Frustration Barrier, the key obstacle to getting good

Iron Clad Ben · Post by **Iron Clad Ben** » 03 Jan 2010 19:40

I thought this article was very interesting. I think it applies well to footbag because we are constantly hitting the frustration barrier with new concepts new things to challenge ourselves with. It talks about how to deal with the frustration, and overcome it. This guy writes a lot of good articles about life in general, so I thought I'd share.

http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2009/12 ... -anything/

PoisonTaffy · Post by **PoisonTaffy** » 05 Jan 2010 01:00

I liked the article. Puts into clear words what I, and probably most of us experience when learning new concepts in footbag.

crazylegs32 · Post by **crazylegs32** » 21 Jan 2010 01:46

another note- he said almost everybody can become "good" . In Footbag terms that is being able to keep it off the ground. So nobody should be ashamed, or feel they arent trying hard enough, or using the perfect methods just because they arent Ryan Mulroney level.

The fact is few people have the talent/physical ability/drive to be at the very top level of any sport, because at the top is where it gets hard.

My point was that I broke through that frustration barrier years ago just hacking. It took alot of dedication for me just to kick, then more years to delay and do runs. Its always fun though

My new hobby has alot of this frustration barrier- radio controlled helicopters. Its hours of building and tinkering and then only a short time before a crash and its all over again.

PoisonTaffy · Post by **PoisonTaffy** » 21 Jan 2010 01:59

I dunno, to me it feels that to be "good" in freestyle means genuine or fearless.

I can't forget how Anssi once described in his blog how he saw "a beginner bailing too often with stepping far leg over". I know he can be a hard-ass sometimes but I do believe it's a general conception that anyone below guiltless isn't really a shredder yet.

I run into the frustration barrier with every new trick I struggle to learn, I can't say that the barrier applies to the sport in general, it's more micro level than that.

crazylegs32 · Post by **crazylegs32** » 23 Jan 2010 19:52

If you poll modified im sure that most agree with you- you have to be guiltless and do all moves bsos in one string or thats ugly.
But we are a tiny cross section/ pretty much everyone on here is in the top 10 percent (probably top 1 pecent) of people who ever had a footbag touch their foot.
Theres more than one way to skin a cat and theres many more ways to do FREEstyle. Nobody should feel bad about their game if they try hard/ get injuries etc. I see lots of people who I think are great footbaggers and they never even manage to break a smile while playing.

I can also compare it to my new hobby- rc helicopters. Heres rc helicopters at high level- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=np5XSTwv4vA
Thats like crazy shredding, but if you saw 30 helicopters doing the same stuff in a row would you notice the difference? Did that heli do all its moves bsos? The best one would be the one that looked good and didnt crash. If they all didnt crash itd probably confuse you to think its easy.

Jeremy · Post by **Jeremy** » 06 Feb 2010 21:19

Well "good" is relative. I agree that almost anybody can become "good" at almost everything, which includes either defining "good" as being able to keep the bag up, or being able to play solidly at a genuine level. It really depends on your attitude. If you're happy with being "good" because you can kick the bag 50 times, well done. However if you have the attitude that "good" is playing well genuine, that's still achievable as well.

When you look at the top sports people, the top musicians and artists, the top actors, the top scientists and the top politicians in the world, the all hold in common having the "talent" and natural ability to work their asses off. Luck may also play a role, but you'll never get to the position where being luckily will result in you being the best if you haven't also put in the countless hours of hard work.

Defeatist attitudes like Jon's are just an excuse for not achieving your potential. Which is fine. There's nothing I do where I couldn't work harder and do better.

Although regarding the article, I've never had much problem with the frustration barrier. If anything, things I do that aren't challenging are much harder to stick with than things that are a serious challenge. The harder something is, the more I want to beat it.

crazylegs32 · Post by **crazylegs32** » 10 Feb 2010 00:43

I dont have a defeatist attitude, but this is the getting started forum not the shred symposium. Not everyone has the goal of being top shredder and not everyone should.

PoisonTaffy · Post by **PoisonTaffy** » 10 Feb 2010 05:11

I usually operate on one main level of being "good", which is in comparison to the milieu of freestylers; people who actively pursuit freestyle footbag skills.

Being good in this sense has several parameters for me, one is where I am on the general bell curve, and another is how good I am compared to how good people played when they had the same amount of game time as I do.

I don't think my goal is being 'good' as it is to work on constant personal progress, but it is something I monitor and use to help motivate me in my quest for personal progress.

The scope of being good compared to anyone who ever kicked a footbag is fun to think of, since I'm, as you said, always on the top edge of the bell curve. Motivating to me in small doses, harmful imo in large.

crazylegs32 · Post by **crazylegs32** » 10 Feb 2010 22:31

By the time I first learned about "footbag" and hooked up with a group who also liked pushing limits I was already 28 years old or so. I set some goals and reached them- I won midwest intermediate and did a good routine at worlds. After that point footbag got hard, basically I had no chance vs Rippin, Lon, Scott D, etc... This was all before Vasek even hit the scene.. So instead of comitting myself to the impossible, I still have fun when I play footbag. Because I dont put pressure on myself when my goal is fun.

Jeremy · Post by **Jeremy** » 15 Feb 2010 01:13

How do you know that you're not capable of being better? If your attitude is "I'm happy with how good I am," then do you think you'll improve, compared with somebody who's attitude is; "nothing I do is good enough."

Of course it does come down to why you play. For you, it's just about "fun." For many of us on this forum it's about learning what we're capable of. Working hard and being dedicated, disciplined and focused. For me footbag is about so much more than just "fun." I go drink beers and play video games with my mates for fun. Footbag, and the other serious sport I do, is more like mediation and the feeling of control and focus when I'm hitting a good run is indescribable, regardless of where I am or who sees it. For me, footbag has taught me what it takes to get "good" at things, and what I'm capable of achieving if I put my mind to it, and that's not even taking into account all the friends I've made through the sport. It's a martial art and a process of self discovery. Just playing for "fun" is a trivial perspective of the sport, and missing out on the best bits.

Of course you're right that this is the getting started forum, and new players can read this and decide whether they want to not improve, not challenge themselves, and stagnate in their skills, while playing for "fun," or whether they want to start the never ending journey towards being a footbag master.

crazylegs32 · Post by **crazylegs32** » 21 Feb 2010 23:56

I/we got off topic. I meant to say that I think footbaggers are well aware of the frustration concept

I would go back and erase my posts but I hate when people do that.

habitat · Post by **habitat** » 04 Mar 2010 11:58

Anyone who doesn't play for fun is most likely an asshole who can suck it. /story

thedudeman · Post by **thedudeman** » 17 Mar 2010 20:00

i know im gunna need this, my main problem is i move from one hobby to the next to fast, and i love footbag, its always on my mind and it centers my whole person, even though i can barely do a run, id love to stick with it and master it, and i really dont want to get into something else and lose my interest in it, because it keeps me in great shape mentally and physically and everybody involved with the sport seems very friendly unlike bmx and skateboarding, two of my previous hobbies
so im gunna force myself to stick with this, 2-4 hours a day, everyday, no matter what

Donovon · Post by **Donovon** » 20 Mar 2010 18:08

thedudeman wrote: 2-4 hours a day, everyday, no matter what

Dont forget to give yourself a rest. Keepin at it day in and day out is one day to drive yourself and potentially your passion into the ground.
Perhaps not shred everyday, but keep that passion up "everyday, no matter what."

~Donovon

thedudeman · Post by **thedudeman** » 20 Mar 2010 18:43

Donovon wrote:
thedudeman wrote: 2-4 hours a day, everyday, no matter what
Dont forget to give yourself a rest. Keepin at it day in and day out is one day to drive yourself and potentially your passion into the ground.
Perhaps not shred everyday, but keep that passion up "everyday, no matter what."

~Donovon

i think you may be right on the rest part on account that i seem to do better if im not overworking myself, but i can't not play everyday for at least an hour, if im sitting there and doing nothing ill get up and play, i just need to

suggestion as to how to keep the passion up?

Donovon · Post by **Donovon** » 20 Mar 2010 19:57

I get ya. If I could kick everyday without consequence I totally would. I would keep some days heavier and some lighter. [personally, i use juggling to help this out]. I also use balances between drilling and shred whenever possible.

thedudeman wrote:suggestion as to how to keep the passion up?

That my friend is a rough question for myself [or anyone] to answer on your behalf.
Perhaps ask yourself what inspired you to pick up a sport such as footbag in the first place. And never forget where you want to go.
And perhaps the passion is always there, it just needs kickstarted every once in awhile.
I mean, i could tell you what works for me, but in my opinion, you gotta find that yourself. I would mean more to you end the end.

...and never lose sight of the fun that is intertwined in it. Sometimes people lost sight of this and its tragic. Dont forget to have fun.

thedudeman · Post by **thedudeman** » 20 Mar 2010 20:53

yeah i get you, i think im feeling the burn of constantly kicking, i get super depressed an out of it and anxious when im not kicking, and my muscles are tired as all hell, maybe ill stick to light drilling just to keep my skills up and heavy drilling twice a week at the stanford sessions