Cardinal Rule of the Circle.

wicked · Post by **wicked** » 06 Oct 2004 14:04

What is the most important unoffical rule..I originally had "NO using hands", but that more of a general rule than an "unofficial rule".

Others are

Not Saying Sorry.
Always Paying Attention
Always getting a full hack.
No self serving.
Not serving the bag in a circle, but random serving (hack style).
No guilting/tilting/ for your level of play. **bag hogging
No really short shorts (unless your a girl).
Wear a shirt for video.
No interenet Beef at tournaments.

P.S. If your choice is no self servin PLEASE dont say why, That debate is way played out. Not much is said about the other "unofficial rules".. Ryan Mulroney once said Paying Attention is the "Cardinal Rule" I think its true.

sampotter · Post by **sampotter** » 06 Oct 2004 14:23

I would have to agree with you about the always paying attention. This is also a rule I sadly don't follow to the best of my ability all the time, though I try. It seems when you don't fully pay attention to a circle you inject an element of laziness and a general bad vibe into the circle.

Tsiangkun · Post by **Tsiangkun** » 06 Oct 2004 14:40

I play by the fun rule. Play with whatever rules bring the most fun to the greatest number of people in the circle. ( As opposed to having a set of rules to enforce under all circumstances )

It's just hacky sack, how serious can it be.

rory · Post by **rory** » 06 Oct 2004 15:33

whoa thats weird i dont pay attention i self serve and i say sorry humm lol i wish i could change those facts but the circle is always so big and i cant keep focused i have ADD footbag is the only thing i concentrate on.

quadgun · Post by **quadgun** » 06 Oct 2004 15:46

i also think that paying attention to the circle is really important .. its mainly that u should give the respect that u want to get back

now not to be mean or anything, but a good example of people not paying attention to the circles that they are in can be seen in the warm up video finland.
a lot of the times when vasek was playing, the surrounding circles all had their eyes glued onto vasek even though someone in their circle was still playing.
i bet some of u will say that its hard not to watch vasek since hes amazing, and if thats the case, dont go into a circle to play, just stay out, sit down somewhere that u wont be in the way and watch vasek.
so just be respectful and pay attention to ur circle and u will get the same respect back.

just my $0.02
i hope that makes sense

Jeremy · Post by **Jeremy** » 06 Oct 2004 16:53

I agree with Cameron - the most important rule is:

Always have fun!

brian relly · Post by **brian relly** » 06 Oct 2004 17:02

Why would you not say sorry?

Tsiangkun · Post by **Tsiangkun** » 06 Oct 2004 17:03

We already know the player didn't intend to drop the bag or give a shitty pass . . . and if they did intend to, it makes no sense to say sorry either

C-Fan · Post by **C-Fan** » 06 Oct 2004 18:14

Paying attention is nice and all, but I voted for `no self serves.` Frankly, if I am playing with somebody who pays a lot of attention, but sel-serves a lot, that would annoy me a lot more than if I played with somebody who wasn`t paying that much attention.

Paying attention or not is something that you choose to do or not do, but ultimately only affects your own enjoyment of a circle. Self-serving is selfish and hurts the flow of a circle; it affects the other players too.

HooD · Post by **HooD** » 06 Oct 2004 19:22

I'll have to agree and disagree with you Mr.Somolinos. I feel whenever the circle is in it's prime, is when everyone is paying attention and having lots of fun with the game. Watching and waiting to see what the next guy has, and just respecting everone that you're in the circle with.

It's just a waste of time if the next guy has his mind on nuts for example, and never takes the pass properly because his mind is elsewhere. Doesn't play hard or string long to his potential, because again, his mind isn't on the game and the circle.

Of course I think it works both ways, to whichever is to a worser extent. If someone is just self-serving like there is no tomorrow, that can be horribly annoying, but you can always tell that person about self-serving. It'd be a little harder to tell someone to keep their mind on the circle and pay attention, because like you said, it's their choice. I just believe, if you intend to join a circle, you should want to be in that circle with full purpose of footbag.

Torch · Post by **Torch** » 06 Oct 2004 20:01

NO SELF SERVING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That's it.

Laroche · Post by **Laroche** » 06 Oct 2004 20:10

Id have to say always pay attention. I hate shredding with people who dont bother to watch me shred when I watch them. THAT'S selfish.

Tsiangkun · Post by **Tsiangkun** » 06 Oct 2004 20:12

HAVE FUN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. . . . !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! that's it.

crazydwarf · Post by **crazydwarf** » 06 Oct 2004 20:32

Yeh I don't really mind when any of those rules are broken if I'm just messing around with my friends, but if I was trying to be serios I would deffenatly say not paying attention because it can be quite annoying I imagine if you hit a really nice run and then pass it and the next person isn't even watching and drops it. Also, about playing at your top level, would you suggest going so hard that you drop it alot, but then give it away of course, or at a level where you can usualy finish strings, but it's still hard?

Torch · Post by **Torch** » 06 Oct 2004 20:34

Having fun is naturally a part of footbag. You don't need a rule for THAT.

Tsiangkun · Post by **Tsiangkun** » 06 Oct 2004 20:45

Of course Ahren is right, but
Fun can be sucked out of the circle when additional rules are enforced to the point they create the very distraction people are voting on as the cardinal rule not to be broken.

the Executioner · Post by **the Executioner** » 06 Oct 2004 20:48

NO SELF SERVES THANK YOU.

ShredPirate · Post by **ShredPirate** » 06 Oct 2004 21:02

i agree with no self serving, but only if one or more of these are true:

-more than 2 people in circle
-tournament/jam
-kicking with anyone you don't know (say hi by showing respect)
-demo, or other type of performance

innersmile · Post by **innersmile** » 06 Oct 2004 22:30

I went for no self serving too. It just pisse me off, even when playing with 1 other person. If you're in a decent circle and dropped a good trick or your first toe stall, you'll get the bag back very soon if not immediately.

Paying attention is the most important thing but really, if that's the main problem of the cirlce, I'd rather school alone.

I don't think hogging the bag is too much of a problem. In the circles I play, keep it for as long as you want, within reason. Don't wow everyone with 100 toe stalls or 500 cons kicks, you can work that alone. I have no probs watching 30 alternating clippers though, but not every time. Common sense really.

One of the most important things (not sure if this is on the options poll) is to pass decently (and serve). I do my best to get a decent heighted pass, right to the foot of whoever I'm passing to. Some people pass too hard and some serve almost offensively. Shit, how hard is it to toss the bag nicely, underhand?

my 2 cents

Jeremy · Post by **Jeremy** » 07 Oct 2004 00:38

Chris made a very good point - we are talking about the "Cardinal Rule" of circles. So basically it should be true in any circle.

This is a further question for those that voted for no self serves:

If two people have just taken up footbag three weeks ago. They have hit toe stall and inside stall on both sides and atw on one side. One of them can also hit walkover. They are playing together - in a circle. Is it ok for them to self serve?

I agree there are situations when many of the rules - including the self serve rule are important - but definitly not always. I don't always pay attention in a circle - because I stretch the whole way through a circle - sometimes I can't be paying attention because of the stretch I'm doing - or I'm fixing up my shoe laces so I don't waste peoples time doing it when I've got the bag. However if you aren't having fun playing - you are in trouble and you need to address that problem. Sometimes fun is not the right word - but if you're feeling negative - what's the point of playing? You need to do something so that you are feeling good about footbag/yourself/the circle - if you don't do that you'll end up quitting the sport. I'd rather play with somebody who doesn't pay attention and self serves than not have somebody to play with at all.