Foosball Table Soccer for All
It should not come to your surprise that foosball or table soccer was conceived by an Englishman. Harold S. Thornton in 1922 came up with the idea after a football match (the 
North London Spurs), that he wanted to duplicate to play at home. With the help of a book of matches, the basic concept of the foosball table was invented.
The game itself is quite simple, a soccer pitch is duplicated in miniature on the bottom of a table and the players are suspended above the surface on a series of 8 rotating rods. The rod allows the players to move back and forth across the field, and also to kick the ball by swinging the rod. The ball is served into play through a hole in the side wall at mid field. The players then attempt to kick the ball into opposing goals. Each ‘team’ consists of 4 rows of players, a goalie, two defensemen, 5 midfielders and 3 strikers. Only the goalie and defensemen are on adjacent rods. The midfielders and strikers are located between the opposing player’s midfielders and strikers, so they can compete for the ball.
The foosball game can be played by individuals or with four players at one time. With four players, or doubles, one team mate plays the defense and the other plays the offence. The teams them selves can determine the amount of the score or goals to win the game.