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Foosball

Foosball is a table sport in which players control rod-mounted figures to pass, block and shoot a ball into the opponent's goal. ITSF rules document serving, possession, time limits, fouls and the ban on uncontrolled spinning. Play happens on a table-soccer table with standing room on both handle sides.

LevelMain sport FamilyPrecision Sport CategoryPrecision sport

AI-generated illustration: Foosball — AI-generated illustration

Classification

Category Precision sport

Family Precision Sport

Level Main sport

Getting started

Kurzbeschreibung Table sport with rod-mounted figures, ball control, passing, blocking and shooting.

Geeignet für Suitable for people who like fast reaction, social duels and technical ball control in a small space.

Cost Low if a public or club foosball table is available. A personal table is more expensive; club/league fees and balls are optional. Table-soccer club, DTFB/ITSF-adjacent league, youth centre, bar or university sports group. Rules-based play starts with control rather than spinning.

First progress First matches immediately; controlled passing and shooting after several short sessions.

Fitness level low

Was du brauchst

foosball table
foosball ball
two or four players
no-spinning rule
enough room on both table sides

First steps

find a loose grip
stop the ball
pass from five-bar to three-bar
learn one controlled shot
then play a match with ITSF basics

Table-soccer club, youth centre, university sport, bar table, local league or DTFB/ITSF-adjacent training.

Keep fingers away from rod travel, stabilise the table and avoid hard rod impacts near others.

Weitere Angaben

Aliases Table Soccer, Table Football, Foosball, Tischkicker, Kicker

Tags table sport, foosball, table soccer, Tischsport, Kicker, Table Soccer, table-soccer, indoor

Rules and format

Die Grundlagen

Ziel

Play the ball under control into the opponent's table goal and prevent goals against.

Teilnehmer

singles, doubles or team competition.

Teamgröße

1 vs 1 or 2 vs 2 at the table.

Spielfeld

table-soccer table with figure rods and goals.

Dauer

Depends on format and event.

Wertung

goals, sets and matches under the ruleset.

Gewinnbedingung

Best valid time, placing or score in the announced format.

Ausrüstung

foosball table
ball
figure rods
score markers

Wichtige Regelpunkte

uncontrolled spinning
jarring/shaking
exceeding time limit
incorrect serve

Regelquellen

Federations and sources

Rules International Table Soccer Federation · official-rules · high
Official documents International Table Soccer Federation · official-documents · high
Foosball Rules for Beginners Game Room Shop · beginner-guide · medium
Academy Foosball Club UK · club-guide · medium
World Cup 2028 International Table Soccer Federation · event-page · high