nztablesoccer.com - Table Football

Basic Rules & Game Set Up

To start you need; 2 teams, two nets, a ball, and a playing surface. A typical game set up is shown below. The formation is your choice, experiment to find the formation that best suits your style of play!

The diagram below shows the field of play and uses many terms referred to in the rules that follow.  Other than the 'shooting line' the pitch reflects the one used in the game of soccer.

The Pitch

It is very important that you understand how to flick the players correctly. Failure to use the proper technique for flicking the players has caused many an argument between friends!  The players are designed to swerve, spin, and kick the ball according to your skill.

To play the game you have to master the Subbuteo "flick to kick" method. Set up your player with a ball directly in front of him. Place the first and second finger of your playing hand behind the base of the player. Press down gently on the playing surface with your "flicking finger" and flick your finger at the player so that the player hits or "kicks" the ball. Your finger should never touch the ball. The harder you press your finger down when you flick, the harder you will hit the ball. Please note: THE THUMB MAY NOT BE USED IN YOUR FLICK AT ALL, but it can be used to brace your hand on the table (see picture). It is a finger flick only.
 

With practice you will be able to flick players on the side of the base to make the player curve toward the ball. With the newer style Subbuteo players (post 1995) the bases are flatter and this allows for the players to "glide" accurately across the playing surface, and also to chip or loft the ball on shots. The newer players however do not curve as easily as the earlier figures.      

PLAYING TIP: In the picture you can see a recommended position of the hand when flicking. Whenever possible it is best to have the base of the hand firmly on the playing table. This gives a good foundation for accurate flicking. Good players often recommend that the thumb and 2nd finger be firmly placed on the table whenever possible.
     
     

The object of the game is to retain possession of the ball until a goal is scored. Like all sports, the player with the most goals wins the game! All games are two halves of fifteen minutes, with players changing ends at half time.
Figures must be flicked cleanly using only the fingernail of either middle or index finger.

To score the ball must first be fully over the shooting line (the line that divides the halfway line and the goal-line).
Possession can be given away by:
a) Missing the ball
b) Hitting the ball onto an opponent's figure
c) Hitting the ball out of play
d) Conceding a free kick (by hitting any figure before the ball)
e) Touching any figure by accident (players can agree to ignore this rule)
For every attacking shot the defenders can have one blocking flick. This blocking flick must not touch any figure or the ball otherwise the attacker can opt to have it replaced to its original position. The attacker does not have to wait for the defender's blocking flick.
The attacker can only have a maximum three touches of the ball with one figure in succession. After the third flick the ball must touch or be touched by another figure before the attacker can use this figure again in the same possession.

Visit the FISTF site for the complete rules, including rules on corners, throw ins, and restarts. Or get them by clicking the link below -

FISTF Rules - pdf file 

Thanks go to Dave Baxter at World Table Soccer for the abridged version of the rules and to Paul Eyes at SubbuteoUSA for 'Basic Set Up' words and images.