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Supersedes: <sports/table-soccer/charter-and-glossary_1144470677@rtfm.mit.edu>
Expires: 18 Jun 2006 04:18:05 GMT
From: uyeyama@hawaii.SPAMNOTedu (Rob Uyeyama)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.table-soccer,rec.answers,news.answers
Subject: rec.sport.table-soccer FAQ1 - Charter & Glossary
Followup-to: rec.sport.table-soccer
Approved: news-answers-request@MIT.EDU
Reply-to: uyeyama@hawaii.SPAMNOTedu (Rob Uyeyama)
Organization: University of Hawaii
Summary: Charter, welcome, and glossary to rec.sport.table-soccer
Keywords: foosball, table-soccer, table-football, babyfoot, subbuteo
Originator: faqserv@penguin-lust.mit.edu
Date: 07 May 2006 04:18:09 GMT
Lines: 1858
NNTP-Posting-Host: penguin-lust.mit.edu
Archive-name: sports/table-soccer/charter-and-glossary
Rec-sport-table-soccer-archive-name: charter-and-glossary
Alt-sport-foosball-archive-name: charter-and-glossary
Last-modified: 1999/07/16
URL: http://www2.hawaii.edu/~uyeyama/charter-and-glossary.txt
Copyright: (c)1995 Robert Uyeyama
Maintainer: Rob Uyeyama <uyeyama@hawaii.SPAMNOTedu>
Version: 3.5e
*******************************************************
REC.SPORT.TABLE-SOCCER FAQ1 v 3.5e
CHARTER, FAQ-INDEX, GLOSSARY OF TERMS
*******************************************************
Robert Uyeyama, with Jim Waterman
uyeyama@hawaii.SPAMNOTedu
(C) 1995 Robert Uyeyama ... permission granted to distribute free, =
freely
Note, if you are reading this in ALT.SPORT.FOOSBALL, go directly to =
REC.SPORT.TABLE-SOCCER. RSTS replaced ASF, so you will see many =
______________
Table of Contents
______________
_________________________
Foosball Home Pages on the Web
_________________________
Clay Gump's The Foosball Source web page (formerly The Foosball Home =
Hilmann and Clay), and also offers loads of fun stuff such as images, =
articles, and current calendars of events. We now keep the latest =
version of the playing-locations file here at The Foosball Source =
See the latest news and articles! Just go to
http://www.foosball.com
Email clay at clay@dcs.umd.edu for more questions
http://www.foosballheaven.com
The latest versions of all of the FAQs (except the playing-locations =
FAQ) are archived here.
Foosball Heaven also has over 200 links to foosball websites =
explore foosball all over the world!
"kicker" (that's what they call foosball) page. It has the DSAB =
Loewensport official rules which are just as detailed as the USTSA's =
at his Surfer's Inn page:
http://stud.fbi.fh-darmstadt.de/~ringhof/kicker.html
French Foosball Site at =
Dansk: http://www.image.dk/~wermus/Bordfodbold.htm.
Also see Bonzini USA at http://www.bonziniusa.com .
Rene Pierre's website is at:
_________________
Subbuteo Information
_________________
For those interested in this non-foosball version of table-soccer
(table-football), please see the author Stephen Dettre's fine FAQ at
Foosball Heaven's Subbuteo Page along with *many* subbuteo-related =
Subbuteo Association's (ASA) and FISTF (Federation International
Sports Table Foootball) Rules of Play are archived Foosball Heaven.
Stephen Dettre also has a FISTF web page at: =
Finally, especially if you're in the USA, don't forget to check out =
the American Subbuteo Association's (ASA) web page at
American-based MM Sports at: http://members.aol.com/mmspt.
-----------------------
NEWSGROUP INFORMATION
-----------------------
and supercedes the old newsgroup, alt.sport.foosball (ASF). If you =
are interested in the actual process by which RSTS was created, you =
can see the RFDs and CFVs, as well as the results with public display =
of who voted which way, at Rob's Foosball Heaven at =
table-top representations of soccer. Foosball (table football/baby =
foot) is a version often seen in bars and colleges, in a box about =
them. Subbuteo is an entirely different version smaller in size =
closely follow the actual rules of soccer.
All of the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) files will be posted
FAQ are available at Rob's Foosball Heaven at =
FAQ is now kept at The Foosball Source
As for the rtfm.mit.edu Usenet FAQ archive, the old ASF FAQs have =
been reapproved as RSTS FAQs and are available in either ASF or RSTS =
news.answers, alt.answers, and rec.answers directories. All of these =
*.answers moderators. These archives may not necessarily hold the =
latest versions of these files.
Once again thank you to everyone who voted and participated in early =
especially Jim, Sam, Marv, and my HUB friends. Let's get this show =
on the road!
Happy foosing!
Rob Uyeyama@hawaii.SPAMNOTedu
________________
Version information
________________
updated
information on some valley & french foosball & FAQ header, and =
various URL
updates throughout the file. Added Table of Contents.
v3.4 contains latest info after RSTS's approval, including Subbuteo =
nfo.
3.4f contains updated Rene Pierre contact information.
3.4i contains updated web page info for foos & subbuteo (lots now) =
and
corrections to various e-mail addresses.
3.4j contains updated RP source for parts & the IFP newsletter.
v3.5 added and updated several web page links, and added a few =
nternational
terms, Valley updates, and a new book and audio tape. Also =
nformational link
on how to build your own foos table.
v3.0 attempts to include cross-referenced information on foosball. =
For
example, you can look at the glossary listing under "newsletters" for
more information on available foosball newsletters.
v2.0 first combined the glossary to the charter and welcome, formerly
"faq0", and explains what seems to be our (usually unspoken) generous
especially those not currently engaged in competition table-soccer.
___________
RSTS Charter
___________
REC.SPORT.TABLE-SOCCER is an unmoderated newsgroup intended to
of
table-soccer, including "foosball" and "subbuteo."
REC.SPORT.TABLE-SOCCER supercedes ALT.SPORT.FOOSBALL.
Anybody interested in table-soccer is welcome to the group, from =
beginners and the curious to nationally-ranked pros and persons in =
the industry.
Discussion is welcome from such people active in any state or country =
as
table-soccer
machines. Such discussions may include, but are not intended to be =
limited to:
I. The actual play of table soccer, including the rules of =
various regions or organizations (e.g. USTSA, FISTF, ASA), as well as =
tables.
II. Hardware, including table maintenance, renovation,
upgrading, and available sources for materials.
III. Announcements, of playing locations, tournaments, meetings,
newsletters, and other forms of networking and promoting the sport.
IV. Trivia, including the history and personalities of table-soccer.
----------------
----------------
Welcome to REC.SPORT.TABLE-SOCCER! In addition to miscellaneous
nstruction in the sport. Since a significant number of players only =
types of tables, a wide variety of shots, and various classes of =
competitive play from local to world championships.
Hence, there are a series of instructional FAQ files
available to assist players in becoming competitive in the sport:
FAQ 1 Charter and Glossary of Terms
FAQ 2 Brush-Passing
FAQ 3 Playing-Locations
FAQ 4 Learning Foosball
FAQ 5 USTSA Rules of Play
FAQ 6 Snake shot and Pull shot
FAQ 7 Subbuteo Frequently-asked-questions
more
quickly increase the skill levels of the players, but also lead to
the growth of the sport itself at the competitive level.
---------------
RSTS NETIQUETTE
---------------
We're very friendly. Don't worry about this too much. True, this =
FAQ's
first
Read the charter above-- RSTS is _not_ a group exclusively for
"Tour",
or widespread foosball at the competitive level, go ahead and ask =
about
t. If you're a college-recroom or "bar" player, go ahead and post
about that. If you're a Rene-Pierre loyalist, ditto. And if you =
Subbuteo, this is also the newsgroup for you!
And most importantly, the Instructional FAQs are _not_ intended to
limit discussion in any way. These (how to shoot/how to pass) files
are only preliminary guidelines, intended if anything to generate
questions, not quelch them, and are intended for those at a beginner =
to
ntermediate level. Also some of these FAQs are still of v1.x,
and admittedly do not always carry clear descriptions. So if you =
a question on game play (shooting, passing, defense, interpretation =
of
the rules) don't think you'll be flamed because it was "in the faq"--
make use of the instructional FAQ file more completely like a proper
contributing to our library of instructional files, please inquire.
---------------
GLOSSARY
---------------
men.
The third rod away from the goal.
as the Tornado lack ramps and instead have a third man on each side =
of
the goalie rod to pick up what would otherwise be "dead" balls due to
the flat backfield. The first rod away from the goal.
five men. The fourth rod away from the goal; the two rods at the
center of the table.
aerial shot: A defensive shot where the ball is caught on an =
almost-horizontally oriented man, then flipped through the air over =
the rods toward the opposite goal. If the ball hits the top of the =
table, the shot is not valid. There are several ways to catch the =
ball, and several places to balance the ball on the man, depending on =
the
table-type. Also "Rainbow Shot", "Goalie Field Goal".
Alien (shot), The: A novelty shot in which the ball is moved on a =
the left hand. Usually done with the 3-bar. The change of hand =
(shot)"
amateur: An obsolete ranking term (pre 1994) of the USTSA which
ndicated a ranking status above "Rookie" but below "Expert" and =
"Pro", previously 1000-1299 pts. Currently Rookie is 800-1200 USTSA =
American Foosball Association (AFA): See http://www.foosball.org. =
This is an organization started by Mark Thompson, and he is seeking =
an Olympic Games petition for foosball.
angle: 1) To release the ball in a direction not parallel to the =
long axis of the table. See also "spray", "angle (shot)". 2) To =
tilt the men at an angle. A front-angle is toes-forward, head-back, =
and a backward-angle is toes-backward, head-forward.
angle (shot): 1) A shot which is shot at an angle, straight at the
"striaght shot", "cutback", "angle", "spray".
ASA: America Subbuteo Association. For more information, write to:
Michael Bodley; RR2 Box 999; Holland, MA 01521; or call (413) =
ATSF: American Table Soccer Federation. The recent new tour =
organized by Johnny Lott and played on the Stryker Tables. The ATSF =
can be contacted at Johnny Lott's voice mail box at Dynamo at (817) =
audio: One audio instructional tape is the 41 min. FOOSBALL 2005 by =
nstructional sources.
"auto-catch angle": When the 3-bar (sometimes 5-bar) is angled =
forward in order to more easily catch any passes originating from the =
originating from the front. The angle is just lower than the angle =
for a pinned ball; to catch harder passes, the angle can be lower =
ball contacts a fairly upright man.
"auto-stuff angle": When the 3-bar or 5-bar is angled forward so as =
to
automatically stuff any ball shot from the opposing defense because =
of
the speed of the bounce resulting from the block of any fast shot.
babyfoot: The term for table-soccer in the France, also =
"table-football." Also
"footsball." The French babyfoot home page is at:
also used
n Quebec, Canada. Play is often on Rene Pierre brand tables. See =
also "demi"
and "Rene Pierre."
back-pin: A ball-pin to the rear of the man, i.e. in the opposite
back-pin/back-toe (shot): Any shot which begins from the back-pin
bad-boys doubles: A doubles-play format where the offensive and
bait defense: Any defense which opens an enticing hole to the =
offense;
the defender ideally predicts the offense's timing and closes the =
as the shot begins, or even before it begins. The bait defense may =
be
moving or set. If the bait seems to be set and very obvious, this is
also known as "fishing". See "moving defense", "set defense".
ball: See "hardware" for information on purchasing balls and other
ball-magnet: When a player is very good at catching loose balls.
Also, a goal can have a "ball-magnet".
bank: To bounce the ball off of a wall (in rare cases a bank can =
to a bounce off of another man, a "Joe").
bank (shot): A shot which involves a bounce off of the wall.
bar: A rod from a foosball table.
bar player: Someone who has a good 3-bar shot, but is not very good =
at
BCTSA: British Columbia Table Soccer Association. The major =
Canadian
table-soccer organization, with its own set of player rankings.
bearing: The table component that is attached into the holes in the
bebefoot, babyfoot: The French term for table-soccer. See "babyfoot."
bevel: One of the facets of the handle, especially on a Tornado =
table,
.e. if the handle is not circular in cross section, it's probably a
the bevels are always in the same place relative to the men, and may =
be
example for pass-catching.
bluetop: The non-competitive version of the Tournament Soccer =
tables.
($500,000). Some versions of the Rene Pierre french tables are also
known as "bluetops". See also "brown-top", "Rene Pierre."
Bonzini: A hugely popular french-make foosball (babyfoot) table.
Bonzini's web page is at =
Bonzini USA's webpage is http://www.bonziniusa.com/
See also "Rene Pierre."
Book, The: The USTSA ranking listings book. See The Book at
book: The most well-known old-tim book is Johnny Lott's "The =
Complete Guide to Foosball" (by Johnny Lott, with Kathy Brainard.; =
Chicago, Ill:
Contemporary Books, 1980. xi, 176 p.: ill. : 24cm ISBN 0809259990
Frequently-Asked-Questions (FAQ) files.; Also email =
for his recently published book on the push-kick shot. Another =
less-known old book is "Table Soccer (Fussball) Rules and Strategy" =
by Robert L. Edgell and Steven L. Edgell, 1974, ISBN: 0-89019-001-1, =
O'sullivan Woodside & Co., Phoenix, AZ. Kathy Brainard, co-author =
"Who's Who of Foosball"-- email her at k.brainard@whitworth.edu, or =
kbrain9999@aol.com, or voice mail at (509) 466-1000 et. 4298 for more =
nfo, the book is about $20). Finally, the books "The Inner Game of =
Tennis" (by W. Timothy Gallwey, Bantam Books, ISBN 0-553-20985-X) and =
"The Inner Athlete" have been recommended for professional attitude =
training for sports. See "FAQ Files", "Lott, Johhny", "videos."
bordfodbold: Dansk for foosball.
Box, The: The goal.
box: See "cabinet".
brick, to: In defense, to be "Like Wall" rather than a "Sieve";
browntop: A competitive version of the TS table; a "$1,000,000" =
table.
See "TS".
brush: 1) To hit the ball so that it moves in an angle due to a
motion is in essence a "brushing" of the ball and gives it the high =
(or
low) spin required to angle the ball. In passing, the ball is often
be.
This maximizes the brush effect by "squeezing" the ball, but may
erroneously cause a squibb pass. See also"squibb pass", "squeeze". =
A brush-pass. See "brush-pass".
brush-down: A brush in the pull direction. See also "brush",
"brush-pass".
brush-pass: A 5-bar pass executed using a brush in either direction. =
this pass is usually executed with the closest man on the five-bar in
the vicinity of the near wall; upon passing, the ball is slightly to
the rear of the rod (just less than where a tight back-pin would be)
and is often transferred to the closest man on the five bar from a
tenuous (not tight) back-pin on the second-man. From here, the ball =
can
basically be lane-passed or wall-passed from the same position, =
deally
n the center of this near man's field of movement. The brush gives
the ball a high spin to angle the ball in either direction, and in =
the
case of a wall pass from far off of the wall, the spin serves to keep
the ball "hugging" the wall all the way down to the three bar. A
motion. Other common options are an off-the-wall lane brush and a
also "brush", "squeeze", "squibb pass", "stick pass". See FAQ2 for =
to learn a brush pass.
brush-up: A brush in the push direction. See also "brush",
"brush-pass".
building your own foosball table: See the link at The Foosball =
Source: Brian Frenkal's guide to Building your own Foosball Table: =
bumper: The rubber elements on the rods on the outside of the distal
men which help shield the men and cabinet from impacts due to rod
motion. Also economically you can use sliced up bumpers as training =
aids, sliced to the thickness you need, for example a 1/2 finger =
one side all the way to center so that you can slip them on the rod =
easily. See "exercise" for other training aids.
BYP: Bring Your Partner. See also "DYP".
cabinet: The "box" of the foosball table; does not include, the =
the elements on the rods, the bearings, nor the playfield.
Calcutta: Organized betting, usually on seeded teams in Open events. =
Often the right to a bet on a specific team goes to the highest =
bidder,
and sometimes the payouts are percentages of the total amount wagered
by all parties. Betting on yourself is allowed.
camping out: For a defense to predict & arrive at a hole much sooner
than the offense shoots at it-- usually even before the shot begins!
cashing in: To "hit the bank". See "bank (shot)"
cheese: A solid or semi-solid food product made from the =
fermentation
of dairy liquids.
chip: To hit the ball on either the front or back corner area on the
opposite side as the intended direction of ball-movement. The ball is
either slightly forward or backward of the rod, and is often pinned
outright. Used for front-banks (ball setup back), Texas-T shot (ball
chocolate-chip, to: See "double-dip".
CO2000: The Tornado coin-operated foosball table. See "coinop".
coinop: A coin-operated foosball table. See also "CO2000", "HM2000",
"TP2000", "Twister".
Complete Guide to Foosball, The: An out-of-print foosball book by
Johnny Lott. See "Lott, Johnny" for complete information.
corner/corner-ramp: See "ramp".
count system offense: A system described by Lott. Instead of trying =
to read the defense, choose a hole and a count beforehand. Then =
This may yield a higher percentage scoring when the defense is "out =
thinking" you.
under the listing "building your own foosball table", above.
crank (shot): A shot usually with a left-hand rod which is like a =
executed by rolling the handle along the wrist and arm as one pushes
the hand downward past the left edge of the handle. Usually shot =
the goalie rod. See also "goalie crank", "Alien (shot)".
cup: On some tables, the receptacle, shaped like a quarter slice of =
a
through which the ball is served.
curve: A shot or pass in which the ball's path curves due to extreme
(back)
or
Most often seen as a 2- to 3-rod pass (back-pin ball on 2-rod 2 to 4
ball lengths from the wall, and curve the ball by moving the rod away
from the wall; the ball curves _towards_ the wall to the waiting =
on the wall) or a trick 3-rod shot. See also "squeeze".
cut-back: An angle shot in which the ball is moving in one lateral
trajectory
of the ball. May be combined with pull, push, or various kick =
May also be used in passing, especially 2-bar to 3-bar passing.
cut-throats: A game for a total of three players. Play is =
two-on-one,
and
the players rotate counterclockwise (i.e. the singles player is now =
the
The first player to five points wins. Another variation dictates =
that
this
s more fair, mixes up the matchups more, and rewards the goal scorer.
Cyclone: The exact equivalent of the Tornado Time-Play, after Tornado =
became affiliated with Valley.
by
a playfield which is darker pine green color than the newer =
light-green.
The playfield color & designed was applied with a different method, =
the texture and playability is different.
by
any of the playing figures. See also "gray zone".
ball to be squeezed by the hand. Great for wrist problems, and =
at Mike.Archer@mci.com. See "exercise" for a list of other physical =
training aids.
(using the _offense's_ perspective for push/pull & L/R): for a
offense's near-side wall so that the right-hand side bumper
(the offense's right) is touching the wall. The
length of the long shot must therefore be long enough to, in this =
case,
the
two-bar. At this position, the 2-bar is "dead" and cannot move any
further to cover this long shot, hence the name. The dead-bar shot =
may not be as possible/practical on some tables with smaller goal =
than the Tornado's. However, on the Tornado, if the painted goal =
line
s open, the "dead-man" shot is also open. Most shots (all shots?) =
can
be shot dead-man (e.g. push/pull, push-/pull-kick, snake, tic-tac,
Some
tables have corner ramps in the defensive area.
the near 3-man, or on any "bizarre/random" event: The point is =
marked
by moving a counter halfway between the scored and unscored points on
BOTH teams. Whoever scores the next goal takes 2 points, i.e. takes
the point and the "demi". If another demi is scored instead, another
counter is added to the first demi, and the next "real" goal counts =
for
accidental or 5-bar shots, since it may actually count for the
opponent. For French rules, including an explanation of the demi, =
"babyfoot" and "Rene Pierre."
certain ranking and above must play in goal (defense) as a handicap.
The less experienced players get to be the stars, and the more
experienced players develop a good defense, albeit grudgingly.
Deutschmeister: A type of table. A "old-time serviceman's table".
near
back
to the far post.
DSAB: Deutscher Sportautomatenbund, Germany's kicker (foosball) =
association based on the Loewensport table, which also governs darts =
& billiards events.
Address: DSAB; Schwester-Elisabeth-Strasse 1a; 55425 Waldalgesheim;
GERMANY; Phone: 06721/33787; Fax: 06721/33559. For more info, some =
also "Loewensport."
bar which represent different areas to shoot from, and also represent
one ball-width from dot to dot. The outside dots usually are thought
to represent a shot which will not go into the goal if shot straight.
bracket
n a doubles elimination tournament and beat the winner of the =
bracket in two straight matches to win the entire tournament.
from
the tournament altogether, a team must lose two matches. See also
"double-dip", "loser's bracket", "winner's bracket".
mmediately deflects to strike the other post of the goal, then is
"Goalie Delight", "Bad Boys Doubles", "Super Doubles", "Cutthroats (2
on 1)".
tension pins (to affix playing-figures) through the holes in the =
than twice as long and is tipped with a blunt nib which fits into the
nside of a tension pin. See also "pin".
Dynamo: A type of table. It has corners which "curl" up gradually
from the playing field. Also the company which produces this table =
and
"ATSF"
Dynamo's number is (800) 527-6054, and may be called for parts and
tournament information for Dynamos and Strykers. See their new web =
The Dynamo company has been bought by Valley, the parent company =
DYP: A doubles tournament format where one is to "draw your partner".
ETU: European Table Soccer Union.
European pin: see "pin" (shot).
exercise: For foosball-related conditioning products, see "Dead =
Ball", "Stick, The", "Goalie Flex", and "bumper."
Expert: An obsolete ranking term (pre 1994) which used to be USTSA
t
s replaced by Semi-Pro (1200-1700 pts) and low end of Pro =
(1200-2300).
Usually someone with a consistent tournament level shot and a very
fan: An open-hand shot. See "open-hand".
FAQ files: (frequently asked questions files). =
Rec.sport.table-soccer's
FAQ files are available by anonymous FTP at conrad.harvard.edu in
/pub/table-soccer/foosball, on Clay Gump's The Foosball Source web =
uyeyama@hawaii.SPAMNOTedu. The most recent version of the =
versions of all the other FAQs are at Rob's Foosball Heaven. See the =
beginning of this file for a detailed listing of the many RSTS FAQ =
files. See also "book."
far-bank: A bank (usually a shot) off of a wall, originating from a
man on or near the outer edge of the rod, and bouncing off of the =
on the opposite (far) side. A 2-rod or 3-rod shot.
far-post: See "post".
fermo: See "primo."
finger grip: A grip on the handle where the palm doesn not touch the =
s not a palm-roll, or "open-hand" grip. Also known the as "golf =
Described in Johnny Lott's book.
finger width: A term to describe the "length" of a shot such as a =
or a snake. e.g. for a pull-direction shot, pull (from the offense's
the
length
of the shot must therefore be long enough to, in this case, go AROUND
the LEFT man on the two bar (The offense's left) and into the goal,
.e. the ball must pass between the two men on the defending two-rod. =
Hence the smaller the finger width, the longer the shot. re: 0 FW =
also "dead-man".
fish: See "bait defense".
FISTF: The Federation of International Sports Table Football. An
organization based in Europe for subbuteo-styled table-soccer.
See FAQ7, or email Stephen Dettre at steved@tmx.mhs.oz.au.
five-bar pass: A pass from the 5-bar to the 3-bar. See also "brush
foos: 1) The serve where the ball is entered into play, hence the
the next ball. The term is derived from the German word for "foot".
Foosball is known as "kicker" in Germany, "bebe-foot" in France. 2)
Also a stuffed shot. See "stuff".
Foosball Heaven: Website with over 200 links to foosball websites. =
This site is operated by the author of this FAQ. Also has content on
Foosball Multimedia, rec.sport.table-soccer, the RSTS FAQ archives,
and updates on Hawaii Foosball.
The Foosball Source: Clay's amazing foosball web page at
foosball widow: A spouse/significant other who is left alone =
(widowed)
foos-geek: where?
foos-shark: Somebody you should have looked up in the Book before =
you
foot: One of the vertically adjustable elements on the bottom end of
each leg of a foosball table. See also "toe".
footsball: A term for baby-foot. See "baby-foot or bebe-foot".
forward shootout: A specialty event in which the opponents take =
turns
Also
"FS" or "FSO". See the separate FAQ file, "USTSA-rules-of-play".
french foosball: Typically heavily weighted toes on the men and a
Bonzini, and Garlando. If you are interested in French Foosball, see
the International French Foosball Site at
Dansk: http://www.image.dk/~wermus/Bordfodbold.htm. See "Rene =
"Bonzini."
front-bank: A bank shot executed from the 3-bar. If shot with the
outer men, can be executed via an angle to the wall. If shot from =
the
middle man from a pass from an outer man, can be executed by rod =
motion
to the side of the intended bank. If shot from a stationary position
by the middle man, can be executed from a back-pin chip.
front line: The 3-bar.
front-pin: A ball-pin to the front of the man, i.e. to the same side
that the man is facing. Also "front-toe". See also "pin".
front-pin (shot): Any shot which begins from the front-pin position.
front-toe: See "front-pin".
front-toe (shot): 1) See "snake shot"; 2) see front-pin (shot).
FS / FSO: See "Forward Shootout"
futbolines: Spanish for Foosball... also El Futbol=EDn.=A0
nverted "U", and lines the side and top edges of the goal.
"crank (shot)".
usually
the
next game does not go to the goalie.
Spirit Mollice at (619) 230-9386. See "exercise" for other aids.
and the players attempt to score on each other from their defensive
by any of the playing figures.
to
the rod. See also "bevel"; 2) A tennis, or similar grip wrapped
around the handle and usually fastened with a 1/4" band cut from an
nnertube on the outside edge of the handle. See also "rubber".
ball.
GW: See "Goalie Wars"
a
Hammer, The: The pull shot. See "pull (shot)."
levels (R/A/E/P), spotted points and/or first-serves are given to the
lower-ranking team scaled to the difference in _total_ (add rankings =
of
listed for Tornado, Stryker, Dynamo, or Rene Pierre to locate a local =
vendor. These vendors will often carry parts for several types of =
tables, including T.S. Most promotors can also handle mail-orders. =
Also try calling local game-machine vending companies since if they =
vend
foosball machines, they will likely sell parts. Almost any =
conceivable
bumpers, pins, balls, corner ramps, drink racks, goal-liners, etc.
Hawaiian: A match format that if one team wins a game by a shut-out
(5-0), they automatically win the match. "Hawaii Five-Oh, Book'em
Danno!"
HM2000: The mid-level non-coinop foosball table by Tornado. The "Home =
Model".Compared to TP2000 (Time Play) it does not have levelling feet =
nor a goal return, and its rods are of a smaller size gauge. About =
$500 w/out shipping at the lowest price. Under Valley, the Tornado =
HM2000 is now known as the "Storm."
from
a man on the same team as the shooter.
Hollywood: Where they make movies.
See "time-play table", "TP2000", "Twister"
"hovering" over the stationary ball and occasionally tapping/pinning
t; the shot is executed immediately after on of these "taps". See
"snake (shot)".
birds?...
cheap, cheap...)
Hurricane: The touring tournament table before the TS tables.
For more information or to be placed on the mailing list, email to: =
fpfoos@aol.com. Early tournament efforts of the IFP seemed to be =
newsletter and currently make videos (w/excellent foos-commentators) =
of
open USTSA Tour events and other meetings such as workshops and
clinics. For subscription and video information, write to 7030 1/2 =
La
Tijera Blvd.; Los Angeles, CA 90045; or call (310) 670-2408. When
ordering videos, ask for the "internet special" discount.
first-place
bonus prize by the sponsor of a major tournament. The green jackets =
are
usually the coveted Master's jackets of the USTSA.
the
your
opponent's pin or any shot depending on a pin. See FAQ5.
Joe: A shot which goes into the goal off of a deflection from a man
from the opposing (i.e. defending) team.
Kentucky (shot): See Texas-T (shot).
kibitz: For spectators to advise/coach the players. In tournament =
this is illegal.
kick: A lateral pass from a man on the rod to usually the adjacent
man, for the purpose of then shooting or passing it forward. A kick
from
the passing man can be VERY fast, hence its use in tic-tac shots, as
ball to shoot into the opposite post.
kicker: One term for foosball in the German langugage, derived from a =
Another (less common) German term is "tischfussball" for =
table-soccer. See "DSAB" and "Loewensport" and "mirco".
lane-pass: A 5-bar pass to the three bar which is just off of the
the
lane/line: The white line on the playing field which traces the edge
of the goal. If the line is visible, the dead-bar shot is open.
lemming: When the ball rolls slowly but surely into the goal, =
all of the defender's best efforts.
lift: 1) To (illegally) lift the table by pulling up on the rods. =
To lift the men on a rod to allow a free ball path.
limited event: Any event where the combined point totals of the two
"Limited 3500" event has a 3500 point limit.
Loewensport: The company/brand-name of the table used in the European
Championships. For the German DSAB which runs tournaments on this =
table, see info, some playing locations and Rules of Play at The =
Surfer's Inn web page at:
may be reached at: Loewen Sport; Im Tiergarten 20-30; 55411 Bingen am =
Rhein; GERMANY. See also "DSAB" and "kicker".
long: Far post. See "post".
"Long Shot": The foosball movie. Johnny Lott was the shot double =
for
the rainbow shot. Note that there are several non-foosball movies =
losers' bracket: The section of the tournament-tree in which all of
the teams which have lost one match in a double-elimination '
tournament play each other (i.e. this bracket is single-elimination). =
"winners of the losers'" refers to the winner of this bracket, the =
team
"double-elimination", "winners' bracket"
Lott, Johnny: Old time world champion pro who currently is promoting
the ATSF-Striker tour. Described as a mortal enemy of CE McCloud. =
Was
a shot double in the movie Long Shot. Johnny Lott has written =
the only Foosball book, the out-of-print "_The Complete Guide to
Foosball_ by Johnny Lott, with Kathy Brainard.; Chicago, Ill:
Contemporary Books, 1980. xi, 176 p.: ill. : 24cm ISBN 0809259990
(hdbk. $9.95), 0809259982 (pbk. $5.95)" See also "ATSF", "Striker"
for information on ATSF events.
man/men: The playing figures on the rods.
master: 1) A specific USTSA ranking level indicating the highest =
above "Rookie", "Semi-Pro", and "Pro". 2) In the old Dynamo tour, a =
the
USTSA the winner of the single-elimination Master's Singles event in =
the
Masters Tour event, in which to qualify, one must place in the top =
twelve of Open Singles; a single green Master's Jacket and Master's =
Cup is also awarded.
McCloud, C.E.: Billed himself as inventor and President of Tornado
Table Soccer. Now Tornado is owned by Valley and McCloud is no longer
nvolved. See also "Tornado", "USTSA", "Valley", "VIFA".
meatball: Double game ball, as in 4 pts to 4 pts, sudden-death to
mid-line: the 5-bar.
Mirco: A foosball table brand that some TS players really like. =
among the strengths of the kicker-Mirco.
money-added: A tournament format in which money is added to the =
amount
collected from player entry fees to increase the payback to the top
finishers.
monkey shot: A snake shot, named for the curled-wrist on the handle =
on
the setup. See "snake shot".
mongoose: Foosspeak for any very effective defense for the Snake =
Often involves good coverage of the dead-bar shot by switching the
utilized man on the 2-bar unpredictably.
movie: See "Long Shot", "video".
moving defense: A defense in which the men defending the goal
constantly move both horizontally and back and forth (to cut off
upredictable manner. Also known as "stochastic defense" or "random
near post: See "post".
NEFA: New England Foosball Association. Call Sharky's Billiards in
Nashua, NH at (603) 882-7726 for more information. They publish the
newsletter, The NEFA Fun Fax.
newsletters: USTSA, Inside Foos, NEFA, OFAP, IFP, ASA, and FISTF put =
out
newsletters, as do Rene-Pierre aficionados. See appropriate listings.
no-man's land: In defense, when 2/3 of the goal is open because the
novice: See "Expert".
OFAP: Oklahoma Foos Awareness Program, the newsletter of Tornado of
Oklahoma-- 3315 N. Service Rd.; Moore, OK 73160; (405) 799-9797.
offensive bar/offensive line: The 3-bar.
on-goal: A shot trajectory which, if not altered or stopped, enters
the goal.
open event: A tournament event in which anybody may enter, i.e. even
the best players (i.e. pros) with high point totals may enter.
open-hand: A shooting technique where to attain high ball speeds =
upon
opened-palm which is moving down so that the man is briefly cocked =
back
further than normal (e.g. straight up) to shoot as the palm rolls up,
catching the handle in the fingers as the handle rotates
counterclockwise. This entire sequence can occur in a fraction of a =
and pull-shots. Very often, rubbers or grips (see "rubber," "grip") =
are used on the handle to accomodate these shots, e.g. on the 2-bar =
and 5-bar. Also "fan", "roll shot", "palm-roll".
outward: Push direction. See "push".
the man tilted with its toe to the front or to the back, which are
known as front-pin and back-pin, respectively. Sometimes, pin is =
used
n the context of a ball being squeezed between a man and the wall.
Also known as "pinch". A "walking pin" is when the ball is
continuously moved horizontally from the pinned position, only to be
men to the rods, taking the place of both nut and bolt of some =
tables.
The advantage is that there is no thread (as on a screw) to be worn =
off
to make the men loose, yet there is sufficient torque to keep the =
attachment secure. The Tornado mens' chests are extra wide to =
accomodate these pins.
a
front-pin shot that is known as the European Pin Shot, or a European
Front-Pin Shot. Also "toe-shot".
equipped with spectator seating. Very often, these tables are =
The points-book for USTSA if now on the web at =
(<1199), Semi-Pro (1200-1700), Master (1700-2300???), or Pro-Master.
a) A shot which actually strikes the edge of the goal and is =
adjacent to the goal), but does not go in; b) to shoot such a shot; =
to a shot's trajectory as well as the area of the goal which may be =
"Near post" (also known as "short"), is the edge of the goal on the =
s the edge of the goal on the opposite side (i.e. a shot going =
"long"). See "on-goal" .
Also known as "fermo." To be contrasted with "vola". Before a game =
t is agreed among the players whether the style will be "primo" or =
"vola". See also "vola."
"Rookie" and "Semi-Pro", but below "Master". USTSA 2300+ points.
See also "USTSA".
competitive level. This whip-like recoil helps keep the ball motion =
organizes tournaments, lobbies for more playing locations, and =
otherwise promotes the sport of table-soccer. The =
table-manufacturers often have available a list of promoters who will =
also be able to sell hardware. See also "table-operator", "USTSA", =
"ATSF".
nitiating ball movement, also "down" as in "brush-down".
then
maximally pushed-rod position. See also "roll fake." See also FAQ6
"snake_and_pull_shots" for a detailed description of how to learn the
"open-hand" style. See "push-kick", "open-hand".
The
nitiating ball movement, also "up" as in "brush-up".
The starting point is usually from a maximally pulled-rod position.
Right edge) man a few ball-widths from the wall. The ball is pushed =
that it may be shot with the middle man. Usually executed open-hand =
n
a single motion, and is often shot dead-bar long, or a fake by =
an angle shot to the near post with the near man. Email Reid Abel,
"races" the offense to the open hole.
Some ramps are separate triangular elements, and some, like on the
Dynamo and Stryker tables, are curved extensions of the actual
nstall a separate styrofoam support under it to raise it to the
altogether. Also: "corner", "corner-ramp."
talents of the players for the audience. Also "Saturday Night =
Foosball".
outer man as if for a pullkick or pushkick. The shot begins normally =
but is shot into the wall short of the goal. The middle man shoots =
the rebound into the goal.
Rene Pierre: A French-make table (from Chalon-sur-Saone) with
unbalanced men with metal-weighted toes, telescoping rods, linoleum
and soft white-covered cork balls. A 6-player variety ($1699) also =
s
manufactured. In North America, it is popular in Virginia Beach
(Virginia), Winston-Salem (North Carolina), and Quebec (Canada), and =
s
currently distributed by Brady Distributing Co. of Charlotte, North
Carolina at (704) 357 6284, Fax (704) 357-1243. Prices for new =
tables range from $699-$1499. For newsletter, tournament, and =
FAQ3, or call the promoters: John Wilkerson (336) 760-3628 and Will =
Wall (336) 768-1220 or (336) 768-0670. Also Preston Carter is also =
or also see the same webpage in its original Dansk:
French & Canadian sites for french-style foosball now, for a current =
list, see Foosball Heaven's links page at
"demi." Rene Pierre's website is at:
the opposing side which results in any ball motion, or by having the
ball briefly touch a man on an opposing rod. The time-limit may also
be reset by calling a time-out.
Rob's Foosball Heaven: Rob Uyeyama's Foosball home page at:
bar.
Rod Lock A third-party device to hold two goalie rods stationary for =
very slightly as the middle 3-man lifts and brushes the left side of
the ball (rolling it mainly backwards a fraction of an inch), then
"Semi-Pro", "Pro", and "Master". USTSA 800-1200 pts. All new =
"limited" events, they are considered to have 1200 points. However, =
f the player has a record of beating Amateur-ranked players in =
tournaments, that player may begin as an Amateur; the same holds for =
a similar record against Semi-Pros or Pros.
to
allow a Rookie to enter nearly all the events in a large tournament.
"Amateur passes" are also often available for slightly more money.
These passes encourage newer players to enter competition and also
ncidentally results in large tournament trees, 128 doubles or 256
:-)
RP: See "Renee Pierre".
usually
"grip".
"Pro" and "Master." USTSA 1200-1700 points. This level largely =
bearings.
Drip silicone (as opposed to spray silicone) is slightly preferable, =
from a pull setup. See "brush."
or
the
nner wrist; the ball is moved horizontally then the arm executes a
the ball. Technically not a spin shot since the angle from point of
last contact to point of shot is just under 360 degrees; the
follow-through after point of shot must also be under 360 degrees, =
and
contact w/the rod must not be broken. Usually started in the center
exist.
Also: "Monkey Shot", "Wrist Rocket", "Rollover". See also FAQ6 "snake_
and_pull_shots" for a detailed description of how to learn the shot;
events.
and
may even be a shot on goal, esp a bank-shot.
ball was moving just as it was shot; i.e. a spray pull (shot) angles
toward the right/pull-direction; spray-pushes from the push-kick
tenuous
back pin position so that upon being pinned while being brushed, the
ball is released with a very high spin (and therefore angle). The =
s less extreme that that of a "curve" ball. Sometimes used as a =
from the defensive region of players who back-pin the ball often. =
See
also "brush", "brush pass", "pin", "curve".
technically still a valid pass under USTSA rules: When a brush pass =
s
accidentally momentarily pinned, then immediately shoots/squeezes out
as a pass. A legal pass if the intended brush pass originally legal.
Also "stubb-pass". See also "USTSA", "brush-pass".
to
the long axis of the table. See also "angle shot".
Stick, The: a training/conditioning tool. For more info, see =
aids.
angle.
a
men. See also "brush pass".
Storm: The equivalent of the Tornado Home Model, after Tornado =
became affiliated with Valley.
ball in
nto the air on hard bank shots. The 3-touch 5-bar passing rule (See =
USTSA Rules of Play) does not consider wall-touches of the ball as =
counting additionally toward the three limit (third touch must be in =
the process of passing or shooting) if the ball remains on this =
Stryker: The touring table of the ATSF. There is the old Striker, =
and
there are prototypes for a new "Electronic Striker by Dynamo", with
telescoping rods, digital displays, and a speedmeter-equipped goal.
Johnny Lott's table. For information on Striker tournaments you can
contact Johnny Lott's voice mail at Dynamo at (817) 284-0114 ext. =
or for a toll-free connection (ask the operator for box 112) and more
nformation on hardware and parts (800) 527-6054. See also "ATSF",
"Lott, Johnny".
the defense from which it originated; this is usually done with the
Subbuteo: A 2' X 4' table-soccer game with very little resemblance =
to
"foosball"-table-soccer. The men are played by flicking them
ndividually, the playing field is set at a pitch, and the game is
a
large following in Europe with large regional championships, =
ncluding
a "World Cup". rec.sport.soccer, rec.games.miniatures, and
championship teams from all categories play each other, single
elimination, beginning from the lowest division champions to the =
final
match with the Open Doubles champs.
For
the defense to switch the man on the 2-rod being used to block a =
this is one technique in a moving defense, but if used too often the
offense can "time the switch" and score.
table, a: A foosball table.
table-football: One synonym for foosball in England, although with the
American export of the TV show "FRIENDS," the use of the word
"foosball" is now more common.
table-operator: Any person who organizes the placement of their
table-soccer machines for commercial purposes. Most exclusively
table-soccer-oriented operators are also promotors, and in general =
to maintain their hardware in better condition than other large
machines. See also "promotor."
Table Talk: USTSA's newsletter. See "Tornado" for information.
table-top: A term indicating a ball out of play, after an airborne
ball strikes the top surface or ashtrays of the table then falls back
nto the playing field; such a ball is considered out of play, as if
ejected from the table.
telegraph: For a player to reveal their intentions to the opponent.
tension pin: See "pin".
Texas-T (shot): A 2-bar or 3-bar shot beginning with the ball in a
front pin, usually considerably to the left or right oft the field.
The ball is moved to the next man over and shot; the move is executed
by chipping the front edge of the ball on the opposite side as its
ntended direction of movement; The chip is in essence a very
exaggerated reverse bank, so much so that the ball moves from a front =
textfile: See "book", "newsletter", and "FAQ" for more information =
on
foosball-related text.
tic-tac (shot): Onomatopoetically named for the sound that the shot
from
man to man to man so that when the shot is executed, the defensive =
be in the wrong place to block, especially if they are following the
movement of the ball; most often shot to the far post or angled to =
the
near post.
tie-rod: In many tables (esp. TS and its clones), the bolts on the =
outer
table
beneath the scoring counters. Tie rods must absolutely always be kept
tight, otherwise the table may be quickly damaged permanently.
time-play table: The Tornado non-coinop foosball table so
named because when used commercially, the balls are rented to players =
by
the hour. The time-play table (TP2000) is the top of the line
non-coinop table, and is closest among the non-coinops (Twister, =
HM2000,
TP2000) in play to the (more expensive, ~$1400) coinop, and is =
therefore
a good budget way to train for competition on coinops. Even without =
this consideration, this is the ideal home-table to get: There is a =
ball-return, the feet are adjustable, the rods are the same as the =
coinop. Only the total weight (275 vs 360 lbs) is lighter, but some =
"underbelly" to support weights. (275 is _very_ heavy already!). =
This is the home table generally recommended by RSTSers, and may be =
s approximately $800 + shipping-- email waterman@foosball.SPAMNOT =
com or see http://www.foosball.com/jimbo.html for more info. Under =
Valley, the Tornado TP2000 is now known as the "Cyclone." See also =
"HM2000", "Twister", "coinop", "Valley"
timing: When an offensive shooter or passer times a predictably =
moving
"moving defense" so as to wait for the open hole then hit it.
tischfusball: The German word for foosball. Also known as "kicker" =
n
German; see "kicker."
toe: The tip (i.e. bottom) of a man.
toe (shot): A pin shot; named because of the use of the man's "toe" =
on
the ball. See also "front pin (shot)", "back pin (shot)"
Tour, The: Any of the professional table-soccer tournament tours. =
See
"USTSA", "ATSF".
Tornado: The touring table and parent company of the USTSA. For
nformation on the table, their newsletter Table Talk, Tour events, =
and
local tournaments in your area, you may call or write Tornado Table
Soccer, Inc.; 4949 Rendon Rd; Fort Worth, TX 76140; or call (817) =
for tournament and promotional info, call the Tornado Hot-line at
(817) 561-0511. Now owned by Valley, see http://www.vifa.com.
See also "USTSA", "McCloud, C.E.", "Valley."
tournaments: See "Tornado", "Stryker", and FAQ3 (playing_locations)
for more information on tournaments.
tournament-hardened: Someone who is experienced in competitive level
tournament (i.e. best) shot from the 3-bar, having a good moving
knowing the rules well, etc.
TP2000: See "Time-play table".
tree: An elimination-bracket diagram for a tournament event.
TS: Tournament Soccer brand table; the previously touring =
tournament
table before the Tornado. Also known as "browntop" or "Million $"
tables.
TSL: Table Soccer Limited (TSL) Foosball info from former champ Phil
Schlaefer for foosers in Northern California and the SF Bay Area, =
alive at his San Jose store Heroes. His new URL (4/99) is at
TSNW: Table Soccer Northwest based in Seattle, WA, run by long time =
"Valley", "VIFA".
Twister: The lowest-end of the Tornado non-coinop tables. It is an
affordable, very solidly-designed table well suitable for family use =
and. However few if any players in Tour competition would consider =
using one for training or intense rough usage. About $450 + shipping =
s a very cheap
urethane: The material from which the Tornado balls are fashioned.
Unlike older-type balls, these balls do not dent with use. If =
anything
they become smoother with wear... just stick them in a sock and =
tumble in your dryer to get texture back.
USTSA: United States Table Soccer Association. The USTSA holds
tournaments exclusively on Tornado brand tables, from Fort Worth, TX.
They publish the newsletter Table Talk. For VIFA information,
R. Gregg Elliot, Executive Director at (517) 893-1800. See "Tornado"
for address & phone numbers. Also See http://www.vifa.com for more =
nformation.
See "Tornado," "Valley," "VIFA."
Valley: The game machine company which now operates Tornado. See
owns
Dynamo. See "Dynamo."
variations: See also: "specialty events", "doubles", "cut-throats",
"vola".
videos: See "Inside Foos" for information on foosball videos. See =
also "books" and "audio" and "FAQ files" for other instructional =
VIFA: Valley International Foosball Association. A semiautonomous
branch of Valley/Tornado, a sister probram to VNEA the 70000 member
Valley Pool League Program. Valley is trying to promote a national =
Morton St; Bay City, MI 48707. Also contact R. Gregg Elliot, =
Executive Director at (517) 893-1800. See also http://www.vifa.com.
vola: A European term (esp. Italy) for a style of game-play in which
the ball may not be stopped, pinned, or even maneuvered roller-ball
the ball must move to another rod, and the two defensive rods are
considered different rods. These rules result in: 1) slower 5-rod =
to
bouncing the ball off of the back wall or passing it back and forth
backpass offensive shots. To be contrasted with "primo". Before a
or "primo". See also "primo."
adjustments of the [usually front-] pin. See also "pin (shot)."
Web site: The Foosball Source web site, maintained by Clay Gump is at
http://www.foosball.com. Software you may use to access
the Web include LYNX, Netscape, and Navigator. E-mail Clay at
clay@foosball.SPAMNOTcom for more info. Also see Rob's Foosball =
Heaven at
http://www.foosballheaven.com/, and
the European Loewensport-oriented page at
http://stud.fbi.fh-darmstadt.de/~ringhof/kicker.html
For French Foosball, see The International French Foosball Site =
at
http://www.image.dk/~wermus/Tablefootball.htm
or in the original Dansk:
http://www.image.dk/~wermus/Bordfodbold.htm.
also Bonzini USA at http://www.bonziniusa.com/
elimination tournament in which those teams which have not lost any
matches play each other. Losing teams in the winner's bracket enter
of
this bracket is referred to as "winners of the winnersUS. This team
two
World's: The USTSA World Championships held every year in Dallas, =
Texas.
WTSA: World Table Soccer Association. The defunct touring
organization existing before USTSA; based on the TS table. See also
"Peppard, Lee".
WWW: World-Wide-Web, an internet resource accessible through a =
variety of programs, such as Netscape or LYNX. See "Web Site".
Z-shot: A double-bank shot, from the 2-bar, although a 3-bar Z is =
not
unheard of.
zone defense: 1) A defense against a 2-bar shot, which involves the
covering the other part; frequently the 3-bar and 5-bar will cover
"long", leaving the straight and near shots open but covered by the
cover
the remaining area of "short", while these two defensive men are
these numberings refer to counting the men from the edge of the rod,
beginning on the side nearest to the side the ball is currently on =
(in
the opposing side's defensive area).
2) Also can refer to a defense against a 2-bar shot
nvolving coordinated use of the 3-bar and 5-bar only.
end
.
