Become a table football professional with these few terms and rules
The language of table football is rich and varied, and sometimes very colorful. It is made up of terms from table football, soccer, and everyday life. Some of these terms are common, others more specific, as we will see.
- Self-blocking - blocking the ball in table football
This is the act of automatically blocking a ball coming from behind with the attackers (players at the front). To do this, you must hold the attackers' crossbar so that the players are angled at approximately 50°. Self-blocking is a very common technique in table football that demonstrates a certain mastery of the game's techniques.
- Sweeping - the first steps towards sweeping in table football
Sweeping in table football is the act of moving the ball quickly under a player or from one player to another on the same crossbar. This technique allows you to destabilize the opposing player in a defensive position by forcing them to constantly adapt the position of their defenders and goalkeeper. This technique can also be practiced with a box block, a trade block, or even a sweep during a bowl.
- Making boards or how to shoot hard in foosball?
Outside Board
Making an outside board means hitting the ball against the wooden edges on the opponent's side. This technique allows you to circumvent the opponent's guard in order to score a goal.
Inside Board
Making an inside board means hitting the ball against the wood on your side, again with the aim of circumventing the opponent's guard and giving it speed in order to score an extra point.
- Bar
A bar is the accumulation of 10 points. This often results in a point being deducted from the opponent.
- Box block
This is when the ball is blocked behind the player.
- Trade block
Blocking the ball in front of the player.
- Half
Name of the two five-man bars located in the middle
- Fanny
This is the ultimate humiliation for a player or team... It is a defeat with a zero or negative score. According to the rules, the "Fanny under the table football" may be required, and the losing team must then go under the table football, to the boos of the winners!
- Bowl or saucepan
When the ball enters the goal, hits the bottom, and then comes out.
- Kid
A pass from behind is blocked by the opponent, resulting in a goal.
- Big
A big consists of blocking the ball in front of a player and shooting directly with that same player, unless the ball has not been moved between the moment the ball is blocked and the moment the shot is taken.
- Lob
This is the act of scoring by sending the ball over the crossbar of the goalkeeper. According to the rules, such a goal can score two points.
- Pissette
This is a shot from the attacking winger located closest to the player. According to the rules, such a shot may be prohibited due to the existence of a blind spot on the table football. However, this prohibition only applies if both of the defender's crossbars are fully pushed in at the moment of the shot, and the defender does not move one of these two crossbars after the shot.
- Rake or saw
When a player attempts to pass the ball to his attackers from the midfield, if the opponent makes a lateral movement with his midfielders, thus deflecting the ball and preventing the player from blocking it with his attackers, then there is a "rake." According to the rules, this act of play can be considered a foul.
- Retrieving or fishing
Retrieving the ball by hand in the goal after a goal before it falls back into the foosball table. According to the rules, a retrieved ball can deduct a point from the opponent.
- Replay
Shooting directly at the goal with the attacker without controlling the ball when it comes from behind. According to the table football rules, this technique may be prohibited, particularly in one-on-one situations, since the defender doesn't have time to get a grip on his sticks.
- Roulette
A technique involving shooting by releasing the handle so that the pole and the players rotate several times. This technique, sometimes prohibited, allows for great power in the shot.
- Soap
A new ball, therefore slippery and difficult to play.
- Tackling
A technique that involves twisting the defenders' pole to hit the opposing attacker while he is waiting to block, thus preventing the latter from controlling the ball. This action is generally forbidden because it's very harmful to table football and anti-fair play!
Where to buy a table football? Which table football should you choose?
Now that you know all the basic techniques to become a table football expert, all that's left is to practice! To do this, you can use a table football in a cafe, bar, or even in your office, but you can also buy a table football to play at home and have your own table football in your house or apartment.
For this, Mister Babyfoot offers a whole range of table football tables, for all tastes and budgets. Brands that can be presented as alternatives to the very famous Bonzini, such as Marius, Garlando, Stella, Roberto Sport, or our own brand Mister Babyfoot... Quality brands, carefully crafted to accompany you every day and offer you the most exciting games.
