Possible Technique To Expand Freestyle Footbag

[F[uns]tylin' Eclectic]

So today, I was helping my grandparents in their garden and I was daydreaming about footbag (as usual) and why it isn't more popular...

I started trying to think up some way to get people interested. Then I thought... PEOPLE ARE ALREADY INTERESTED. Highschool kids and college kids are constantly going to skate shops/head shops that sell Sand Master footbags or Dirt Bags and picking one up and probably teaching themselves basic tricks (I know that's how I started).

PROBLEM: Kids are gaining really good basic kicking and stalling skills on their own, but they don't know that freestyle footbag even exists and they don't know that there is this relatively large number of players already shredding every day in almost every place in the world.

SOLUTION: If we trace footbags back to the source where kids/teens are buying bags (skate/head shops) and we SUPPLY INFORMATION (and basic trick explanations) along with the purchased bags, then these kids/teens/whoever will be able to actually learn tricks immediately and if it generally sparks an interest, they can trace footbag back to some of the links provided (one would most likely be modified.in)

This information card would contain the following:

~Basic kicks and stalls tips: This would be exactly what it sounds, but along with this, I feel that there should be mentioning of the fact that these are just basic 1 and 2 adds and there are much more bigger tricks that you can execute once you get good at these basics. Also maybe you could include some of the bigger tricks with cooler-sounding names that would spark interest (i.e. Atomsmasher, Guillotine, Ripped Warrior, Blender, Godzilla, etc...) (I know this would have sparked my interest as a beginner freestyler). In this section there would also be a link to "Anz Tricks" or something like Flipsider (R.I.P.) would be ideal.

~Links: Just what it sounds like; Links to places like Modified, freedom footbags, footbag.org would be provided with short blurbs about each one (i.e. Modified: A place where you can get to know/talk to other freestylers, get tips on tricks, and ask any questions, etc., Freedom Footbags: Once you get more comfortable with your sand bag, you can upgrade to a 32-pannel freestyle bag, and get yourself a pair of proper freestyle shoes, etc., Footbag.org: A place where you can check if/where footbag clubs/players are located near you, and keep up to date on jams/tournies near you, etc...)

These information sheets would cost little-to-no money to make and you could ask the owners of the store if they could give one of the sheets to each person who buys a footbag from the store. I'm thinking about experimenting with this. I know at a local Zumiez, highschool kids are always buying Sand Masters, because the place is constantly out of stock of bags.

Just thought of another thing: How would we know if it was working or not? How we would know if this was actually working, is to say that if they (end up becoming interested enough to) join modified, that they would please post in General Footbag under a specific thread that would be made and titled "Project Footbag" (just using that as an example, but this would be specified on the information sheet). This would let us know if the project was really working.

Even if this gets a few people seriously involved, it's better than not doing anything to promote our sport. If it works, maybe other players on modified would try the same with their local skate/head shops. If it does work and more players start doing this project at their local skate/head shops, then I'd imagine that footbag fever would be spreading across the US (or even WORLD?) more easily than blood to blood contact with an Ebola victim.

Thoughts? Comments? Concerns? Feedback?[/i]

[Muffinman]

Freedom has what you're describing as far as the info is concerned: http://www.freedomfootbags.com/shop/mis ... als-flyer/

[F[uns]tylin' Eclectic]

I'm aware of that. I was going to mention that it would be very similar to this, but with links to those sites and we would get a bunch of them to those stores.

[Frank_Sinatra]

What about talking to those stores & seeing if they'll let you do a demo? Put a little laminated sign up next to the bags they sell with the time & date, and bring your crew.

[F[uns]tylin' Eclectic]

That's a really good idea too. I'm just trying to spread the footbag fever to more people because I know more people are playing "tricky sack" right now and probably getting pretty good with it, but they have no idea that we exist and the thought of that really irritates me.

[Frank_Sinatra]

I know more people are playing "tricky sack" right now

Completely agree.

[Rieferman]

The nice thing about ideas like this one (easy and cheap to implement) is that you can just go for it. No need to wonder, give it a try and see if there's a positive impact. The sport is small enough that you can just try things and adjust if it doesn't work.

(in other words, nick, doooo ittttttt)

[F[uns]tylin' Eclectic]

Cool Bob, Thanks for agreeing. I want to get a start on this once Zach and I finish our first footbag project (PA Jam). But I think I'll try this after school is out so I have little to worry about and can get these information sheets out and maybe even try to do a demo with some local baggers (BOB?!) Excited for this. Hopefully we'll get some new players, so when I go to PSU, the local scene would still be poppin'.