Rules

Rules

Our official rules:

1. MATCH DEFINITION
   The length of each game will be determined by the participating teams, or by the tournament rules in the case of a tournament. Often, in the case of a tournament, games will be played to five points, best of three games. In the case that time is limited, the loser's bracket will often be played as a one game race to seven.
2. TO START A MATCH
   A coin flip shall precede the start of the match. The team that wins the flip has the choice of table side or first serve.
3. THE SERVE
   A serve through the serving hole is used to put the ball into play. The server may attempt to influence the roll of the ball, but may not allow any part of either hand to be in the play area. The ball may not be struck by either team following a serve until it has touched the playfield.
   A player may also serve by placing the ball next to the center man on the five-bar. To start play, the player must pass the ball so that it touches two other men before being advanced.
4. SUBSEQUENT SERVES
   Following the first serve of a match, subsequent serves shall be made by the team last scored upon.
5. BALL IN PLAY
   Once a ball is put into play by the server (see 3), it shall remain in play until the ball is hit off the table, a dead ball is declared, time out is called or a point is scored.
6. BALL OFF THE TABLE
   If the ball should leave the playing area, it will be put back into play by the defensive man on the team that did not put the initial force behind the ball, causing it to leave the table.
7. DEAD BALL
   A ball shall be declared a dead ball when it has completely stopped its motion and is not within reach of any player figure. If the ball is declared dead anywhere between the five-man rods, it shall be put back into play with a serve by the team that originally served the ball. If the ball is declared dead anywhere else, it shall be put back into play by placing the ball at the nearest defensive player.
8. TIME OUT
   Each team is allowed two time outs per game.
9. POINT SCORED
   A ball entering the goal shall count as a point, as long as it was legally scored. A ball which enters the goal but returns to the playing surface and/or leaves the table still counts as a goal.
10. TABLE SIDES
    At the end of each game, teams must switch sides of the table before play of the next game can begin.
11. SPINNING THE RODS
    Spinning the rods is illegal. Spinning is defined as the rotation of any soccer figure more than 360 degrees before or after striking the ball A ball which is advanced by an illegal spin is replayed as follows: If the ball goes in the goal, then it will not be counted as a point and will be put back into play by the goalie. If the ball does not go in the goal, the opposing team will have the option of continuing play from the current position, or re-serving the ball. Spinning of a rod which does not advance and/or strike the ball does not constitute an illegal spin. If a player's spinning rod hits the ball backward into his/her own goal, it will count as a goal. Spinning of a rod away from the ball may be ruled as a distraction.
12. PASSING
    In order for the ball to be be passed from the five-bar to the offensive three-bar, the ball must be in motion before being sent forward.
    In the process of passing the ball from the five-man, the ball may only strike the wall twice before being passed. The third time the ball hits the wall, it must be as part of a pass. The wall count is restarted once the ball makes contact with a man from another rod.
13. JARRING
    Any jarring, sliding or lifting of the table shall be illegal. Whether or not the table jarring is done intentionally is of no consequence.
14. DISTRACTION
    Any movement or sound made away from the rod where the ball is in play may be judged as a distraction. No point made as a result of a distraction will count. Banging the five-man rod or any rod prior to, during or after a shot is considered a distraction. Moving the five-man rod during or after the shot has started is not considered a distraction. . Excessive motion, however, is grounds for a distraction.