Beginner's Inquiry Document

[Jorden]

Because of my YouTube video (Huge Tricks) I get E-mailed all the time from people asking me either 1. how to learn freestyle or 2. what the best [insert equipment here] is.

Instead of making a new list of tips/recommendations for every message, I decided to just do it once.

Please feel free to use this any (or every) time a beginner contacts you via E-mail and sounds interested in learning! Especially if they live nowhere near you.
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Beginner's Inquiry Document

[Hello, yadda yadda]

The best way to learn the sport is self-directed. Here are the best links to learn from…
Check out these (in order):

1. http://www.footbag.org/faq/ (this is the best FAQ on footbag)
2. http://modified.in/footbag/viewtopic.php?t=14866 (advice on how to train and improve quickly)
3. http://www.flipsider.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=19 (video clips of many single moves – remember to learn the Fundamentals first!)
4. http://www.footbag.org. This is the best online footbag resource. I recommend making a personal account, searching for clubs in your area and attending upcoming events. Tournaments/jams are easily the best places to learn (even if you're not ready to compete).
5. http://www.modified.in/footbag/index.php. The footbag forum. Get all your questions answered and meet other people that love the sport. Lots of trick tips and videos.
6. http://www.freedomfootbags.com/shredshop/. The best place to buy footbag stuff. They sell the best beginner hack (Mr. Sandbag), the best shoe (Quantum02) and the best beginner DVD (Gravity Man).

Best of luck! Message me if you need help or have any questions.

[Peace, Name, Club Name/Contact Info]
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Obviously #6 can be debated, and will likely be different if they live outside NA (or if you sell footbags/gear yourself ).

Let me know your thoughts, and how you think the document could be improved upon.

Do you get these messages often?

JM

[Benzilla]

Cool idea Jorden! Its not really helpful to me but for anyone newer to the sport it'll help them so much.

[gMoney]

I think Anz'z tutorials are helpful, too. You should put those on there.

[janis]

this is the generic one I send to people:

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Some tips for beginning with footbag freestyle:
Footbag freestyle takes practice, lots of practice. The first few weeks are the hardest because it takes a few weeks to get the basics covered.

The first thing to do is to get a footbag/hack to practice with. When you are learning it really helps to have a good footbag to practice with. Some suggestions for a beginner bag are the MUFC 12pannel bag, the "kfm cuddlebag" and the mr sandbag from http://www.freedomfootbags.com . While a pair of footbag shoes is helpful they aren't necessary at this point.

The first thing to practice is doing consecutive kicks (keeping the bag in the air by kicking it), try to use both your feet and keep trying to break your personal best. A good goal is to get to 50 touches without the bag hitting the ground. Have a go with your friends, see how long the group of you can keep the footbag up in the air for. Circle kicking in a group is a very fun way to socialise and has the benefit of being a great way to improve your coordination.
A great game to play in a circle is to go for "hacks" a "hack" is when everyone touches the footbag once as it travels around the circle. If you are looking for a challenge try to play "one touch" everyone kicks the footbag once and passes to someone else, this takes control as you can't kick the bag again if you make a mistake, someone else has to try to get to it.

From there you can learn the toe stall.

The toe stall is the easiest of the stalls (a stall is where you catch the footbag on your foot instead of kicking it). Start by raising you knee up with your toes pulled upwards and drop the footbag from a low height. By dropping your foot at the same rate that the bag is falling you will be able to catch the footbag on your foot. Then try to do some in a row like this: http://youtube.com/watch?v=hRPLROnSU3g
It helps to have shoes with flat surfaces to do the toe stall.
You might want to try playing barefoot or using shoes like the Quantums or properly modified Rod Laver's as they make a toe stall easier.


When learning footbag it is great to meet up with other local players. If you live in Melbourne come along to one of our kicks, or make a post on our forum. A great listing of club can be found at: http://www.footbag.org/clubs/

Also, have a look at these videos: http://www.footbag.org/gallery/video/instruction
Note: the legover one is not the best to learn from as that is a more advanced technique and more difficult for hitting a legover.

and visit these sites for some more info.
http://www.footbag.org
http://www.modified.in
http://www.footbagclub.com

if you want to ask any question sign up to the forum and make a post in the trick tips section, we would be more than happy to help you out.

good luck!!!


Janis Lesknskis
Melbourne University Footbag Club
http://www.footbagclub.com

[Jorden]

Btw, read the poll as "is this document useful to you to send to beginners that inquire via E-mail?".

Shoulda made that clearer.