects, lights, electronic scoreboard, shock absorbers on the rods, padded grips…
Full transparency: some of the products we recommend include affiliate links. If you buy through them, we get a small commission — at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support!
Funny pictures of foosball tables
We finish with some funny pictures that we have discovered while we were documenting to prepare this article. We hope they bring a smile to your face as they did to ours.
“Biliardino – Foosball table cycle @ Bikepride Bologna 2014” by Revolweb is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
“Three-sided football table” by Kaeru is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
“Human table football – yes it is happening / our team came a respectable 3rd ⚽️ #london_only #table_football #igerslondon #igerssurrey #bankofenglandsportsclub #olympia_london
“Barbie Foosball Table, FAO Schwarz” by InSapphoWeTrust is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
“File:Long table footbal.jpg” by Smiley.toerist is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
And that’s all, which is no small feat!
Thanks for reading!
Have a nice day, and a better night. 😉
