nztablesoccer.com - Table Football

With or without a referee. The official TIPP-KICK match rules for the pros always apply, whether you’re staging large-scale tournaments or friendlies in your own living room.

RULE 1: Pitch and tournament board

1. The pitch must be rectangular, and should measure 106 cm in length and 70 cm in width. It should be marked out by clearly visible lines in accordance with the above plan, whose width may not, however, exceed 2 mm. The corner areas are located at each of the pitch’s four corners, and are formed by quadrants whose radius must measure 3 cm. Clear white and black markings (e.g. adhesive tape or painted lines) should be applied to the outer borders of the two pitch halves. The pitch itself is made of felt.
2. The tournament board should also be rectangular. Its measurements must correspond with the above; the length should be between 123 and 126 cm and the width between 80 and 83 cm. The tournament board is constructed from a solid, even base board and surrounded by an upright border which must measure between 3 and 5 cm from the top edge of the pitch. There should be a gap measuring between 19 and 22 cm behind the central goalposts. The tournament board should be placed horizontally on a stable surface, and should stand at 75 cm above ground level.

RULE 2: Match figures

1. The team consists of a kicker and a goalkeeper. Up to four kickers can be played as outfield players as desired. If a kicker is clearly defective, it is possible to replace it with another kicker. It is only possible to replace a defective kicker once during a single match. Likewise, the goalkeeper may also be exchanged in the event of a clear defect. The referee makes the decision to replace match figures.
2. The kicker may be modified, but not enlarged. The kickers' height may not exceed 7.5 cm. The original match equipment may be substituted by other materials, but these may not exceed the equipment's original dimensions. It is possible to make the kicker heavier by adding a weight measuring a maximum of 1 cm in height and 1.5 cm in width. This weight may not overlap the kicker’s base plate at the sides. The button may not exceed 0.6 cm in diameter and 0.5 cm in height. Using adhesive tape to secure the suspension rods is permitted. Modifying the base is not permitted.
3. In the case of the goalkeeper, the figure may not be enlarged or altered through filing. A maximum of 7 cm of wire may be exposed between the control box and the figure itself. This measurement may vary if original equipment is used, but will only be permitted if the 7 cm rod length is not exceeded. In contrast to other original equipment, the wire’s permissible diameter (1.5 mm) may not be increased. The control box must retain its original length, width and height and must remain within the goalkeeper’s rod exit area.

RULE 3: Ball

1. Only one ball is in play during each game. Changing balls is only possible under exceptional circumstances and the referee must make the final decision.
2. The ball is moved by pressing the button located on the kicker’s head, which in turn triggers the shooting foot; the kicker may adopt any stance in the shooting process. The ball may not be pushed using the kicker, nor moved without operating the button and thus the shooting foot. The ball may be moved by the goalkeeper according to the above rules.
3. Play is only possible if your colour appears uppermost on the ball, with the exception of maneuvers by the goalkeeper, which may perform in the case of the opposing colour according to the Tipp-Kick rules.
4. Colors and sides are changed at halftime. The player who previously played when the ball was white now plays when it is black, and vice versa.

RULE 4: Match time

1.  A match consists of two match halves lasting 5 minutes each. The time lost as a result of match interruptions can be added to the remaining match half depending on their nature.
2. Extra time consists of two match halves lasting 2 minutes each and immediately follows the normal match time.
3. Halftime is not practiced in the case of normal match time, nor in the case of any extra time.

RULE 5: The ball: in play and off pitch

1. The ball is considered to be off pitch if it crosses the goal or sidelines on the pitch or in the air, or if the match is stopped by the referee.
2. The ball is considered in play at all other times during the match, even if it bounces back onto the pitch from the goal crossbar or post or the referee suspected a foul which was not confirmed.

RULE 6: Defense

1. The kicker and/or goalkeeper always function as defenders when the opponent has taken possession of the ball.
2. For defense purposes, the goalkeeper
   - may not be bend forwards in an exaggerated manner,
   - may not be turned upside down,
   - may not be placed outside the goal net: the control box may not be moved behind the goal net or line, and the figure itself may not be placed on the pitch or behind the end line or next to the goal either in whole or in part,
   - may not be touched on the “body” by the player.
3. For defense purposes, the kicker
   - may be placed or laid down in the opponent’s shooting path at a distance of at least two kicker lengths, but must retain contact with the ground and have its back to its own goal or pitch half
   - may not be placed within its own penalty area,
   - may be placed or laid down in the opponent’s shooting path at a distance of less than two kicker lengths if the kicker is touching its own penalty area line with its feet or is lying on it, provided that the kicker’s outer edges are touching the line (the remaining parts of the kicker must be within the penalty area).
4. For defense purposes, the hand of the player operating the goalkeeper may not be placed beneath the goal net.
5. The game involves two types of defense: active and passive defense. An instance of passive defense by a match figure occurs if the latter is aimed at by an opponent without being moved itself. Active defense occurs if the defender is moved when the ball has already been moved by the opponent, and if the ball hits this match figure. Active defense by the kicker is not permitted, even if the kicker is in contact with the ground in the process.
6. Defense by the goalkeeper in the above sense does not occur if the “home” ball has previously been in play. In contrast, (active) defense does occur if the opponent’s ball has previously been in play. However, if the ball is touched by the goalkeeper even in the case of the home ball and the latter crosses the goal line in the process via the control box, the penalty regulations in (8) are applied.
7. The penalty regulations described in rules 13 and 14 are applied in the event that
   - rules (2), (3) or (4) are breached
   - a kicker is witnessed in an instance of active defense.
8. The abovementioned penalty regulations are not applied to rule (2) in the event that the goalkeeper’s control box was pushed over the goal line as a result of touching the ball in the home penalty area. The player operating the goalkeeper is initially admonished, and the referee calls for a replay from the point where the match was interrupted, provided that this does not result in any advantage to the offending player. Should this be repeated, the offending player will be given a warning, and rule 15 will be applied in the case of further offences.

RULE 7: Obstruction

1. It is not permitted to obstruct opponents during the match.
2. An obstruction occurs in the event that the opponent is prevented from exercising the full range of his playing maneuvers in whole or in part through active or passive actions.
3. Depending on the situation in question, the penalty regulations described in rules 13 and 14 will be applied in the event that any obstructions of this nature occur.
4. In the case of further obstructions, rule 15 will be applied.

RULE 8: Goal shot

1. Each direct player action from any point on the pitch can be classified as a goal shot.
2. A goal is scored when the ball has fully crossed the goal line. If the ball is prevented from crossing the line by a protruding goal net or goalkeeper’s control box, the goal line shall be deemed to have been crossed.
3. Goalkeeper goals are also fundamentally permitted.
4. If the ball is in play, a goal shot must be made after the second forward pass, or the opposing defender / goalkeeper or goal post / crossbar must be touched. If this is not the case, a free kick must take place from the place on the pitch at the point where the ball has come to a stop.

RULE 9: Kick-off

1. The kick-off takes place at the beginning of each match half (including the match extension), and after a goal has been scored.
2. A lob is used to decide which player can kick-off at the start of the match. The referee carries out the lob. After a goal, the player who did not score the goal kicks off again.
3. The kick-off occurs at the kick-off point. The ball must leave the kick-off area completely in the process.
4. If the kick-off is against the rules, the opponent has the right to a free kick from the kick-off point.
5. The kick-off may not be a goal shot (even indirectly).
6. The kick-off is over as soon as the ball has come to a stop.

RULE 10: Goal kick

1. The goal kick is performed by a match figure in the goal area; the ball must leave the penalty area completely in the process.
2. If the goal kick is against the rules, the opponent has the right to a free kick from the point where the ball last came to a standstill, provided that no serious offences occurred.
3. The goal kick may not be a goal shot (even indirectly).
4. The goal kick is over as soon as the ball has come to a stop.

RULE 11: Kick-in

1. The kick-in is performed from the point on the sidelines where the ball exited the pitch. It is performed by the opponent of the player who caused the ball out, although the ball must have gone over the line by 4.5 cm (its own length).
2. If the kick-in is against the rules, the opponent has the right to kick-in from the same place on the sidelines himself, provided that he is not at an advantage as a result or any serious offences have occurred.
3. The kick-in may not be a goal shot (even indirectly).
4. The kick-in is over as soon as the ball has come to a stop.

RULE 12: Corner kick

1. If the defending team’s match figures were the last to come into contact with the ball before this had completely crossed the end line, the attackers are awarded a corner kick.
2. The corner kick is performed from the quadrant nearest to the place where the ball crossed the end line.

RULE 13: Free kick

1. A free kick is awarded if the opponent touches the ball during the game with clothes or body, or
   - does not move the ball according to rule 3,
   - blocks the ball, e.g. offends according to rule 6,
   - obstructs according to rule 7,
   - performs an illegal kick-off,
   - performs an illegal goal kick,
   - touches the ball with a home match figure not in play or obstructs movement on the pitch. These regulations shall not be applied in the event that a serious offence has been committed.
2. Provided that nothing else has been agreed, the free kick shall be performed from the point where the offence occurred. The distance between ball and defense kicker during a free kick must be at least 3 kicker lengths.
3. If a goal is scored in spite of an offence according to rule 7, which led to the free kick initially, this shall be considered valid.
4. Free kicks can also be performed after the final whistle.
5. Free kicks may not result in a serious disadvantage to the performing player. Own goals shot as a result of free kicks are thus invalid.

RULE 14: Stopping play

1. The referee stops play in the event that a player interrupts the match several times by committing offences or behaves in an un-sportsmanlike manner.
2. The following are deemed serious player offences:
   - leaving the tournament board during the match,
   - playing the ball several times when it is the opponent’s colour,
   - breaching the regulations described in rule 6,
   - causing deliberate obstructions according to rule 7.
3. Stopping play must be preceded by a verbal warning by the referee. Exception: Free (penalty) kick after the final whistle has been blown. This warning may either be given when the first major breach of the rules occurs, and should, at the latest, be given in the event of any repeat offences. After the verbal warning, the match must be stopped immediately after the next major breach of rules.
4. After the stopped match, the opponent in question should be awarded 2:0 points and 5:0 goals. However, this rule shall not be applied in the event that opponent’s score is higher when play is stopped, so that stopping play does not disadvantage him in any way. In these cases, the match result should be declared according to the score at the point when play was stopped.

RULE 15: Referees

1. As a rule, each referee is obliged to follow the rules when making decisions. He is also obliged to be non-biased and to decisions based on personal impressions.
2. The referees are obliged to maintain a clear match progression by means of clear decisions and the consistent application of the rules.
3. All referee decisions should be factual, objective ones.
4. The players are obliged to accept all referee decisions.
5. The referees must ensure they do not obstruct the players and that they are able to follow match progress at all times.
6. During the match, the referees should usually refrain from delivering a commentary on the match.
7. After the match is over, the referees are obliged to inform the players of the score and / or any specific incidents.