| The popular called table football, better known as, | | | | allowing two people to a team on both sides |
| foosball has been around for decades. Countries all | | | | enabling one player to control the two defensive |
| over the world have taken a liking to the game. | | | | rows and the other player controlling the midfield |
| The first known patent established by an UK | | | | and attack rows. |
| Englishman, Harold S Thornton in 1923. Sparking | | | | The arrangement of players include, the first and |
| his idea after attending a match, and the | | | | eighth row known as the goal keeper that |
| experience of the game at home. Uncle, Louis P | | | | contains one foosman for each side.The second |
| Thornton, introduced and patented the game in | | | | and seventh row known as the defense |
| the states in 1927. With not much demand for | | | | containing two foosmen |
| this game, the patent expired but picked up more | | | | The third and sixth row known as the opponents |
| interest following the war. | | | | attack contains three foosmen for both sides and |
| Alejandro Finisterre also intrigued to form a way | | | | the fourth and fifth row known as midfield contain |
| for children to play soccer who couldn't participate | | | | five foosmen for both sides |
| in the actual sport, recruited Fancisco Javier Altuna | | | | Entering the ball into play by either letting it go |
| to build his patent in 1937. The International Table | | | | into the hole on the side of the table or by placing |
| Soccer Federation (ITSF) was established in 2002, | | | | the ball at the feet of a figure in the midfield. This |
| promoting as an organizing sports body. Regulating | | | | brings the game into play letting players to use |
| later the International Olympic committee (IOC) | | | | the rotating bar to move the ball to the other end |
| as an official reorganized Olympic sport. | | | | of the table in order to make a goal and score |
| Foosball, played internationally has become known | | | | points. The winner is determined by a set amount |
| greatly. Spanning from the United States to Italy | | | | of point established at the beginning of a game |
| and Turkey to Mexico. In the USA the name of | | | | such as, five, ten or eleven points. |
| table football and foosball are popular. | | | | Competitions played all over the world, conducted |
| Some even known as table soccer. In Italy, its | | | | by a number of national organizations with high |
| known as calcio balilla or bigliardino or biliardino | | | | end regulations and rules. Competitions can be |
| (from biglia or little ball). Turkey its most popularly | | | | tracked back as far as the 1940's and 1950's in |
| known as langirt, spanning back to Mexico known | | | | Europe. Money and prizes started as an event in |
| as, futbolito. French-style players making name as | | | | Seattle, Washington by Lee Peppard announcing |
| babyfoot. | | | | the uarter million dollar tour in 1975. |
| Foosball is played on a table that varies in size, | | | | Going out of business in 1981, many others have |
| ranging from 120 cm or 4 feet long to 61 cm to | | | | picked up continue the flow of competitions and |
| 2 feet wide. The table includes eight rows of | | | | events. The ITSF being one of them, allowing |
| foosball men that can be made out of plastic, | | | | international events such as yearly world |
| wood, metal and even, at times, carbon-fiber. | | | | champions and world cup to assist with the FIFA |
| These figures are then attached to horizontal | | | | world cup every fourth year. |
| metal bars. | | | | Foosball has maintained the interest of many and |
| The game can be played by teams of 1 to 3 | | | | will be around for years to come so pick up a ball |
| people who control four rows of foosmen, or can | | | | and set it into play and be the next best at |
| be played in a team of four known as doubles | | | | foosball. |