Keep Children Safe With These Foosball Safety Tips
Foosball is a fun and competitive game, which is suitable for almost all age groups. It can be broadly classed as a safe game for children to play, especially when they are supervised, but there is still scope for things to go wrong.
With this in mind, it is important to take some basic safety precautions, in order to keep your kids safe.
Establishing Household Rules
A lot of the potential safety issues surrounding foosball tables can be mitigated by creating some basic rules for your children to follow when they play. This may include rules like:
- No spinning the rods on the foosball table
- Warn players before using your hands to pick up the ball
- No moving or lifting the table
- Avoid slamming the rods into the walls of the table
In addition to assisting with safety, some of these rules also represent good practice more generally. Try to enforce them as much as possible, explain why they are so important, and remind your children of the rules if they stray from them. It may be worth writing them on a piece of paper and keeping the rules close to the foosball table at all times.
Foosball Balls and Choking
Some of the main safety hazards linked to foosball are likely to revolve around the ball that is used to play the game. Foosball balls can be made from a range of different materials, but regardless of the type, a foosball ball will hurt if it hits a child, so it is vital that anyone playing the game understands this basic fact.
This is one of the main reasons why you should establish a 'no spinning' rule, as it will help your children to learn to control the ball properly. It is also crucial that you make the dangers of picking up the ball and throwing it clear.
On top of this, the ball you play with can also represent a choking hazard, especially for young children, who may be prone to curiosity, exploration and putting objects into their mouths. For this reason, it is imperative that young kids are supervised while they play foosball, allowing you to step in before they are in any real danger.
Injuries From Foosball Table Rods
For older children, the rods on a foosball table may be the most likely part to pose a safety thread of any kind. While the type of injuries that can be sustained from these rods do not tend to be serious, they can still be painful.
In particular, a reasonably common problem involves the skin on a child's hands becoming caught in the holes that the rods sit within. As the rods are moved backwards and forwards, this can lead to fingers becoming trapped, or skin being pinched. Try to encourage your children to keep their hands away from the holes on the table as much as possible.
Furthermore, the movement of the rods can lead to other problems, including impact injuries as the rods move outwards at high speeds. This can be especially significant if you have smaller children and a foosball table that is at an awkward height for them, as it could lead to head or eye injuries.
Checking Foosball Table Reviews
Finally, one of the best safety tips involves reading foosball table reviews in advance and identifying the best foosball table for your specific needs. We can offer interesting practical insights into how good a table is and how safe it is for children to use, so reading our reviews can be highly beneficial.
If you are searching for folding foosball tables, try to read up on how easy they are to set up and pack away before committing to a purchase, as this is another area where injuries could theoretically occur. Moreover, try to find a foosball table with a ball return system, so you can limit the need to reach onto the table during play.
You are going to want to seek out a foosball table that is made from high-quality materials, and it is important to find one that has safety caps on the rods. Additionally, you need to read about the dimensions of the table, give consideration to where the table will be located, and factor in the room needed to move around without hitting things.
Best Foosball Tables for Kids
Playcraft Sport 48" Foosball Table
With nice, colorful graphics, the Playcraft Sport is a great kid's foosball table. Priced around the $100 mark, it won't break the bank either, although for this price don't expect it to be as sturdy or as durable as other tables.
Read Review Check Latest PriceHathaway 48" Playoff Foosball Table
The Hathaway Playoff is another great choice for those looking a buy a foosball table for the children. Like the Playcraft Sport above, it is a lower priced table compared to others out there, which is reflected in its weight and sturdiness.
Read Review Check Latest PriceKICK 48" Glory Foosball Table
A little more expensive than the two tables above, the KICK Glory is still aimed primarily at kids and teenagers, but is a bit sturdier and looks more "grown up" than other kids tables out there.
Read Review Check Latest Price