The Meaning of Footbag

sampotter · Post by **sampotter** » 22 May 2005 12:21

Lately I've been getting exceedingly pissed off at footbag, for various reasons. The reasons are not important, what is important is that I've lost sight of footbag as a hobby, and now view it as more of an obligation. Footbag has become sort of an expected rate of progression with expected events along the timeline (tourneys, jams, etc.). All this allows for is for one to fall short of these goals - a session falls through, you can't hit a trick, etc. On top of falling short constantly, I feel disappointed in myself due to my rate of progression compared to others' - I'm not able to accept my game as my own and enjoy it for its uniqueness. It's not fun, and footbag is supposed to be fun, right? I'm finding myself asking whether or not this is actually fun for me anymore. How do you guys keep the sport fun for you? I honestly don't remember the last time I played because I was inspired to, instead of it seeming like a chore.

Peace,

Tsiangkun · Post by **Tsiangkun** » 22 May 2005 12:25

HG · Post by HG » 22 May 2005 12:44

I never fall into this state of mind for one reason:

I never play with people, so i always feel the lowest part of the game: solo sessions. Since i have nothingto compare solo sessions to, except for the fewtimes i played with people, i feel like soloing is really fun.

Jeremy · Post by **Jeremy** » 22 May 2005 12:48

Lose your expectations - play for the moment not the future. If you're playing badly drop the level down a bit. A long time ago a friend of mine said a great quote which I apply to everything

"Don't try to be the universe, just play good hacky" - Jasper Hedges December 31 2000.

ericksonj · Post by **ericksonj** » 22 May 2005 12:55

Sam,

I felt this exact same way after I came back from injury a year ago. I basically felt that I had lost so much time and I would have been much better had I not been injured. I was extremely frustrated with all of footbag, but I still loved it. Every session I had seemed to be only as good as the last or really inconsistent with lack of progress. Part of my problem was that I had an idea in my head of how my game should be, and if it didn't go that way then I was angry. Eventually I started to just be, and I stopped trying to force things and just let it flow. These days I don't really force myself to hit new high add moves, and if something isn't working or upseting me then I stop trying it for the day. If a new move comes to me and all of a sudden feels possible, then sweet.

What I like to do is alternate some sessions to keep my head straight. Some days I will have a private secluded training session, and other days I will have shred sessions infront of lots of people on campus. I have really been pushing my run length and consistency, only because I like to shred in public. These public shred sessions do little in the way of adding new moves to my game, but they do wonders for my style and run length. Also, compliments from bistanders(which are inevitable) help to remind me of how far I have come. I enjoy the feeling of acquiring a new 'standard' move, i.e. a move you can hit, but all of a sudden you feel 100% comfortable throwing it and not dropping in a long run. All training all the time can really take away from the fun, especially on the days where you couldn't hit those new links or moves for whatever reason.

If I never hit a beast, then so what. If all of a sudden the whole footbag community is better than me, then who cares. At this point I have reached a level where I can string it up and have fun. Anything else that comes is icing on the cake that I have put so much time into. I used to think that footbag was all business and it was not a game. Truth be told, it is a game and should be treated as such. We are not curing cancer or defending the universe, we are having fun dancing around a hacky sack. Don't get me wrong, footbag is very important to me, but I try not to let it frustrate me.

Sam, I know how you feel. My advice to you is to become less serious about the whole thing. Progress comes with time, and no matter how hard you force it, you are still going to progress at your own rate. Progress also comes in spurts, and one day you may wake up and find that you can hit a whole bunch of new things and you will be on top of the world.

We should get together over the summer and shred it up. You are a real fun guy to shred with.

peace

Dat · Post by **Dat** » 22 May 2005 12:59

Yeah footbag sucks ass sometimes. I hate it when my knee aches, there aren't people to kick with, when I have long spells of not playing footbag and have to work my way back. I keep playing though because the challenge is still fun for me. I still have those great feeling epiphany moments when I figure out something I've been working on for a long time. No matter how much I get better there'll always be something more to learn. The challenge never stops. And if I get stuck on something, I can try something else and come back to it later. There are so many concepts and combinations to work on. I can't imagine running out of things to practice.

professor · Post by **professor** » 22 May 2005 14:12

I've found that when you feel the worst about footbag and when you see no improvement in your game, that is just about the point when you will suddenly get better. I find that when I think something is too hard and I will never get it consistent, in a short period of time I do get it down.

I think every footbagger goes through times like these. What I chose to do in these times is work even harder.

Also, what I find that causes these feelings sometimes is that I'm not being creative enough. I do the same tricks over and over again and it becomes boring. Try new tricks/drills/combos/records that you've never done before. Mix up your game and it will keep you interested.

When I feel discouraged because someone is better than me, I use that as motivation to reach their level. Don't say to yourself "I stink, they are so much better than me I should just quit." say "Man they are really good, but I know I can be that good too." It's kinda cheesy but that's the kind of thing you have to think.

When ever I don't feel motivated or I feel uninspired, I open up some of my favorite footbag videos and sit and watch them. Afterwards I can't help but go out and shred. It never fails to keep me motivated.

Footbag is hard, if it wasn't it wouldn't be so much fun.

Lise · Post by **Lise** » 22 May 2005 14:35

I used to run into times where I got frustrated about not progressing as fast as I'd like to. But then I realized that I'd always feel this way, I'll always wish I was better..! So now for me the most important thing is to enjoy the whole process. Enjoy all the weeks, months and years it will take to learn all these things. Enjoy all the great moments that come with it, and just have fun. What you're doing is great no matter what!!

Peace

mc · Post by mc » 22 May 2005 17:57

Sam, I feel like that every few sessions or so, but I always think of the high points, and know they'll come again. each day can't be our best. as for your level of play not being high enough, well, I can understand that frustration, as well. Two things help me with that.

One is busting my ass, because then I really know I did something about getting better, and even if you're having a day where you can't bust technical stuff, see how many infinities or ducking clippers or same side mirages or whatever that you can do. Doing long drills like that will help tighten up your style, so you can get better without having to go all out.

The second is my knowledge of how others perceive even the most basic footbag tricks. You don't need to be doing the biggest, hugest tricks to excercise good style, and good style is really impressive and beautiful, even if it's just legovers and clippers and osis.

You have to have faith that you're getting better. Even if you're not feeling that great, if you keep playing regularly, you will notice change over time.

so, try playing with others, or in public. Play hacky sack and throw a trick in just every once in a while. That can really make it fun again, because a simple legover will impress hackers.

crazydwarf · Post by **crazydwarf** » 24 May 2005 19:26

While I do sometimes get frusterated with footbag, I always feel that I would rather be playing footbag badly then doing practicaly anything else. Also, after every session I'm always glad that I had it, I never regret playing footbag. Probably not very helpful, but that's how I feel.

hacksterbator · Post by **hacksterbator** » 24 May 2005 22:54

ericksonj wrote:Truth be told, it is a game and should be treated as such. We are not curing cancer or defending the universe, we are having fun dancing around a hacky sack.

well, unless you're name is james risden. which it isn't so consider your self lucky!!!

when bad sessions get me down, i always think about how far my game has come in the last year. i think about how much i have improved, how i am able to do trick X mid string, both sides, easily into and out of anything, and 6 months ago i might have hit 1 out of 10. that tends to cheer me up. i also think about how much fun i used to have just kicking the bag. now i can string tricks and do all sorts of fancy stuff with it. holy crap, that's awesome!

every had an injury? do you remember how shit it feels when you can't even kick a footbag, let alone have a crappy session. my knee injury drove me crazy! i couldn't play for about 1 month, and at that time i would have gladly taken a crappy session over sitting on the couch with an ice pack. be greatful you can play.

ShredOnLawn · Post by **ShredOnLawn** » 25 May 2005 00:20

Footbag=To enjoy the movement of one's limbs to keep a small object aloft.

sen · Post by **sen** » 25 May 2005 07:45

Lon Smith once wrote:

I don't play just to have fun
I play to release emotions
I play to listen to music
I play to see how good I can get regardless of wheather anyone else plays at all
I play to break my own record

Or something like that. Sorry if i messed it up, that was all from memory.

QuantumBalance · Post by **QuantumBalance** » 25 May 2005 09:31

Sam,

I'm Sam too! Yay. Don't stop, just stop comparing yourself to others.

-Sam

acxel22 · Post by **acxel22** » 28 May 2005 03:03

I think footbag is about one thing, a passion..
Well that's how it is for me, it passionates me and I never get angry a myself for sucking comparing to people or anything.. I'ts the most beautiful sport and enjoyable sport I know of, its really difficult to learn, but so rewarding when you acheive a new level of difficulty!

The only way I would stop footbag would be because I would be badly injured, or that I somehow loose this passion.

Until then, I will try to play everyday, and will always have footbag come to my mind at least once per hour

slapdash21 · Post by **slapdash21** » 28 May 2005 06:00

come on...you are whipping your legs around a small bag in crazy contortions, and then (yeah! there's more!!!) you catch it on your FEET in unlikely ways!!
its incredible, what more could you want?!?!

Zeke · Post by **Zeke** » 28 May 2005 12:33

I've been frustrated with my freestyle game for the past couple of years. It just wasn't as fun as it used to be. Fortunately I still like to hack and there are hundreds of hackers around here to keep it fresh and interesting. But introducing 4 square to kids at my old highscool was the best thing to ever happen. It's almost all they play and I get to test out all the new rules I can come up with.

Footbag to me is not just Freestyle. Its having fun with your sac any way you can

(I know that's an old joke but what I was going to type in originaly was going to sound just the same, so

)

ptaku · Post by **ptaku** » 28 May 2005 12:52

slapdash21 wrote:come on...you are whipping your legs around a small bag in crazy contortions, and then (yeah! there's more!!!) you catch it on your FEET in unlikely ways!!
its incredible, what more could you want?!?!

Once one girl asked me if I'm happy with my life... I answered to her something like:
"You know, I play footbag, I do the most cool thing on the world, what else do I need."

MegaFighter_X · Post by **MegaFighter_X** » 29 May 2005 01:01

I know the feeling. I ended up "retiring" for a while. When I came back, I decently busted out. Don't forget about footbag, just take a small hiatus from it. Give it a few weeks and do something else. Then come back and just play. Don't try to get better. Play.

NotHisRealName · Post by **NotHisRealName** » 29 May 2005 01:06

MegaFighter_X wrote:I know the feeling. I ended up "retiring" for a while. When I came back, I decently busted out. Don't forget about footbag, just take a small hiatus from it. Give it a few weeks and do something else. Then come back and just play. Don't try to get better. Play.

Yeah. Take a break. that's your best option.
There's no way to make you inspired to play. Sure you can watch vids and be around others, but that'll only keep you interested in the sport - trust me... I know.
Take a break.
Forget about playing.

Soon you'll start to miss it, and you'll get back into it again.
You might be a little rusty for the first few shreds, but then you'll break out of any slump you might be in.

And do it for the fun of it.