Playing by the Rules - Foosball
Foosball or table soccer is a staple of bars, game rooms, and recreational areas, and for good reason. With its rows of tiny, rotating soccer players and table sizes for a variety of spaces, it provides the fun of a real soccer game on a smaller, simpler scale.
Although it’s a popular recreational game, foosball is also played competitively, with an extensive list of rules set by the United States Table Soccer Association. You can even purchase posters of these rules to hang over your table! Many casual foosball players also use some of the more basic foosball rules for more balanced, authentic game play. Here are some of the most common rules for playing foosball:
Serving the Ball
To start a game, players typically flip a coin to determine which team will serve the ball. When one team scores a goal, the other team is next to serve the ball. This helps to provide fairer and more balanced gameplay. For any subsequent games, the team that lost the last game serves the ball.
The player serving the ball should make sure that all other players are ready to begin and are grasping the rods before starting the match. If the ball is served directly into the goal, this does not count unless the ball is struck or ricochets off of a player first.
Ball in Play/Out of Play
Once the ball is served, it is considered “in play” until it is hit off the table, time-out is called, a “dead ball” is declared, or someone scores a point. Once the ball is in play, players must keep their hands out of the playing area unless given permission from the opposing team.
If the ball comes off of the table area, it is ruled out of play and must be re-served by the team that last served it. This applies even if the ball comes off of the table area and lands back on it. The ball is still in play if it enters the air, but doesn’t leave the play area.
Scoring Goals
Players score points by kicking the ball into the goal on the opposing team’s side of the playing area. The official rules state that for a point to be scored, the ball has to be struck or ricochet off of a player before going into the goal.
If the ball rolls into the goal but doesn’t come into contact with a player beforehand, the point is not legally recognized. If a player kicks the ball into their own goal, it counts as a point for the other team. If the ball enters a goal but bounces back out onto the field, it counts as a point and the ball is still in play.
Spinning and Jarring
Spinning and jarring are two illegal moves. A spin occurs when the rod is rotated a full 360 degrees before or after coming in contact with the ball. If a player spins and scores a goal, they do not get the point and the ball is re-served by the opposing goalie. If the player spins, strikes the ball, but does not score a goal, the opposing team can choose to keep playing or re-serve the ball.
Jarring occurs when a player slams their rods against the walls of the foosball table with enough force to distract the opponent or “jar” the ball out of their possession. This also includes abruptly moving the table in any way, but does not apply to light bumping caused by moving rods back and forth to play defense. If a player is caught jarring, the opposing team can choose to keep playing from the current position or re-serve the ball.
Dead Ball
If the ball completely stops moving and no player can reach it, it is considered a dead ball. If the dead ball lands between two opposing team rods, the ball is put back into play by the team that last served it. If the dead ball lands between the 2-man rod and the goalie rod, it should be moved within reach of the nearest player.
Whether you’ve got your sights set on a competitive foosball career or you’re simply holding a casual tournament at home, it is very helpful to become familiar with the official rules of table soccer. While not all players follow these rules strictly, they are a great baseline for establishing your own rules for a fun, friendly competition. Check out all of our great foosball tables for your next round of fun!