Table Hockey
Officially Table Hockey (Stiga tournament rules)
Miniature ice-hockey table game invented 1932 by Toronto's Donald Munro. Rod-controlled figurines shoot puck at goals; STIGA (Sweden) standard from 1957 with metal figures. Serious tournament scene — International Table Hockey Federation (ITHF) since 1988; World Championships biennially; Sweden/Russia/Finland dominant.
Quick facts
Category
Precision Sports
Type
Individual
Players
2–2
Duration
~10 min
Where played
indoor
Country of origin
🇨🇦 Canada
Estimated origin
Invented 1932 by Donald Munro (Toronto) — Christmas gift for children during Depression; STIGA (Sweden) mass-produced from 1957.
Olympic
No
Popularity
regional
How it works
Objective
Score more goals than opponent by shooting puck into their goal using rod-controlled figurines.
Rules
Basic rules
ROD-CONTROLLED PLAYERS — twist + push/pull each rod to move + shoot
Signature rod control.
PUCK MUST BE OUT OF DEFENDER'S ZONE before shooting from further back
Standard offensive rule.
STANDARD MATCH = 5 MINUTES per game; best-of-N in tournaments
Standard timing.
OFFICIAL STIGA rules used at ITHF World Championships
Signature ITHF governance.
Scoring
1 point per goal; most goals in time period wins.
Win condition · Most goals when time expires; overtime + shootout if tied.
Equipment
STIGA table hockey game (standard tournament model, 92×49 cm)
Signature tournament board.
Miniature puck (usually plastic/felt)
Standard puck.
Terminology
- STIGA
- Swedish manufacturer whose 1957+ boards became tournament standard.
- Sniping
- Precise long-range shot into goal.
Major competitions
ITHF World Championships
biennial · Global · since 1988
European Table Hockey Championships
annual · Europe · since 1990
ITHF World Tour
annual · Global · since 2001
Where it is played
Governing bodies
International Table Hockey Federation (ITHF)
Founded 1988 · Sweden
Famous names & records
Famous athletes
- Hans Österman (SE, multiple World Champion)
- Maxim Borisov (RU)
- Oscar Andersson (SE)
- Fredrik Nybom (SE)
Sources & provenance
- Wikipedia — Table hockey games— Wikipedia
- ITHF official— ITHF