Subbuteo Game Rules

Playing the game of Subbuteo can be a lot of fun, but it’s important to understand the rules and strategies to be successful. When it comes to playing Subbuteo, there are a few key guidelines you should keep in mind.

First, let’s talk about the objective of the game. The goal is to score more goals than your opponent by flicking and hitting the ball with your players. Each team consists of 11 players, including a goalkeeper, and the match is played on a Subbuteo pitch, which is a green felt playing surface.

To start the game, you and your opponent take turns flicking the ball to get it into play. The ball is placed in the center of the pitch, and both players have a chance to flick it towards their own players. The player who flicks the ball first is determined by a coin toss.

Once the ball is in play, the game begins. You can control your players by flicking them with your finger. You want to try and position your players strategically to intercept the ball, block your opponent’s shots, and, of course, score goals. It’s all about precision and skill in this game.

To move the ball, you can flick your players to hit it. Your flicks should be precise and controlled, aiming to hit the ball in the direction you want it to go. You can also use curved shots and spin techniques to outwit your opponent and surprise them with your moves.

When you have possession of the ball, you can take two actions: shoot or dribble. Shooting involves flicking your player towards the ball with enough force to send it towards the goal. Dribbling, on the other hand, involves moving the ball around the pitch and avoiding your opponent’s players to create scoring opportunities.

The game is played in a series of turns. Each player takes turns flicking their players and trying to score goals. When a goal is scored, the game stops, and the team who scored gets to restart the game with a kick-off. The game continues until a predetermined time or goal limit is reached.

Overall, the game of Subbuteo is an exciting and challenging tabletop game that requires strategy, skill, and precision. By following the rules and understanding the techniques, you can enjoy hours of fun and competition with your friends and family. So gather your players and give Subbuteo a try – you won’t be disappointed!

To set up the game, I carefully unfold the playing surface and lay it on a flat surface, like a blanket or tablecloth. I make sure to smooth out any wrinkles, and if there are any, I can use a cool iron on the back of the pitch to get rid of them (with adult supervision, of course). It’s important not to iron on the marked playing surface, though.

Now, let’s talk about the goals.

I place the goals on the goal line at each end of the pitch. To secure the goals, I make sure the handle of the goalkeeper figure fits under the back of each goal.

When it comes to line-up, there are different options.

While the most popular line-ups in Subbuteo are 4-2-4 and 4-3-3, you can use any recognized line-up you like. It’s all about your strategy and what works best for you.

Now, let’s learn how to flick the figures.

To make a figure move, I use either my first or second finger and place it behind the base of the figure. With my “flicking finger,” I press down gently on the surface and flick my finger at the base of the figure. This sends the figure forward, making it hit (or kick) the ball. Remember, though, my finger or hand should never touch the ball during the flicking motion.

Note: When flicking, make sure to use only the tip of your finger and do not use your thumb as a spring.

Do you know how to flick something? It’s a cool and simple action that you can do with just one finger. You might have seen people flicking things like coins or bottle caps, but did you know that you can also flick your finger to play games or create interesting sounds?

Flicking can be a lot of fun, but it’s also important to do it safely and correctly. That’s why it’s important to remember a few things when flicking. First, you should only use the nail part of your finger to flick. This means that you should avoid using the fleshier part of your finger, like the pad or the side. By using the nail, you can get a cleaner and more precise flick.

Second, you should avoid using your thumb as a spring. Instead, use the other fingers of your hand to create the force needed for the flick. This will ensure that you have better control over the direction and speed of your flick.

So, the next time you want to flick something, remember these tips: use the nail of your finger and avoid using your thumb as a spring. With these simple guidelines, you can enjoy the fun and excitement of flicking while also staying safe. Happy flicking!

Goalkeepers

When playing foosball, the goalkeeper position is crucial. As the last line of defense, I have the power to block shots and prevent the opposing team from scoring. To move my goalkeeper, I simply use the specially designed handle attached to the playing field. With one hand on the goal and the other on the handle, I can glide my goalkeeper within the goal to make those crucial saves.

It’s essential to be gentle when holding the goal, ensuring that I have full control over my goalkeeper’s movements. Instead of forcefully flicking the ball away with the handle, I must rely on skill and precision to block shots effectively.

Let’s Play!

How Long Does the Game Last?

When we play this game, it is usually divided into two equal halves, each lasting for 10 minutes. After the first half, we take a quick 2-minute break. Once the 20 minutes of playing time is up, the team that has scored the most goals wins the game.

If, by the end of the 20 minutes, the score is tied, we have a few options. We can play extra time, which consists of two halves of three minutes each. We can either add the goals scored during extra time to the final score, or we can play for a “golden goal” – the first team to score in extra time wins the game.

If, even after extra time, the score is still tied, we can have a penalty shoot-out to determine the winner. It’s an exciting way to end the game!

Starting the Game

When the game begins, one team is designated as the attacking team, while the other team takes on the role of the defending team.

Both teams must position themselves in their own halves of the field, with the defending team outside the center circle.

To start the game, a player from the attacking team kicks the ball. The ball must move forward into the other half of the pitch. If the ball doesn’t touch any opposing player, the attacking team retains control.

The player who kicked the ball cannot touch it again until another teammate has kicked it.

Possessing the Ball

The attacking team has the opportunity to flick the ball up to three times in a row with each player, maintaining possession until one of the following occurs:

• The player misses the ball
• The ball touches an opposing player
• A foul is committed (refer to the fouls section for more information)

How Goals are Scored

In Subbuteo, there are a few important rules to consider when it comes to scoring goals. It can be a bit tricky to get the hang of it at first, but once you understand the basics, it becomes a lot of fun!

Here’s how it works:

1. When I manage to flick the ball into the opponent’s goal, a goal is scored. It’s a simple yet exhilarating feeling when the ball finds its way into the net!
2. However, I need to be careful not to flick the ball too hard, because if it goes out of play, it will be the other team’s possession.

So, scoring goals in Subbuteo requires precision and finesse. I have to aim just right and flick with just the right amount of force to propel the ball into the goal.

Passing in Subbuteo

Passing in Subbuteo is a bit different than in real-world soccer. I don’t necessarily have to hit the figure I want to pass to with the ball. As long as the ball makes contact with any figure after the pass, the receiving figure is still allowed to make up to three flicks with the ball. It adds an extra layer of strategy and unpredictability to the game!

So, while goals are the ultimate objective, passing plays a crucial role in Subbuteo as well. It allows me to set up opportunities, confuse the opponent, and keep the game flowing smoothly.

Now that you know the basics of scoring goals and passing in Subbuteo, it’s time to grab a friend and start playing. Have a blast flicking those tiny players and creating memorable moments on the pitch!

Defending

When I’m defending, I can try to stop the other team’s attack by making a “blocking flick” after each flick they make.

The other team doesn’t have to wait for me to make my flick. If I don’t make my flick, I lose my turn. And when I make a blocking flick, I can’t touch the ball or any of the attacking figures.

If I accidentally touch them, we have to put everything back where it was, and I lose my blocking flick. The purpose of the blocking flick is to get in the way of the other team’s move.

Scoring

We can only score a goal if our attacking figure is in the other team’s half and the ball is fully inside the shooting area. If we score a goal from somewhere else, it doesn’t count, and the game starts again with a goal kick.

But here’s something strange: when a team accidentally scores a goal in their opponent’s net, it actually counts for the other team! I know, it sounds bizarre, but it’s true. If a player unintentionally kicks the ball into their own team’s goal from their team’s side of the field, it still goes towards the other team’s score.

Oh, and get this: as soon as the whole ball crosses over the goal line, it’s considered a goal. No need to wait for the goalkeeper to get ready or anything like that.

Throw-ins

When the ball goes over the side line, if the last player that touches it is from your team, you lose possession. The game starts again with a throw-in. To start, each team can flick one player into position, with the attacking team going first.

A throw-in is taken by flicking a player, but that player must not cross the side line after making the throw. If they do, the throw-in goes to the other team. The player who takes the throw-in cannot touch the ball again until another player touches it first.

After the throw-in, the player must be placed on the line where the throw-in was taken.

Throw-ins can also be taken using a special throw-in figure.

Goal Kick

Alright, here’s the deal: if the ball crosses the goal line and the last person to touch it was from the attacking team, we restart the game with a goal kick. Basically, you put the ball in the corner of the goal area and one of your teammates kicks it back onto the field.

Now, listen up, because this is important: the player who does the goal kick can’t touch the ball again until someone from either team touches it first.

Now, here’s something interesting: both teams have the chance to change things up and rearrange their players. But there are a few rules you need to follow:

• You can move your players in the opposing team’s half sideways or backward towards your own half. No moving forward, though.
• Your players in your own half can move in any direction, except into the opposing team’s territory.
• And one more thing, you’ve got to make sure your players are at least 12mm (or 1/2 inch) away from any players from the other team.

Oh, and just so you know, you can also use a special goalkeeper or goalkicker to take a goal kick. Fancy, huh?

A Special Play: The Corner Kick

It’s a pretty unique situation when the ball crosses the goal line and the last guy to touch it is on the defending team. That’s when we get to witness the corner kick in action.

So, to set the stage, picture this: the ball is placed on one of the corners, and a miniature player is set up next to it. Both teams are ready to position their players and strategize their flicks. But, before we get into that, let’s establish who goes first. Well, it’s the attacking team that gets to flick their figures first. After all, they are the ones looking to turn this situation to their advantage.

Now, the moment we’ve all been waiting for, the corner kick! It all starts with a flick. The player next to the ball has to flick it into play, but here’s the catch – they can’t touch it again until another player has touched it first. That’s right, they have to patiently wait and hope that their teammates can get things rolling.

Of course, there’s always an option to bring on some specialist players just for these corner kicks. These guys know their way around the corner and can make some magic happen. It’s like having a secret weapon up your sleeve.

The Excitement Builds: The End of the Game

If you need to determine a winner in a game that ends in a tie, you can use extra time or a tiebreaker.

After taking a break, you play two three-minute periods. Switch sides at half time.

If the game is still tied after this, you’ll need to use a “Shooting Tie Breaker.”

Choose one of the goal areas, and each team takes five consecutive shots from the positions shown.

When it comes to being a goalkeeper, there are a few rules I have to follow. Before the kick is taken, I can’t move from my spot on the goal line. This means I have to stay still and wait for the ball to come to me.

Once both teams have had their turn to take five shots each, we compare scores to determine the winner. The team with the highest score at the end is declared the winner.

But what happens if the game is still tied? Well, we continue with a special rule called the ‘Shooting Tie Breaker’. Each team takes turns taking extra shots, and we keep going until one team has scored more goals than the other. It’s like sudden death for goalkeepers!

Now, let’s talk about fouls. Fouls are when a player breaks a rule, and there are consequences for doing so. In soccer, there are different types of fouls, like tripping or pushing an opponent. When a foul is committed, the opposing team is given a free kick or penalty kick, depending on the severity of the foul.

Being a goalkeeper is not just about stopping goals, it’s about following the rules and making sure the game is fair. So next time you’re on the field, remember to play by the rules and have fun!

1. Offense: When an attacking figure hits a defending figure before touching the ball, it is considered a foul. The consequences of this foul are as follows:
   • If the foul happens outside the shooting area, the opposing team is awarded an indirect free kick.
   • If the foul happens inside the shooting area but outside the penalty area (K), the opposing team is awarded a direct free kick.
   • If the foul happens inside the penalty area, the opposing team is awarded a penalty kick.

Note: If the attacking figure does not touch the ball, it is not considered a foul, but possession goes to the opposition.

Offside

• A player is considered offside if there are at least two of the opponent’s figures (including the goalkeeper) closer to their own goal line than the attacking player.
• A player is also offside if they are outside the shooting area or if there are at least two figures, including the goalkeeper, inside the shooting area.
• The ball has passed the last defender
• The ball is received from a throw-in, comer kick or goal kick

Award: An indirect free kick is given to the defending team from the point of the offense

Note: When I am on the attacking team and have the ball, I can flick a figure that is in an offside position into an onside position. But I’m only allowed to do this twice in each turn.

The defending team also has a chance to block my onside flicks. They can use a “blocking flick” to mark the figure that I flicked onside.

The Penalty Kick

When a penalty is given, it is taken from the penalty spot and there are some rules that need to be followed:

– All players, except the goalkeeper and the one taking the penalty kick, must be outside the penalty area.

– The goalkeeper must be touching the goal line in the center of the goal mouth and must remain still until the kick is taken. If the goalkeeper breaks this rule three times, a goal is awarded.

When it comes to penalties in Subbuteo, there are a few rules that need to be followed. First, the player taking the penalty must declare that they are ready to take it. This lets everyone know that they are about to take a shot.

When it comes to free kicks, there are two types: direct and indirect. With an indirect free kick, the ball must touch another figure before a goal can be scored. This adds an extra element of strategy to the game.

On the other hand, with a direct free kick, a goal can be scored directly from the kick. However, the ball needs to be completely within the shooting area for it to count.

When it comes to defending a direct free kick, the defending team is allowed to place up to four figures to form a wall. This wall needs to be 9cm away from the ball. It’s important to note that the defending team is only allowed two flicks for marking, in addition to the wall.

During a free kick, there should be no defending figures within 9cm of the ball. This ensures a fair play and gives the attacking team a chance to score.

Lastly, both teams are allowed to flick two figures into new positions before the kick is taken. The attacking team gets to flick first. This adds an element of strategy and allows the teams to set up their positions before the kick.

So, whether it’s a penalty or a free kick, there are rules in place to ensure fair play and an exciting game of Subbuteo.