Foosball Tables

Foosball is often played for fun in pubs, bars, workplaces, schools, and clubs with few rules. "House rules" often include a ban on spinning your foosmen, so one's hand must maintain continuous contact with the handle. And also the off-The-Feed rule, where if the ball is scored before it touches a player or bank the goal is given to the team who had been scored upon.

Foosball is also played in official competitions organized by a number of national organizations. An international organization named ITSF (International Table Soccer Federation) was established in August 2002 to bring together all of them, as well as organizing world Championships.
A Garlando style table with a game in progress
A Garlando style table with a game in progress

A vast number of different tables exist. The table brands used on the world tour and official ITSF tournaments are "French-style" Bonzini, "American-style" Tornado, "Italian-style" Roberto-Sport, "Belgian-style" Eurosoccer. Other major brands include Kicker, Garlando, Löwen-Soccer, Warrior, Lehmacher, Leonhart, Smoby and many more. There was also a 7-meter table created by artist Maurizio Cattelan for a piece called Stadium. It takes 11 players to a side.

Differences in the table types have great influence on the playing styles. Most tables have one goalie whose movements are restricted to the goal area. On those tables the goalie becomes unable to get the ball once it is stuck out of reach. Other tables have three goalies, one in the center and one in each corner to reach the ball so sloped corners aren't needed. Another major difference is found in the balls, which can be made of cork, plastic or even marble and metal, varying the speed of shots a great deal, as well as the "grip" between the man and the ball.

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