Rules of Play

 
Italian-Style Tables | Fastball (No Passage/Alvolo) | Fastball (No Passage/Tradizionelle) | Tornado | Goalie Wars | Four On Four
 

Italian-Style Tables

This is the final version of the International Rules for Italian Tables (Garlando, FAS, FA.BI), following the international process of consultation, and votes on issues such as including time limits, serve, dead ball and lifting of rods.
Persons and organizations participating in the consultation process include the following:
UK - Boris Atha, Dave Ziemann, Rhys Roberts, Paul Marsh (Bar Football Association Committee), Mike Cohen, Julian Cronin, Mark Leahy, Demetri Dourambeis, Dan Gallon, Andrei-Russell-Gebbett, Lang Hunter (Northern Ireland), Martyn Harris, Dave Oates, Dave Perrott, Geoff Brice
Canada - Adam Imanpoor (Canadian Table Soccer Federation) Eric Dunn (Canadian Table Soccer Federation) Regis Levesque (Canadian Table Soccer Federation) Bryan Eng (Babyfoot Soccer Toronto)
Switzerland - Patrick Kaiser (Tischfussball Garlando)
Austria - Bernhard Sillipp, Martin Rossmayer (TFB), TFC Ratsch Bumm
Poland - Marek Lulkiewicz,, Wally (Warsaw) Cezary Cytowicz (Torun)
Italy - Pasquale Venanzio (UK), Francesco Bellini (Garlando Srl), FICB
Russia - Max Maslow (St Petersburg)
Hungary - Modernova (Distributor/Operator)
Slovenia - Marjan Simonic
Netherlands - Phill (Tafelvoetbal Garlando), Jan de Mol - NTVB (Topper/Tornado), Bart van Winkel
France - Farid Lounas - AFBF (Bonzini)
Germany - Christian Klein (Germanfoos - Tornado),
USA - Bruce Nardoci - Bonzini USA/NATSA, USA - Sean Harding - NATSA

Rule 1. Start of Play
(a) The winner of the coin toss can choose side of table OR first serve (kickoff)
(b) The ball is placed at or under the foot of the middle figure and ball must be placed in the face-off circle.
(c) Play may only begin when the opponent has been asked and has agreed that they are ready.
(d) The team with possession of the ball on the 5 bar at serve must make one 5 bar pass before passing to another bar.
    (i) If the server shoots and scores on his first possession, that goal will not count, and the opponent re-serves the ball.
    (ii) If, after the ball is stopped and the opponents are ready, the server loses control of the ball before making a 5-bar pass, play continues even if the ball has been lost.
(e) Subsequent 5-bar kickoffs go to the player or team conceding a goal.
(f) Where play is re-started from a 2-bar kickoff, the opponent must agree they are ready, and the player with possession must pass the ball in between two men and stop the ball for at least one second before passing or shooting.
(g) The loser of the coin toss pays for the first game, with payment alternating thereafter.
(h) After every game, players must change sides unless both teams agree otherwise

Rule 2. Ball off Table
(a) If the ball leaves the table the player with serve plays another 5-bar kickoff

Rule 3. Dead Ball
(a) If the ball goes dead between the 2-bar and nearest goal line, a kickoff is played from that 2-bar
(b) If the ball goes dead anywhere else, the player with serve plays another 5-bar kickoff
(c) On glass-topped tables where the glass cannot be removed:
    (i) A ball stopped in a dead point between opponents’ rods may be retrieved by lifting the table
    (ii) The table should be lifted by the team further from the ball.
    (iii) Players must ensure the bars are fully pushed in before lifting the table.
    (iv) Play resumes when the ball is kicked off from the position designated in (a) or (b) above.

Rule 4. Goal
(a) A goal may be scored with any player figure on any rod
(b) If the ball enters the goal and bounces out again, it counts as a goal.
(c) A goal scored as a result of an infringement will not count
(d) If, following a breach of any rule, an ‘own goal’ is scored by that player against him/herself, the goal will count against that offending player or team.

Rule 5. Possession time limit
(a) Players are allowed a maximum of 15 seconds continuous possession on the 3-rod and goalie area, and 10 seconds continuous possession on the 5-rod
(b) The two defensive rods count as a single rod for time limit purposes.
(c) Time limits begin once the ball is in play (e.g. after touching second 5-bar figure following serve).
(d) The time limit is reset each time the ball touches an opposing player or enters/passes through a zone controlled by an opponent.
(e) After the time limit is up, the ball will be given to the other team for a 5-bar serve/kickoff

Rule 6. Time-Outs & Change of Position
(a) Each team is allowed two time-outs up to 30 seconds per series. If a team illegally calls a third time out this will be treated as a distraction.
(b) A time-out can be taken when im possession of the ball on any rod, or after a goal has been scored. The player that takes the timeout must be the one to call it.
(c) Play may be suspended at any time to allow table maintenance, or in case of injury or other medical condition.
    (i) If the ball is moving at the time of suspension the game will restart via a serve from the team with serve at the time the damage or injury occurred.
    (ii) If the ball is stopped at the time of suspension the game will restart from that table position. The ball must touch 2 players on the same rod (or within goal area) before play can resume.
(d) Doubles teams may only switch positions when a goal has been scored and when they call a timeout when the ball is within their possession. To change grips a time out must be used, and must be changed within 60 seconds.
(e) If a team changes places it cannot change back until another goal has been scored. Where both teams wish to change, the team with possession (due to serve) must choose positions first.
(f) Teams are allowed a maximum of 1 minute between games to change grips during doubles matches, and 1 minute in singles. Penalty for exceeding time limit is loss of time-out.
(g) If a time out is taken between games, it will count towards the game about to be played.

Rule 7. Spinning
(a) A player is permitted to have the player spin 360 degrees to execute a shot, and another 360 degrees after the player makes contact with the ball.
(b) Any other spin after that or before that, will be counted as a foul and a serve will be given to the opposite team on their respective 5-bar.

Rule 8. Jarring & Interference

(a) The table must never be moved or lifted during play
(b) The table must not be jarred when the opponent has possession of the ball.
(c) The table must not be banged or jarred by attacker or defender at any time prior to a shot.
(d) A jar occurs when the ball is caused to move as a result of movement of the table (e.g. via slamming, or excessive shaking, of the rods, or kicking/bumping the cabinet or legs etc.), other than a fair attempt to play the ball (e.g. to intercept or deflect a wall-pass where there is no other way of doing so).
(e) Players must not interfere with the ball in any way (e.g. by blowing), or put hands into the playfield, if the ball is in play.
(f) If the referee calls a player for jarring or other interference, the opponent’s possession time is reset
(g) If an illegal jar or other interference causes the player to lose possession of the ball from a rod, play may be continued from that rod.

Rule 9. Distraction
(a) No talking, shouting or other distractions to the opposing team when the ball is in play.
(b) No mobile phones may be used during tournament play
    (i) Rule applies to players and spectators
    (ii) Players must ensure phones are switched off before starting a match.
(c) No smoking during tournament play
    (i) Spectators smoking or otherwise interfering with play may be required to leave the area by the match referee or by any player of either team
(d) Players are not allowed to have two hands on one handle at anytime while playing.
(e) In doubles, players may only use the correct hand for each rod.
    (i) Where a player has use of only one hand, it may be used legally on either bar.
(f) Penalty for mobile-phone ringing or other distraction is loss of possession to opposing team.

Rule 10. Breaking a rule
(a) Players are expected to act in an appropriate sporting manner at all times and not behave in a way which could bring the game into disrepute. Common sense should prevail in any rule disputes.
(b) A referee may be called by either team, or be appointed by the Tournament Director
(c) If the referee calls any rule infringement against a player, the other player/team may choose one of the following three options:
    (i) Resume play with a 5-bar kickoff
    (ii) Continue play from the current table position (i.e. after the infringement occurred)
    (iii) Resume play from the table position at the time the infringement occurred
(d) Repeated infringements may be penalized, following a warning, by the loss of a goal, or disqualification.
(e) The referee’s decision is final

These are the Official Canadian Table Soccer Rules, from the Canadian Table Soccer Federation's website at www.canadafoos.com.