If you’re a fan of soccer, then one of the indoor games you can’t afford to miss is a foosball table. To those parents looking for healthier ways to keep their kids off the television, the foosball offers a less physically exhausting option just like most indoor games. Now, buying a foosball table is very easy. The challenging part, however, comes in when you think of how to set up a foosball table.
Although this game comes with a user manual, there are times when the manual might omit crucial information that’s needed during setup. Other times, the manual might come in a foreign language that’s hard to understand.
So, instead of wasting a lot of time searching for information online, this short guide has offered to give you a detailed step-by-step procedure on how to set up a foosball table. Although there are many types of foosball tables available, this guide will offer a general guideline on how you’re supposed to set up any of these tables at home.
Everything You Need to Know About Foosball
Now, if you look at most guides regarding foosball table setup, you’ll realize that most of them dive straight into the topic without acquitting readers with what foosball is all about.
If you’re a parent intending to buy the foosball table for your kids, yet you know nothing about it, then it will be difficult for you to set it up. For that reason, we’ve exclusively spared this section to inform novices what foosball really is and how exactly you’re supposed to play the game.
What is Foosball?
Also known as table soccer, foosball is an indoor game that was invented by Harold Thornton in 1921. After getting the idea from his favorite English team, Tottenham Hotspurs, Harold went ahead to create a simple indoor game that could be played by football enthusiasts in the comfort of their homes.
Now, the game comprises of 4 rods that you twist and turn to make your players kick the ball to the opponent’s goal. In most cases, the foosball consists of a three-man-defensive rod, a two-man-defensive rod, a five-man midfield rod, and a three-man-attacking rod.
This game can be played by 1 vs. 1 players or 2 vs. 2 players. When playing, both players stand opposite of each other to make it easier for each of them to twist the rods. In the case of 2 vs. 2 players, each player picks a role of either playing the defense or the attack. From there, each player twists the rods that suit his/her role when playing.
How Do You Play Foosball?
Foosball is more like darts. It can be played as a leisure game or as a sport. Following an increase in the number of foosball fans, this game has become a sport in its own right. The game has seen a growing number of foosball professional players, player’s associations, and foosball tournaments in recent times.
As a result, an International Table Soccer Federation (ITSF) has emerged, which has set basic rules on how to play this indoor game. So, some of these rules include;
- Players must toss a coin before starting the game
- All balls must be served through the serving hole
- Don’t distract your opponent when playing
- Don’t touch your opponent’s rods
- Don’t place your hands on the playing field
- New serves are made by the player that concedes a goal
- The first player to score 5 balls wins the game
Now that you have a basic understanding of what foosball is, we believe it will be easier for you to set up the foosball table. So, if you’re ready, let’s now move to the preliminary setup stage.
Preliminary Setup
Tools
When it comes to the tools, most brands will include the necessary tools required for assembly in the package. This way, you won’t have to struggle when assembling your foosball table. But, in case there are no tools available, you can prepare yourself by having a hammer, screwdriver, and a level at your disposal.
Instructions Before You Start
If you happen to order your foosball table online, you need to start by inspecting the package to verify that all parts are included. You don’t want to start the assembly process only to realize that some components are missing.
When making your order, make sure that you confirm the table layout. In most cases, foosball tables come in three main playing surfaces, which are wood, plastic, and tempered glass. Wood is a little bit rough making the surface slower as compared to plastic and glass.
So, if you want to play the European type of foosball, you need to pick a wooden surface. This layout is the best for skilled players as everything relies more on your skills. However, if you want the game to have pace and more goal-scoring chances, then you can pick a glass or a plastic surface. This is usually considered the American-style layout.
During assembly, you’ll need to hire two to three people to help you out. This can be your kids, your relatives or your close friends.
During assembly, make sure that you set up the foosball table in the same room you’ll be playing in. This way, you won’t struggle to carry the 200lbs plus table from one room to another. Lastly, this process is expected to take anywhere from 1-3 hours depending on your experience and the complexity of the table.
Actual Setup
Step One: Locate the Manual
So, to set up a foosball table, you need to start by placing the instruction manual at close range. The manual is actually the guide that will help you mount each piece correctly without getting lost on the way.
Step Two: Find all the Parts
Now that you have the manual at close range, the next step is to gather all the pieces and lay them on the floor. These pieces include the handles, rods, legs, tubes, wraps, screws, cup holder, scoring units, balls, and the men/players. This way, you’ll detect if any piece is broken or missing.
Step Three: Assemble the Table
With all the pieces ready, it’s time to assemble the foosball table cabinet. So, here, you’ll start by setting up the long side and the goal side. If you look closely, you’ll realize that both the long and goal sides have pre-drilled holes that allow you to screw them together.
In addition to that, you’ll realize that all four sides (the two long sides and the two goal sides) have grooves on one side. Make sure that these grooves are on the inner side of the cabinet and facing each other.
Once you’ve verified that, use the right screws to merge the long side to the goal side. When you’re done with the first side, repeat the same procedure with the other goal side. So, in the end, you’ll have three sides of the cabinet screwed together.
Step Four: Insert the Playing Surface
In this step, you’ll be inserting the playing surface on the grooves of each of the three sides. So, to do that, you’ll need someone to hold and probably help you insert one side of the playing surface inside the grooves while you insert the other side. This way, the process will be a lot easier and safer than if you did it alone. So, make sure that the playing surface is inserted inside the grooves on all three sides.
Step Five: Screw the Last Long Side
Once you’ve fitted the playing surface, pick the remaining long side and place it on the remaining side. Make sure the remaining side of the playing surface fits inside the grooves of the last long side. Once you’ve done that, screw the long side to secure it tightly between the two-goal sides.
Step Six: Attach the Legs
Once the top cabinet is mounted, the next step is to attach the legs. To do that, you’ll need to flip the table over to access the bottom. So, pick one leg after the other and attach them gently on each corner using the available bolts.
If your foosball table model comes with four feet, then it’s time to screw them underneath the legs. The best thing about these feet is that they allow the table to sit upright even if the surface is uneven. All you need is to screw or unscrew the feet just a little to match different heights.
Step Seven: Assemble the Rods
Now that you’re through attaching the legs and the feet, ask your friend to help you support the table to flip it upright. In this step, you’ll be inserting the rods. To do that, you’ll have to check your user manual to see where each rod goes.
From there, lay all the rods on top of the table according to the manual. Use the holes on each rod to guide you with the positioning. Lastly, insert the rods on one side of the table.
Step Eight: Assemble the Players
Once you’ve inserted the rods on one side of the table, start inserting the players. To do that, you have to insert a bumper and a washer first before inserting the players. Make sure that you insert the players according to the number of holes on the rods.
Also, make sure that you confirm the manual in every process. After inserting the players, make sure that you insert another washer and a bumper.
Space out the players correctly so that they correspond with the holes. Lastly, insert a bolt at the back of each player then flip over to insert a screw on the chest. Use a screwdriver to tighten each player to the rod.
Step Nine: Insert the Handles, End Caps, and the Corners
Once you’ve inserted the players, the last step is to insert the handles, the end caps, and the corners. In the case of the handles and the end caps, all you need is to hold each rod tightly then insert the handles/end caps. Twist them tightly until they’re securely in place.
In the case of the corners, you’ll have to slide them over each corner of the foosball table. Since each corner has pre-drilled holes for the screws, use the recommended screws to tighten them against the table.
Once everything is done and dusted, finalize your setup procedure by screwing the scoreboard on top of the goal side.
Conclusion
So, were you successful in setting up your first foosball table? Well, we believe you were. As you can see, setting up a professional foosball table is not as hard as it sounds. All you need is to have patience and a positive attitude. In case you don’t have a reliable user manual at your disposal, then you can search the internet and find our detailed user guide.
So, with that said, we wish you all your best as you enjoy your foosball table and as always, don’t forget to share your thoughts in the comments section below.