Hostile, But Curious

I have a concern to share here and any advice would be greatly appreciated. I went to school in Dallas this past year, and while there I was introduced to the WFA by some real rad guys at a concert. I became very enthusiastic and kicked with these guys every day. Well, now its summer and I'm back in the Tampa Bay area in Florida. And the kids I used to kick with are kind of hostile. They're all freaked out by my talk of tournaments and net and different bags and moves. I flat out can not understand why anybody would be opposed to an organization of kickers. Do you? What can I do to open them to the idea? HELP! And I have one more question. I may be showing my youth with this one, but who is/was Rod Laver and what did he do to get shoes named after him? Just curious.

Ellen Hargis Lutz, Florida member #39438

P.S. And its not because they're intimidated either, because I pretty much suck.

Editors Note: It's hard to understand why "the kids you used to kick with" would feel threatened by an organization who's sole purpose is to promote footbag as a healthy lifelong activity which enriches lives. If they can't accept the WFA for all the good that we do then we'll just have to go down there and kick their butts. JUST KIDDING. Some people just don't like anything organized. Don't let that stop you from dreaming the dream, even if you currently pretty much suck. To answer your question about Rod Laver, he is an Australian who used to compete in that ancient sport (which utilizes eye-hand coordination and uses nets that are only three feet off the ground) called "tennis".

Get Me Off The Hook

In the latest issue of Footbag World, a little booklet came with it. I read it and found out that an estimated 4 million children in over 9,000 schools have been introduced to the sport of footbag as part of their physical education program. Personally, I attend West Torrance High School and I for one would like to see some more footbaggers on our campus. Some people get embarrassed or just say that its boring to them, (only because they have never seen or met anyone from BAP, Big Add Posse). I feel that the sport has been neglected at my school, and that it needs some representation. Why don't touring footbaggers go to every school? My peers would flip if they saw any BAP member shredding. It would be my greatest accomplishment to actually be the reason for our school to have visiting footbaggers on campus. It would get me off the hook. If you could, put my school on a list or something, I attend West Torrance High School in Torrance California.

Jesse Shriber Torrance, California member #39307

Editors Note: We have put your school on a list along with a few hundred other schools that are interested in booking our touring professionals in this our fifteenth season of shredding across America. You just need to march right into your principals office and let her/him know that your destiny lies in proving to your peers that footbag is neither boring nor embarrassing!! I'm enclosing a brochure for you to pass along to your principal.

The Overlooked Element

I've been kickin' it for 2 years now and I just recently stumbled on the magazine. I was impressed with all I saw, but I feel one element of footbag is overlooked. It's a game we play here in Brooklyn, and I'm sure it is played elsewhere. Points are scored by making the footbag touch another player and if they don't recover or 'save' it by getting an 'up' with either feet, knees or the head. It can be played in an organized manner to prevent unsportsman-like conduct and to promote tournament play. It is an exciting and skillful aspect of the sport and leads to an intricate display of moves. I would like to help recognize this keystone of the sport and develop a new category in tournament play. If anybody knows of any underground tournaments associated with this style of play, please e-mail me some info, it is always challenging to test skills with new players.

Guevara Angel Brooklyn, New York Editors Note: Thanks for the insight of your "Brooklyn Bombardment" game. We play a similar game that we call "power". However, it never made tournament play or the official rulebook.