Foosball Rules Of Play

Foosball can be played at many different levels. From college dorms, home entertainment rooms, at a YMCA, at offices and at tournaments around the world! There are 100,000's of people who play foosball in tournaments every year around the world, and who knows how many space aliens are playing every day. We have provided some rules of play for you to use.  Did you know they have referees judge matches at the higher levels of play?

Basic Rules of Foosball

You want to play but you don't want to deal with all the technicalities! Here are the 3 Golden Rules!
  • Tables have 9 Balls, so you play best out of 9 which is first team to 5 goals.
  • If a ball goes into the goal legally, it is a point, no matter who hit it or what it bounced off of.
  • NO SPINNING THE RODS!!!

Advanced Rules:

  • Coin toss to see who serves first.
  • To start, set the ball between the center men on the 5-bar.
  • Ask the other team if they are "ready". Put the ball into play by touching at least 2 men before advancing the ball forward.
  • You have 10 seconds to advance the ball from the 5-bar and 15 seconds on all other rods.
  • After goals, the team scored upon serves the ball next.
    • If the ball goes off the table during play, it is placed in the goalie area of the team last scored upon.
    • If the ball stops moving and you can't reach it, known as a dead ball, place it in the goalie area of the team last scored upon.
    • You cannot reach into the table for the ball while it is in play.
  • You can call "time out" when you have the ball in your teams possession on any rod. You receive 2 time outs per game. Before calling "time in", as the other team if they are "ready".
  • Be polite, no swearing, and have fun!