Rules are important to follow during tournaments in order to keep possession of the ball. The opposing player can decide to call the infraction and get possession of the ball or play it from where it is. The referee can call the infraction as well.

1. Flipping a coin

• Flipping a coin determines who gets to pick either the side they wish to play on, or the possession of the ball. 

2. Starting the game

• In order to start the game you have to ask the other player if they are ready and proceed to tap the ball back and forth 3 times between two men and then it is safe to hit the ball. If this rule is not followed the opponent can call this and get possession of the ball.

2.  Any jarring, sliding or lifting of the table is illegal.

• If you are jarring, sliding or lifting on purpose the ball will go back to the other person's 5 bar in the middle. If it is accidental but you make them lose possession of the ball it will go to their 5 man bar.

3. Spinning

• Spinning the rod more than two times before or after hitting the ball is illegal. If you spin the other player gets the ball in their five man bar and has to start the game the same way it is normally started.

4. Too many walls

• If you hit the ball on the wall and the man can go around it in the 5 man bar it is an infraction if you hit it more than 2 times without passing the ball.

5. Distractions

• Talking can be distracting to the other player and can cost them a point and will be called on. Sudden movements like clapping can be distracting. If you move a bar that is behind the ball before shooting it is a distraction. You must wait a whole second before shooting if you wish to move one of the bars.

6. Illegal passes

• If the ball is at a complete stop and is passed from the 5 man bar to the 3 man bar it is considered illegal. It can also be illegal from the goalie to the 5 or the 3 man bar. It is legal if you tap 2 men and then pass the ball.

8. Dead balls

• If the ball is unreachable with both sides of the men it can go back in the middle on the 5 bar of the person who started with the ball. If the ball dies and it is on the other side of either one of the 5 bars it goes to the closer goalie. 

9. Out of play

• If the ball goes out of the table it is considered out of play. If it gets outside of the table and goes back in it is playable. If it hits the scoreboard it is out of play. When the ball is out of play, the ball goes to the person who did not cause the ball to fly out.

10. Time of possession 

• When you start with the ball, the player has 10 seconds to advance the ball. Advancing means either passing it or having the ball hit the other player's men. After that, each time you have the ball you get 15 seconds to advance the ball.

11. Timeouts

• Timeouts can be called during a game but the ball must be at a complete stop. If the ball is not a complete stop it is an infraction. You get 2 timeouts per game. Each time out is 30 seconds. 

12. Penalties

• Penalties are given to a player if the opposing player causes a certain infraction. When a player gets a penalty he gets to shoot a shot from the 3 man bar with the opposing player blocking it. Once the ball is shot if you make it or not it goes back to the original spot it was originally.