
Basic Foosball Rules
Flip A Coin - A coin flip decides who serves the foosball to start the foosball game. Aer the first goal
is scored, the rule is that the team who was last scored on gets to serve the next ball. This rule keeps the
game fair for both opponents. The foosball must be touched by a man before the ball goes into a goal for
a legal goal to occur.
No Spinning - A spin is a rule for when the rod completes a 360 degree rotaon without touching the ball.
This is deemed an illegal move in the rules of foosball.
No Jarring - Jarring is a rule for when a player slams his or her rods against the wall of the foosball table in
an aempt to distract or jar the foosball loose from the other player's possession. The rule is that there is
no jarring allowed at any point during a game. This is not the same as when a player on the opposite team
moves his or her foosball rods back and forth in an aempt to play defense. The key this rule is when a
player hits the wall of the table with enough force to jar the ball or distract the opponent. That is why this
is a subjecve rule that may be called more strict by certain foosball players.
Dead Balls - If a foosball stops in the middle of two opposing team rods, the ball must be picked up and
reserved. The serve goes back to the team that was last scored on. If a dead ball occurs on the defensive
side of the table behind the defensive 2 bar, the defensive player must move the ball back into playing
posion. This rule is in place so players don't cause a dead ball on purpose in order to force a reserve.
Out of Play - If a ball comes off the table area or hits a top rail and comes back into the table area, the
ball is ruled out of play and must be reserved by the team that was last scored on.
5 Bar Passing - These 5 bar passing rules are a lile complex if you have never played tournament foosball.
These passing rules do not apply to the other foosball rods, just the 5 bar. You are required to pass the ball
within a 10 second me period from your 5 bar rod to the 3 bar rod directly aer a serve. Aer the inial
serve, you then are allowed 15 seconds to pass from the 5 bar. A ball cannot be completely stopped on the
5 bar and passed forward to the 3 bar, it must be moving and touch 2 men on the 5 bar before being
advanced. Addionally, the ball can only touch the wall a total of 2 mes in a row (before touching a man
again on the 5 bar) before being advanced. However, it can touch the ball a 3rd me if it is part of the pass.
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