Tornado Rules & Regulations of Foosball

Foosball, also known as table soccer, is a popular game played for both recreation and sport. In the game, two teams each have four rows of figures mounted on spinning rods within a miniature table soccer field. Tornado Table Soccer makes the official Foosball tables used in tournaments by the U.S. Table Soccer Association (USTSA).

Serving

Teams flip a coin to determine who gets to serve first. After the initial serve, the team scored upon gets to serve the next ball. To serve, the team member playing on the forward rods puts the ball into play by inserting it through the serving hole in the middle of the field. The player's hand cannot enter the field while he serves the ball. The ball is in play once it hits the table, and at least one of the team's figures must touch the ball before scoring a goal.

Dead Ball

When a ball on the table is completely stationary and cannot be reached by any figure on either team, it is a dead ball. If it is between the rod with two men and the goal, then the goalie places the ball in the nearest corner and releases it into play. He then has to pass it from one figure to another and stop it for one second before passing or shooting it. If the ball stops in the middle of the playing field, between the teams' two-man rods, or leaves the table entirely, then the team that initially served the ball serves it again.

Spinning the Rods

Players are not permitted to spin the rods when advancing or striking the ball. A spin is considered a revolution of 360 degrees or more that occurs either before or after hitting the ball. It is OK for the rod to spin a total of more than 360 degrees during a motion, as long as it is divided between the approach and follow-through. If a player breaks the spinning rule and scores, the goal does not count and the opposing goalie puts the ball back in play from the nearest corner. If a spinning infraction does not result in a goal, the opposing team decides whether to continue play or to re-serve the ball.

Time Limits

The ball can only be in possession at a rod for a maximum 15 seconds, or 10 seconds at the five-man rod, before being advanced on the field. Each team can call two 30-second timeouts per game, although they must be in possession of the ball or between balls when the timeout is called. A best-of-three match must be completed within 35 minutes, and a best-of-five match can last up to an hour. At the end of the time limit, teams enter a 10-minute overtime period, after which the team that has won the most games or, if tied, is ahead in the current game is declared the winner.