When a young child or beginner first plays Foosball, you’ll probably see them do one thing: frantically spin the rods so the little player figures tumble end over end. There’s something fun about watching this motion.
Novices and children might also be hoping that they’ll smash the ball as hard as possible by doing this. While there’s a possibility of that happening, you might be shocked to learn that the strategy isn’t actually legal in the game.
So, why is spinning illegal in Foosball? We’ve done some research, and we’ll tell you why this strategy isn’t permissible.
What is Spinning?
Spinning is exactly what it sounds like. It involves rotating the rod completely.
To be more specific, the International Table Soccer Federation defines spinning as turning the rods 360 degrees without making contact with the ball.
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Why is Spinning Illegal in Foosball?
There are a few reasons behind the illegality of spinning in Foosball. The top reasons are the following:
- It doesn’t take any skill.
- Spinning distracts opponents.
- It can damage the table.
We’ll take a more in-depth look at each of these reasons below.
It doesn’t take any skill.
While it might not seem to be the case when you first look at it, Foosball is a game that takes an amazing amount of strategy. Players need to monitor their opponents and the ball carefully to respond with speed.
Simply spinning the rods as fast as possible takes all of the skill and strategy out of the game. Anyone can do it. Tournaments and games would be nowhere near as fun if all everyone did was rotate the rods and smash the ball at each other in the same way.
Spinning can be distracting for opponents.
Earlier on in this post, we mentioned that spinning the rod is fun to watch. There’s just something slightly entertaining about watching the figures somersault on the table.
Well, the same concept applies in actual games. If you spin the rod, the quickly somersaulting figures can be a little distracting.
It’s a strategy that hits below the belt. In any fair game, it’s important that each player is able to focus fully on the events unfolding before them.
It can potentially damage the table and its parts.
The figures on the rods can be a little on the fragile side. When you spin the rod, you risk clacking the figures against each other and breaking them.
Furthermore, the rods themselves can be distorted in time from frequent spinning. Careful, controlled movements go a long way towards preserving the parts of the table.
Wrap Up
One thing that’s surprising to many people when they first get into tabletop games is how many rules there are. Things are very rarely as simple as they seem when you first learn about them.
However, like with Foosball, these rules exist to protect the integrity of the game. By banning spinning, not only are the Foosball tables themselves sheltered from damage, but the game is made more fun and strategic.