Rules
Rules for the Sport of Table Soccer
Organized Foosball
We organize tournaments with structures similar to Tennis, in that there are both Singles (1 vs 1) and Doubles (2 vs 2) events. Doubles (Two-Player Team) events are typically either Winner Stay On (“WSO”), Draw Your Partner (“DYP”) or Bring Your Partner (“BYP”) events. Some common tournament formats include Double Elimination, Single Elimination, Round Robin, and Championship Format.
Matches can either be 1 Game to seven goals, 2/3 Games to five goals, or 3/5 Games to five goals. If “Deuce” is in effect, then the final game in a match would need to be won by 2, with a cap at 8 goals.
People play foosball differently around the world. Some groups prefer a fast-paced game called Speedball or Fastball, where passing is not allowed and the rules are designed to keep the play moving quickly. Others prefer a more controlled version of the game that allows passing by regulating the amount of time that players can have possession, before having to advance the ball.
We follow the latter… the official rules of the International Table Soccer Federation (ITSF). We still play Speedball from time to time because it really helps to develop eye-hand coordination, making you great at catching loose balls. Other “mini-games”, designed to improve specific skill sets needed to become a well rounded player, include Goalie Wars, Five-Bar Wars, and Forward Shootout.
GTA Foosball follows the International Table Soccer Federation (“ITSF”) Official Rules. Some of the most important rules include No Spinning, the Ready Rule to serve the ball, Time Limits for possession on each rod, and Jarring (bumping) the table so hard that it affects the opponent’s possession.
WSO Challenge Nights
Winner Stays On (WSO) format is used when there are more than 4 players, to keep track of who gets to challenge the winners in the next game. After each game, the winners stay on the table, the losers are kicked off, and the next player/team on the sign up list gets a chance to become the King(s)/Queen(s) of the table. Use a chalkboard or a piece of paper to track who’s next to challenge the winners.
Local Tournaments
GTA Foosball hosts tournaments throughout the year that are designed to help our top players train for upcoming international tournaments. These local tourneys include events for players at all skill levels, including Ranked events for new players, and Open events that attract top international talent.
Event Formats
Draw Your Partner (“DYP”) events are where teams are randomly selected from the pool of players. Bring Your Partner (“BYP”) on the other hand, are where players decide their teams ahead of time. Singles (1 vs 1) and Specialty events are aimed at helping players improving a specific aspects of their game.
Player Rankings
Players in Toronto are ranked into five categories:
- Novice are those who have recently joined (less than 1 year), and are getting comfortable with ball control;
- Amateurs are working on passing and shooting technique;
- Experts have a primary shot and passing series, and are building depth to their strategy; and
- Professionals compete, or have competed internationally on a regular basis, and are developing increased strategy and consistency.
- Masters are the best of the best. They play for team Canada in the ITSF World Cup every other year. They are something to aspire to.