I had a 16 person local session today with 4 guiltless, three players doing six adds and above, and hot red bull girls came to give out free product, and I'm sure the exec guy will be stopping by soon. And, 10 people didn't show up, and we should have at least 8 weekly from now on. (For more on my crazy event, see Bum's blog...and maybe saying the EVAN CAME will be good incentive to check it out)
Therefore, I'm maximizing my local. What else can I do for the regional, national, and world level. I think if we give out a specific "help footbag" agenda that addresses all these levels of the sport: pushing local organization as the highest priority, getting to at least some tournaments as middle priority, and trying to make worlds huge by saving up and joining ifpa as the goal for anyone who really wants to help (or something better, just a good plan that addresses all levels), we'll move faster. Now that your here Steve, please give us an instructions list, I know at least 50 of us will follow it...we have so many people on here, and most hardly ever post at all, so its hard to see the hugeness of it, but if we have specific actions to perform and worry about, it will all move faster.
Peace.
Bum
Let`s start thinking about Footbag in the Olympics
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FootbagginBum
- Flower Child
- Posts: 2018
- Joined: 03 Jan 2003 00:58
- Location: Grass Valley and Las Vegas
- Contact:
Just to be clear, we don't need to move fast. Deliberate and "sustainable" is the key. Where you put energy in, try to make it energy others can leverage. Where you put money in, put it in areas that help the organizational aspects of the sport. Where you put time in, make it time that isn't going into a throw-away project.FootbagginBum wrote:...I'm maximizing my local. What else can I do for the regional, national, and world level. I think if we give out a specific "help footbag" agenda that addresses all these levels of the sport: pushing local organization as the highest priority, getting to at least some tournaments as middle priority, and trying to make worlds huge by saving up and joining ifpa as the goal for anyone who really wants to help (or something better, just a good plan that addresses all levels), we'll move faster.
Also, umm, it's not good enough to just act locally. If you aren't the type of person who volunteers tons of time, that's fine. If you don't have money to donate, that's fine. But work with us -- virtually speaking -- not against us. Get with the program (I'm not speaking to any one person here, but to "you" in general). Learn what's going on around you -- don't make assumptions. Don't ask others to do work for you (especially not me!), and seek enlightenment. Sometimes once you understand something in detail, the solution is just sitting right there in front of your face. (I.e., you can figure out how you can help.) Just saying, "Steve, you need to figure out X or Y thing" is not going to cut it. Don't be lazy. Don't fight the system. Work within it, even if it's just supporting those who are trying desperately and not putting up obstacles.
I hope you realize that I also act very much locally. In fact, I have the longest-running weekly freestyle session on the planet -- every Tuesday for almost 18 years. More than many of you have been alive.
And on top of that, where by the way I spend an inordinate amount of time teaching (we have at least 5 regular guiltless players at my weekly sessions and new players come in all the time), I also happen to spend thousands of hours a year pouring my time into a more sustainable global effort -- hopefully obvious what I'm referring to. And on top of that, I pour my cash into the non-profit functions IFPA performs. And on top of that, I sponsor people/tournaments/etc. And on top of that, I co-founded IFPA. And on top of that, I ran Worlds for two years in a row, and ran freestyle at Worlds many years after, and donated most of my vacations for the last 10 years helping with Worlds, Euros, Regionals (the Western one of which I ran), and others. And on top of that, I spent a tremendous amount of time explaining things on the forums and e-mail lists. And on top of that, I created a new judging system for freestyle and implemented the software to do real-time judging at Worlds and other events. And on top of that, I served on the International Footbag Committee both as its chairperson and as a member of several rules subcommittees. I helped draft language for rules for some of the newer freestyle events, and recruited members from Europe to sit on the committee to improve its international membership. And on top of that, of course, tons more, that if I keep typing will just serve to piss people off. So, umm, I guess I'm saying, don't tell me there isn't room for you to contribute to the global footbag community aside from just doing your own local thing. I say think globally, act locally and globally. I'd rather think I'm setting an example for everyone to follow with all the ways I try to help footbag -- rather than cement my position as someone who does everything and therefore enables everyone to just get lazier and lazier 'cause they know "Steve will do it." I won't do it. I resigned from IFPA a long time ago (word doesn't seem to have spread on that one), and I stopped running Regionals 'cause it was just a thankless, constant up-hill battle (though many people made it a lot easier for me than it could've been), and I have a ridiculously busy "day job". My days of contributing on 20 different axes to the sport are over. I'm not walking away completely, but I really just wish somehow I could deprogram everyone from assuming "Steve will do it" and that it's "Steve's job" to do it. I'm just a random guy. Argh.
See, but this is exactly backwards. I don't have an instruction list, and I'm not the guy who should be giving it. I don't want whatever power you're implying here. I am just a guy. I like freestyling. I don't need anyone to tell me where I should be spending my time. I have earned the right to do what I want to do at this point w/o everyone guilting me into having to take charge and lead us out of our current morass. All I can do now is share my frustration and hope more people get off their lazy asses and do real work that's "sustainable" by contributing to what's already going and not just rebelling against the "man" whether it's IFPA, me, footbag.org, or whatever. Such negativity simply doesn't have a place in our current situation. We need to be a community and work together, and nobody should look to me, personally, to lead the way. It's not going to happen.Now that your here Steve, please give us an instructions list, I know at least 50 of us will follow it...
Steve
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FootbagginBum
- Flower Child
- Posts: 2018
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I'm sorry, I didn't mean to imply anything, I just think you're one of the most knowledgeable on what we can all do to help out, and since I think I'm doing a good deal and am trying to get others to all the time, I don't neccessarily think I need that much more on my help footbag plate, but I'm sure you could give some ideas to the people who only play and nothing else, and because of your position and experience, I think they'll listen to you. Plus, you might say something I could do easily that would be a big help.
Back when I first joined this forum, I'd only been playing a year and a half and there was this great "What you've done for footbag" thread. I posted the following, and even put it on my website. The list would be much more extensive now, but maybe posting this will help give out more ideas to people, just like you (Steve) were trying to do.
1.) Taken the Las Vegas Zombies Footbag Club from a three person club capable of a few two adders to a club with 22 members, 4 of which can do guiltless runs. (Which now, 2005, is even bigger and there are 3 people who can do 7 adds because of me)
2.) Gone to every Outdoor concert in Vegas throughout the year, play in all of the little crappy circles, impress, then pass out club business cards of the club and words of encouragement.
3.) Quoted zerbe "-Said, "Hackey Sack is a name brand and Footbag is a sport" about a million times"
4.) Gone to every comp that I am able to in order to better myself and to get good enough to do street performances and catch new members like flys with honey.
5.) Taken off my pants (with footbag shorts underneathe of course) and shred hard ever day in school right where everyone can see in order to let people see it exists and find new members.
6.) Taught anyone of any level any specific trick they want to learn that I can do (or even if I can't do it at this point) in order to better them and in turn the sport.
7.) Told everyone I know that footbag is what I do and explained it to them, and hand out bags to the kids I know, further spreading the word.
8.) Read everything on the internet and become Doctor Footbag who knows all about the sport and can explain any concept for anyone on the street or give them C.D.s with a video collection that might rival Piltz's.
9.) Leave a weird signature on the bottom of my posts of message boards as well as posting information about the club everywhere I can to encourage people to come help me grow footbag in my own town and make lasting friendships with the footbag community.
I'm not saying this is even one percent of Steve's list, just some things others may do to help as well. I've also now compiled "Footbag 101: A learners guide" from the best stuff on the internet and from my own experience in order to better foster understanding of the complex aspects and help people learn most efficiently.(PM or email me if you'd like a free digital copy. Please don't do anything but learn from anyone elses words though.) And now that there is more of a scene here, I will be able to do my part in running good events too. And about the "you do it", I just wasn't successful at getting a casino and I think you may be Steve. You can quote numbers, give better history, flex titles, and actually have some control of the budget to work with where I could only speculate and then come beg and scavenge.
I think we're moving off the topic, but I guess its partially a lack of participation from others. Without being too repetitive, please pitch in with some things your trying to accomplish and would like group effort with guys. If you make your goals known, like I have to a degree, more people who have similar ones can help you with them. Maybe two small towns near each other that want to have events will realize that if they work together, they can get a nice one together. I think we should all be in contact with out neighboring clubs more. I've read through every club in Cali fishing for knowledge and people that would partake in events here. If you all searched footbag.org for neighbors, you might find some good shredders a few hours a way you didn't know about. Or, maybe some simple hack clubs you can go play with and inspire in the freestyle direction. Who knows whats possible til you check. Maybe we should get a regional section on this forum, with a thread for every region, so we can talk out our event ideas with the people who'd come before setting dates. They'd we'd have better turnouts, and less conflict between them. People wouldn't have to decide between Montana or idaho, they'd arrange them a couple months apart and have a great turnout at both. Wouldn't that be nice?
Anyway, hope this thread stays alive and finds the best ways to be productive towards the simpler goals of organization, the broader goals of organization, and the long term goals of Olympic recognition and long term mainstream sporthood. Peace.
Bum
Back when I first joined this forum, I'd only been playing a year and a half and there was this great "What you've done for footbag" thread. I posted the following, and even put it on my website. The list would be much more extensive now, but maybe posting this will help give out more ideas to people, just like you (Steve) were trying to do.
1.) Taken the Las Vegas Zombies Footbag Club from a three person club capable of a few two adders to a club with 22 members, 4 of which can do guiltless runs. (Which now, 2005, is even bigger and there are 3 people who can do 7 adds because of me)
2.) Gone to every Outdoor concert in Vegas throughout the year, play in all of the little crappy circles, impress, then pass out club business cards of the club and words of encouragement.
3.) Quoted zerbe "-Said, "Hackey Sack is a name brand and Footbag is a sport" about a million times"
4.) Gone to every comp that I am able to in order to better myself and to get good enough to do street performances and catch new members like flys with honey.
5.) Taken off my pants (with footbag shorts underneathe of course) and shred hard ever day in school right where everyone can see in order to let people see it exists and find new members.
6.) Taught anyone of any level any specific trick they want to learn that I can do (or even if I can't do it at this point) in order to better them and in turn the sport.
7.) Told everyone I know that footbag is what I do and explained it to them, and hand out bags to the kids I know, further spreading the word.
8.) Read everything on the internet and become Doctor Footbag who knows all about the sport and can explain any concept for anyone on the street or give them C.D.s with a video collection that might rival Piltz's.
9.) Leave a weird signature on the bottom of my posts of message boards as well as posting information about the club everywhere I can to encourage people to come help me grow footbag in my own town and make lasting friendships with the footbag community.
I'm not saying this is even one percent of Steve's list, just some things others may do to help as well. I've also now compiled "Footbag 101: A learners guide" from the best stuff on the internet and from my own experience in order to better foster understanding of the complex aspects and help people learn most efficiently.(PM or email me if you'd like a free digital copy. Please don't do anything but learn from anyone elses words though.) And now that there is more of a scene here, I will be able to do my part in running good events too. And about the "you do it", I just wasn't successful at getting a casino and I think you may be Steve. You can quote numbers, give better history, flex titles, and actually have some control of the budget to work with where I could only speculate and then come beg and scavenge.
I think we're moving off the topic, but I guess its partially a lack of participation from others. Without being too repetitive, please pitch in with some things your trying to accomplish and would like group effort with guys. If you make your goals known, like I have to a degree, more people who have similar ones can help you with them. Maybe two small towns near each other that want to have events will realize that if they work together, they can get a nice one together. I think we should all be in contact with out neighboring clubs more. I've read through every club in Cali fishing for knowledge and people that would partake in events here. If you all searched footbag.org for neighbors, you might find some good shredders a few hours a way you didn't know about. Or, maybe some simple hack clubs you can go play with and inspire in the freestyle direction. Who knows whats possible til you check. Maybe we should get a regional section on this forum, with a thread for every region, so we can talk out our event ideas with the people who'd come before setting dates. They'd we'd have better turnouts, and less conflict between them. People wouldn't have to decide between Montana or idaho, they'd arrange them a couple months apart and have a great turnout at both. Wouldn't that be nice?
Anyway, hope this thread stays alive and finds the best ways to be productive towards the simpler goals of organization, the broader goals of organization, and the long term goals of Olympic recognition and long term mainstream sporthood. Peace.
Bum
"Be the change you wish to see in the world" - Gandhi
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FootbagginBum
- Flower Child
- Posts: 2018
- Joined: 03 Jan 2003 00:58
- Location: Grass Valley and Las Vegas
- Contact:
first page vinny
Andrew's f00t(blog)
Last Updated: 5-22-06
Last Updated: 5-22-06
zilla wrote: It's like being a jedi and making your own lightsaber
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Iron Clad Ben
- Superior Precision Bionics
- Posts: 2522
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53 out of the 75 needed. Although there is a guy in Tunisia trying to start a club, so maybe that's #54. We need 21 more countries.TheVindicator wrote:So how many countries and shit do we need to get into the olympics?
* Argentina (2)
* Australia (29)
* Austria (5)
* Belarus (1)
* Belgium (6)
* Brazil (3)
* Bulgaria (6)
* Canada (107)
* Chile (2)
* China (3)
* Colombia (3)
* Czech Republic (8 )
* Denmark (5)
* Estonia (2)
* Finland (16)
* France (11)
* Germany (29)
* Guam (1)
* Hungary (5)
* Iceland (4)
* Ireland (2)
* Israel (1)
* Italy (1)
* Japan (6)
* Jordan (1)
* Kazakhstan (1)
* Lithuania (1)
* Mexico (14)
* New Zealand (11)
* Nigeria (2)
* Norway (4)
* Peru (1)
* Poland (47)
* Portugal (3)
* Puerto Rico (1)
* Romania (3)
* Russia (7)
* Serbia and Montenegro (1)
* Singapore (1)
* Slovakia (2)
* Slovenia (3)
* South Africa (2)
* South Korea (5)
* Spain (11)
* Sweden (6)
* Switzerland (10)
* The Netherlands (5)
* Trinidad and Tobago (1)
* Turkey (2)
* Ukraine (2)
* United Kingdom (45)
* USA (769)
* Venezuela (10)
I was talking to a friend of mine who is a documentary maker and we came to the conclusion that footbag needs more TV time to become really popular quickly. A good step towards this is to get world champs televised, the ESPN idea is a good one, but free to air would be much better. I am still following up the possibility of a doco, though this is somewhat unlikely at the moment. Olympic recognition will come in time but in the meanwhile we need to promote the sport as much as possible.
This got me interested in search engine results so I tried a few keywords http://www.footbag.org comes up first after a google search for footbag which is great, luckily http://www.footbag.com is nowhere to be seen. Unfortunately after searching for footbagging you get http://www.footbagging.org. http://www.footbag.com, http://www.footbaging.com, http://www.freestylefootbag.com and stallingtricks.com are all crap sites and need to go. That said I had a laugh when viewing them, their list of "informal games didn't include 4 square and their trick list had tricks like "impossible jester" otherwise known as "flying butterfly" and my favourite:
Another thing I thought would be good is to have a poster saying feel free to have a kick with the (insert name here) footbag club and have it clearly visible at every shred session. Be friendly and offer people a go it helps to get people who are hesitant to join in. Last thing go and join each and every hacky circle you can, don't bust out long runs though especially if the style of play is "hack" related, a few mirages, legovers, and flyer passes tend to go down well. If you really want to show some moves bust out some big moves at the end of the session and tell everyone about http://www.footbag.org, "check out the vids on this site, they are really crazy...etc....". Then hopefully they will check it out and get addicted like the rest of us
I think I've gone on long enough for now...
The thing is, and I did this too when I started, people search for hacky sack not footbag. I was lucky enough to find http://www.footbag.org but others haven't been. I think it would be beneficial if http://www.hackysack was bought especially if it wasn't too expensive even if it just linked to http://www.footbag.org with perhaps a page or two of videos and tutorials but not much more.FootbagginBum wrote:About hackysack.com...I went there to see if whamo had any links to us, and the site doesn't even exist right now, thats why I said we need it. Not to take it from them, just to make it SOMETHING more than an autosearch.
This got me interested in search engine results so I tried a few keywords http://www.footbag.org comes up first after a google search for footbag which is great, luckily http://www.footbag.com is nowhere to be seen. Unfortunately after searching for footbagging you get http://www.footbagging.org. http://www.footbag.com, http://www.footbaging.com, http://www.freestylefootbag.com and stallingtricks.com are all crap sites and need to go. That said I had a laugh when viewing them, their list of "informal games didn't include 4 square and their trick list had tricks like "impossible jester" otherwise known as "flying butterfly" and my favourite:
anyway enough of the internet site rant.[/rant]2. The Remix (Mirage) - Start by utilizing the toe stall maneuver. Then with your foot toss the footbag up about knee high, then circle the footbag with your foot from the inside out, (like the mirage) but instead of toe stalling it (mirage), inside stall it
Another thing I thought would be good is to have a poster saying feel free to have a kick with the (insert name here) footbag club and have it clearly visible at every shred session. Be friendly and offer people a go it helps to get people who are hesitant to join in. Last thing go and join each and every hacky circle you can, don't bust out long runs though especially if the style of play is "hack" related, a few mirages, legovers, and flyer passes tend to go down well. If you really want to show some moves bust out some big moves at the end of the session and tell everyone about http://www.footbag.org, "check out the vids on this site, they are really crazy...etc....". Then hopefully they will check it out and get addicted like the rest of us
I think I've gone on long enough for now...
Good post Janiswalker! I think the number 1 thing footbag needs is media exposure! If we could get world champs televised that would do it! I mean, if it got on the national news in Germany this year that would be great, if they could get the whole thing on a main TV channel that would be even better! I think it's their responsibility to organise this!
I think after a few consecutive years of footbag worlds being televised nationaly in different countries then it will start to get shown in other parts of the globe.
I think after a few consecutive years of footbag worlds being televised nationaly in different countries then it will start to get shown in other parts of the globe.
Getting world champ televised achieves a few goals very quickly:
1. Makes footbag look like a professional sport
2. Shows the game at the highest level
3. Gives publicity to footbag, there are many people who don't know that freestyle or net even exist (I used to be one, a "hacky" type that is) so hopefully this gets more people who would like to play but didn't know the sport existed interested.
Free to air televison would be best as it gets the highest exposure. If not the commercial stations (which would be preferable) perhaps community television is a starrting option. Again telling people about http://www.footbag.org could be achieved while showing a glimpse of the sport. After all many people get inspired to try a sport after seeing people compete at the highest level.
Also, the footage doesn't have to be shot like other mainstream sporting events, it leaves open the opportunity to show the community aspects of the sport at the same time and just the great atmosphere that the footbag community has.
1. Makes footbag look like a professional sport
2. Shows the game at the highest level
3. Gives publicity to footbag, there are many people who don't know that freestyle or net even exist (I used to be one, a "hacky" type that is) so hopefully this gets more people who would like to play but didn't know the sport existed interested.
Free to air televison would be best as it gets the highest exposure. If not the commercial stations (which would be preferable) perhaps community television is a starrting option. Again telling people about http://www.footbag.org could be achieved while showing a glimpse of the sport. After all many people get inspired to try a sport after seeing people compete at the highest level.
Also, the footage doesn't have to be shot like other mainstream sporting events, it leaves open the opportunity to show the community aspects of the sport at the same time and just the great atmosphere that the footbag community has.
Media exposure in America isn't that hard of a task. I'm sure I could get some tv shit going on if there was a midwest jam. The media are whores and suck off anyone waiting to give them a squirt.
The problem is for other countries.
I'm sure folks like Mirken and shit could technically compete for Israel....we just need more technicalities
The problem is for other countries.
I'm sure folks like Mirken and shit could technically compete for Israel....we just need more technicalities
My English Comp. 102 teacher just agreed to let me write my final paper on Footbag . It only has to be 4 pages long so i definitley think there is enough information. I want to have a small introduction on the history and what footbag actually is. The rest of my paper will be on why footbag should be an olympic sport. There is tons of information here and very helpful links. Thanks alot guys!
. It only has to be 4 pages long so i definitley think there is enough information. I want to have a small introduction on the history and what footbag actually is. The rest of my paper will be on why footbag should be an olympic sport. There is tons of information here and very helpful links. Thanks alot guys!Josiah Digges
Embassy Footbag Crew
Embassy Footbag Crew
If you can get midwest jam televised that would be greatTheVindicator wrote:Media exposure in America isn't that hard of a task. I'm sure I could get some tv shit going on if there was a midwest jam. The media are whores and suck off anyone waiting to give them a squirt.
It's kinda hard to get tv time in Australia as there fewer tv channels here, but I'll keep going with my connections in the tv industry and see what I can come up with. Mabye aussie nats for a start in 2007? if I go at all that is.-
slapdash21
- Futureless
- Posts: 4681
- Joined: 29 Sep 2004 14:50
- Location: Beantown, kidd
i was thinking about this the other day...how funny would it be to go from a novice player who has never played with anyone else (there are plenty of those around) to being an olympic competitor, because they were necessary to represent a country 
Pete Bowler
B$C
keeps it offah da ground.
617 FOR LIFE
B$C
keeps it offah da ground.
617 FOR LIFE
I meant like, on the news for a few minutes. But there is no Minneapolis scene. There's my crew and a few people throughout the state + the University of Minnesota guys who are impossible to get together withjanis wrote:If you can get midwest jam televised that would be greatTheVindicator wrote:Media exposure in America isn't that hard of a task. I'm sure I could get some tv shit going on if there was a midwest jam. The media are whores and suck off anyone waiting to give them a squirt.
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Sidi||TOFU
- Shredalicious
- Posts: 80
- Joined: 02 Oct 2005 15:19
- Location: Ottawa, Canada
We should focus more on pushing the sport to non-competing footbag fans. Maybe if we all collectively created a mailing list in which we can send out a footbag monthly newsletter to people's email addresses which features a video, some footbag tips and footbag news. We could promote this newsletter offline by creating flyers which are hard copies of the newsletter which potential "fans" would be receiving and we can get them to just write down their email address on our clipboard. So while you're not shredding you can take the clipboard and get people to discover what they are watching (your shred buddies). I am sure the initial amazement of seeing footbag will be enough for them to write down their email address. Whether they forget about it ten minutes later doesn't change the fact that a month later they will be receiving footbag information and even if half those people open it, we are still giving something for them to look forward to next month....MORE FOOTBAG 
Riaz Sidi -- This post was brought to you by the good folks at TOFU: The Ottawa Footbaggers United
^ thats a great idea, and will probably suck many people in. whos gonna do the monthly Footblog?
Andrew's f00t(blog)
Last Updated: 5-22-06
Last Updated: 5-22-06
zilla wrote: It's like being a jedi and making your own lightsaber