August without Canicola. We were still bragging about being world champs. September is worse, it gets sweaty. In table football just like other games there are no set rules. Often every place has its own rules for the game. One of these rules though can be easily considered the king of rules here in Italy: the "gancio". The gancio is just not tolerated. You're just not allowed to pull one of those moves. This rule strongly characterizes the game. The prohibition of this move is already inside every players DNA, you just know from when you are a kid, everyone knows you're just not allowed to pull one of those. The gancio technically is when you touch the ball twice with the same player or when you pass it over to your man beside and get him to shoot. This doesn't mean you're not allowed to make these double passes during the game, they are actually important for the match, you're just not allowed to score with this move. A second rule not always applied bans shooting when the ball is still. In these cases after having stopped the ball with a player you're required to make the ball touch one of the sides before shooting. Ok let's stop though at the first rule. The length and time of a match may vary but usually you go up to 7, 9 or 11 goals. With less goals to make sometimes chance can take over skill. If you're tied with one more goal to score to win the game left, you proceed until you win with a lead of at least two goals. The "gancio" ban keeps the game dynamic, it increases the uncertainty, avoids easy scores and predictable moves. In the international league the Italian way of playing is not contemplated and they prefer to play a static game instead of a spectacular one. It's almost winter and we are still bragging. Spinning the rods is illegal, but everyone knows that.

edo chieregato