Types of Human Foosball Tables

There are three basic types of human foosball tables.  The kind you choose will depend on what your budget is, the space you have to play in, and who is playing.

1.  Unenclosed, custom tables

Unenclosed tables are the easiest to pull off.  If you want a low-budget, low-effort human foosball game, you can put this together with some cones, a few ropes or poles, and a ball.  Use the cones to mark off the playing area either in an outdoor field or in an indoor gym.  Have players stand in lines holding the ropes or poles, throw the ball in, and start playing!  HowDoesShe describes an unenclosed human foosball game here.

2.  Inflatable rental tables

If you've got a decent budget and don't want to do much work to put together a game, renting an inflatable human foosball table might be the option for you.  These usually allow 10-12 players at a time.  Rather than holding onto a pole, a harness around your waist attaches you to a rope.  Instead of sliding back and forth, you are able to move as far as the rope allows you in all directions.  

3.  Enclosed, custom tables

In my opinion, the most awesome human foosball tables are enclosed, custom tables.  These are usually built outdoors and have walls lining the playing area made of wood, hay, or construction fencing.  The walls make for a more authentic foosball game since you can kick the ball past your opponents by bouncing it off the sidewalls.  Players slide back and forth by holding onto plastic pipe threaded over ropes or poles.  These set-ups can be costly and require more time and energy to put together.  Badge of Awesome describes his hay-lined human foosball table here.

We wanted to build a human foosball table that was as much like actual foosball as possible without breaking the bank.  After scouring the internet looking at all different kinds of designs, we ended up creating an enclosed table using a combination of construction fencing, hay, and rope.  Check that out here.