Footbag going backwards

LEGOMAN · Post by **LEGOMAN** » 24 Jul 2007 21:37

brinard wrote: im not whirried.

Jeremy · Post by **Jeremy** » 25 Jul 2007 04:27

The "boom" of 2006 happened well before worlds.

The reason I started this topic wasn't to make people feel depressed, it was in the hope that people would stop waiting for things to happen, or relying on other people, and get out there and do something themselves. And even if you're doing something, whatever it is, it's not enough.

Footbag won't suddenly become a bigger. It's like getting good. You're not just suddenly good at footbag, you have to work really hard for years. Yeah, there are plenty of people working hard at getting good at footbag on this site. In comparison to how hard you work at getting good at footbag, how hard are you working at making the sport bigger and more popular.

Here's a tip, your skill level won't have a big impact on if people decide to play or not, you need to do more than just get good yourself, if you want the sport to improve instead of going backwards.

max · Post by **max** » 25 Jul 2007 04:53

well that's considering you actually WANT the sport to get bigger.

mosher · Post by **mosher** » 25 Jul 2007 05:17

max wrote:well that's considering you actually WANT the sport to get bigger.

Well I am one of the 'selfish' jerks that thinks that the sport should get somewhat bigger.

And not just that but I have basically committed my life to endeavors that would, as a side effect, result in a large scale boom.

Is that trying hard enough?

Oh yeah, and I run a club offering unlimited free lessons, as I have done for basically my whole time in footbag.

Psilocybe · Post by **Psilocybe** » 25 Jul 2007 05:36

I'm always amazed that I live in a liberal college town of 60k and I'm the only active footbagger. Pretty bizarre if you ask me.

To get a good idea at the depth of the problem, I just did a facebook search of 35,000 of my fellow students. Only ONE person has "footbag" listed as an interest - ME. And only TWO people have it listed as an "activity" - me and the only other footbagger in town, whos been injured lately.

HG · Post by HG » 25 Jul 2007 07:34

I personally couldn't care less if the sport gets bigger or smaller. I'm going to play no matter what.

And, since when is offering free lessons something new? I have never heard of ANYONE charging to teach footbag.

bdams19 · Post by **bdams19** » 25 Jul 2007 10:35

I don't see how you guys could say you don't care if the sport gets bigger. Could you imagine gyms opening up that were dedicated to this, or walking through the park and being able to just jump into a shred circle? That would be awesome! Unfortunately, I don't think most people have the patience for that to become a reality but still a thought.

Colin · Post by **Colin** » 25 Jul 2007 11:12

Don't worry guys. I have a newbie. All is right again in footbagtown.

... It breaks my heart to see people like Felix, Mikko, or DC not making Worlds for (as far as I know) financial reasons. I don't care about making these guys millionaires, or even about helping them make a reasonable living from footbag. I don't even care whether Joe Shmuck knows or respects what I'm doing when he walks past my circle. But I'm a serious armchair athlete, and it hurts me to know that the competitive field isn't as strong as it should be. The sport needs some cash flow to ensure that every legit finalist contender world-wide is able to make the biggest competitions.

What am I doing? Hell, nothing. I'm still stuck in kid mode at 23, not yet ready to initiate change. I'm working on this, but the truth is that I have enough trouble taking care of myself that any real responsibility is still way beyond me.

I intend to be qualified as a high school teacher two years from now. Footbag was a factor in choosing the career path. I'll have opportunity to run a footbag club, and to demonstrate the game to hundreds of kids through the years. I'll be free each summer to travel to worlds, and my reasonably good salary will allow it. I actually like the idea of spending a month in the host city each year, helping out in whatever way I can - there's a world's oversight committee in the IFPA, yeah? I'd like St. John's to host Worlds one year, and I'd like to be behind that.

This kinda drifted from what I meant to say in the beginning, but those are some of the things I'd like to do in footbag in the future. Also hit Rubberman. For now though, I s'pose I'll keep 5ing and favoriting youtube vids, doing half-assed moderation of a couple of forums, and trying to get that newb out for a sesh.

HG · Post by HG » 25 Jul 2007 14:47

maybe it's just me, but I don't feel like the sport NEEDS to get bigger. I am having fun as it is, and I only play with other people about three times a year. You shouldn't have to get rewarded with money/sponsorship/fame to appreciate footbag for what it is.

Don't make me get Windsor into this conversation

CIC flurry · Post by **CIC flurry** » 25 Jul 2007 21:26

Generally I don't feel driven to make the sport bigger on a daily basis, but it's good to have topics like this to make people think about it. I would love it for there to always be people to kick with - and this is my main focus, not money or whatev. Nearby even. And this is me talking who lives in an area with a good number of kickers already.

For local progression:

Here in chicago we kick at all the major festivals, crash all the hack circles, and give flyers or info to people we kick with. Also we go to different schools and kick.

But ya know what? There is still little growth. Except for 4-square at Lane Tech (where we went to high school and kick often) - it's exploded. And out of Lane tech only 2 new freestylers emerged. The reason why this exploded is b/c 4S is easy enough and high school kids have more time and ambition for such things. But at the same time you have to be consistent and bring footbag around.

I think we could go to more high schools. Lord know when i kicked @ my college that people joined me, but only as hackers - they didn't escalate.

shit - i was so into hacky sack that i was dying for people to play with. the internet was new, but now u can type in hacky sack and find a club near you! Anybody remember that old player list? An actual huge list of names.

The single greatest influence we have for retaining players is Zeke contacting people. And I don't mean email like I do. Calling every session.

Larger scale:
What we really need is media exposure. MTV or something to make it cool. I'm always surprised that we have so many people in the sport and no connections to movies/music videos or similar. Props to Chad for 'She's all That'.

Actually I'm curious to know how Europe exploded.

janis · Post by **janis** » 25 Jul 2007 23:24

Having established a club, the big thing that got it all going, was putting a lot of effort into promotion then establishing a group who regularly put effort into organising events and promoting the sport. Sure most of the people involved in the club are in it for the social element (we run regular social events) but a considerable group like to circle kick and play 4 square, some people who might have otherwise been intimidated/disinterested get interested in freestyle after first circle kicking and playing 4square. There will probably never be a huge interest (like compared with some other big sports) in freestyle simply because of the large amount of effort involved in getting to a point where it is enjoyable to play.

The key to getting more people playing is exposure. When more people see the game more people will get involved. Stuff like TV time is very helpful for this, after footbag was on TV in Melbourne some people got interested in the sport and signed up for the club.

In the end, the easiest and probably most important thing is to find a regular time and place to play, without that it will be near impossible to get a group going.

HG wrote:And, since when is offering free lessons something new? I have never heard of ANYONE charging to teach footbag.

A guy in Australia does this, but not for like fellow shredders, more for like school groups and stuff.

If you put effort into promoting the sport, like really put some effort in, you will get results

Rieferman · Post by **Rieferman** » 26 Jul 2007 05:57

I'm with HG's comments above.

Not directed at anyone in particular:
Why do you (the general "you") want it bigger? It is what it is, have fun. If you like promoting, promote. If you don't, don't.

Generic comment:
When I was still running events, I pretty much did away with long drawn out competitions for freestyle. Just about noone cares. And the majority of performances aren't really spectator worthy either. Everyone can pick the winner before they even play in most cases. So what's the point? I stopped going to events because I didn't want to sit on the sideline for 3 hours while 6 guys competed for cash.

Net on the other hand requires competition.

Therefore, in my opinion events that have freestyle and net should just let the freestylers focus mainly on shred. If you do run a freestyle competition, make it fast and easy so the majority of the players can get back to shredding again.

Of course, what do I know? I don't even play anymore! ha ha

Psilocybe · Post by **Psilocybe** » 26 Jul 2007 06:37

I would like more people to play so I could start a club. At my school you need 5 people to start one.

Grade Zero · Post by **Grade Zero** » 26 Jul 2007 06:48

Psilocybe wrote:I would like more people to play so I could start a club. At my school you need 5 people to start one.

Good Luck! I'm trying to do the same thing. I've got four confirmed members, and about ten or so that might be interested.

There are those who want to learn, we just have to find them. And who knows, maybe we'll find the next world champ.

dyalander · Post by **dyalander** » 26 Jul 2007 18:49

I'm not so worried about less earches on google, but it does worry me that less and less freestylers are getting involved with bodies such as the ifpa. Most of us here play footbag the way we do as a direct result of somehting that has been done by the ifpa -whether it is a website we learn from or that connects us with another footbagger, or a tournament held through the support of the ifpa or another similar body. I think alot of freestylers don't realise how improtant the national and intertnational organisational aspects of footbag really are because the previous generation did all the hard work for us and we take it for granted. I shudder to think what will happen when Steve leaves the scene.

Ian Brill · Post by **Ian Brill** » 27 Jul 2007 12:18

In every city I have lived in I have been encoraged to downplay my enthusiasm for this sport because of it's negative associations with escapist activites. It's a real problem.

I am in the process of trying to incorporate footbag into some academic settings and I experience flutcuating resistance from collaborators.

In some ways I agree entirely with Henry. Frankly, however, I would like to see this sport grow if not just so that people could get over the pothead association it has through hackysack.

The bump should be now and not after worlds. What can we do about it?

Senor Grommet · Post by **Senor Grommet** » 27 Jul 2007 17:31

if only more freestylers were into net, then net would become more publicly known. the future of footbag is over a net!

CIC flurry · Post by **CIC flurry** » 27 Jul 2007 19:57

Net is for old people!

ObArA'BaRs · Post by **ObArA'BaRs** » 29 Jul 2007 16:15

mostly everyone who starts, quits.

ThisIsFate · Post by **ThisIsFate** » 29 Jul 2007 17:30

I agreed with the media thing. Anyway, I would like to share how i get into this sport, I still remembered I phoned at least 30 stores to find rod laver, and at last I bought my in adidas store which was the only one in the world, and happaned to be in Vancouver lol. Or I had to shred with my crappy shoes. On the other hand, Footbag is alot easier to get, I only phone about 20 sport, hiking shops and I found it (never buy in dollar store).

For some people it may be easy to buy stuff off online, but not for everyone. So I will strongly suggest, if u are gonna start a club, u should support equipments as well, casue 90% of noobs would blame on "IT's YOUR SHOES !!."