| Topic: Some suggestions for the Vancouver foosball scene< |
| ||
|
I want to thank everyone again for a fun foos trip. I have been to maybe a dozen foosball locations around the world and wanted to offer my suggestions to Vancouver foosers. I don't mean to criticize anyone on what has gone on to date but instead I hope it may cause people to envision where they want things to go in the future. I know my game is pretty good in some areas but has some serious holes as well and can get a lot better in the future. Any suggestions that I received as to improving my own game I really appreciated and hope to learn from them going ahead. I hope that my suggestions here are taken in a similar fashion. As you all know, Vancouver has a rich heritage in the world of foosball. In typical Vancouver fashion it was done more with hard work and persistence than it was with big bucks or large numbers of players to draw from. Mitch, Moya, Peter, Pete, Gerry, Tim and many others have really put Vancouver on the map over the years. It is great to see so many regulars still playing and discouraging to see others who have turned away a bit from the game, some due to other priorities in their life and others because of the level of needless arguing and bad will that seems to be around. I think that part of the cause of this is that the game naturally draws people to it who are naturally VERY competitive, the other side of it is the foosball culture that exists in any given area. However, foosball culture can also be groomed into something that grows and nurtures the game. My recommendations are that: 1) Tournament rules should be enforced during events especially as it relates to arguments, talking while playing, threats and occasional fistfights (if they occur). These things are a little out of hand because not enough policing is currently taking place. Referees, Technical fouls, Losing matches, Suspensions, etc. are tools that will help here. I think Vancouver needs more referees, whether they are certified locally or at a major doesn’t matter. 2) Having a tournament director or at least a designated tournament director on location will help to change the culture a bit and will keep beginners coming out and returning. 3) Vancouver does a good job of helping beginners but can do even more in the future. While I was there we had two Roto events, beginners were teamed up with Pro Masters who helped them, etc. That should continue and an eye towards Am only events as numbers grow would also help. The only thing Vancouver foosball does not have is enough good players to keep pushing others to also be their best. Doubling the current number of players within 2 years, more involved pro masters, 50% more semi pros are also very do-able. This is every players responsibility and anyone ruining things for everyone should be taught not to do so by an on sight promoter or tournament director. 4) An active promoter should get involved. Peter and Moya have definitely done their share over the years but clearly there should be more promoting events, updating points, running clinics, etc. I am not saying that the promoter should do all of this but they should make sure that someone does. So I am hoping that either one or both of them get re-focused in this area or else they give or sell out their interest to someone that does have an interest in this area. 5) New tables purchased for the main location (Soho) every few years. Especially given the differences between the current table and previous tables this is pretty necessary for anyone wanting to get ready for any major tournament play. 6) Additionally, when and if numbers grow, Leagues should be reconsidered. If Calgary can have them why can’t Vancouver? Vancouver should host its own annual B.C. Open event. Even if it just starts small and grows from there who cares. Medals and trophies should replace cash prizes at these bigger events. Annual prizes voted on by the players for: Top forward, Top goalie, Most |
Posted: May 5 2009 12:47PM
| ||
|
yea #5) new tables thats the most important. one table has the goalpost chiped so wide that even freddie was making his longs,lol, seriously this carpenter can actually blame his tools. i look forward to the day when i can play on new tables since the loonies i spent just by self easily could have paid for 10 new tables. that no joke |
| ||
|
Yeah, even myself a "new comer" have spent at least $4000 in loonies over the years. Good enough for at least 1 new table. |
| ||
|
I hear calgary has the latest tables at all there local events. Pete, what are the chances of us getting them? |
| ||
|
Slim to none ... and slim left town he he  . |
| ||
|
He moved to Calgary LOL ... couldn't resist (sorry) |
| ||
|
Why respond to TIm's announcing post and not this pEtey |
| ||
|
The problem is not the tables. Fred listed a number of issues, one was the tables. They are serviceable and few newbies would notice any of these differences that people whine about. What hurts the game is the arguing, bickering and unsportsmanlike play. Many of us, myself included, have been guilty of this over the years but some people are worse than others and drive players away with their endless yapping. Besides, a good player should be able to adjust to any differences in the table. If you can't adjust, then maybe you are not as good as you think you are. |
| ||
|
well put stinky you going down tonight? |
| ||
|
lol, yea adjust and get used to playing on sh*tty tables and the fly all the way to the worlds and your out in two becase the tables play so much different. |
| ||
|
WHAT A CHEAP COP-OUT. You guys have been whining about unsportsmanship behavior for the last 20 years. You just change who you want to blame it on every so often. Some people just don't like losing, and instead of overcoming it, they move on to other things. SIMPLE AS THAT. For example all the new Commodore players who have been coming lately. I would be playing foos and they all started to watch me, then play with me, some dropped off because maybe they couldn't get the hang of it, or didn't like intense competitiveness. And they would make an excuse like they were too busy, but the one's who did, stuck with it and we'd play foos all day and all night. Out of the Commodore scene we have increased our numbers by 4 or 5 new solid players who will be around for a long time. I stopped playing at the Commodore because Soho had the newer tables and I wanted to play on the latest table. People like to have the latest camera, jeans so on. Thankfully, we have our core players who want to keep playing, these people are the most important asset to the local foosball scene. These are the people who should be taken care of. These people make the scene for newbies to show. For me, If i didn't get to see Tuan, Jeff, Robert in the scene initially, i wouldn't be attracted to the game. It didn't matter to me that they were all arguing with each other and see You tim Jumping up and down screaming at the other players tipping tables over at starlight. If you weren't around, Mikey wouldn't be interested in the game. He's seen this bickering yet he still wants to be around because he's made himself to make great improvments. SO what's the big deal for pro's like myself to want Pete to put in new tables? what is wrong with that? When I was in Vegas, i adjusted to the new tables and had a great 1st major tournament. But if I got to practice on those tables before i went down, i would have done even better. All the core players can do is show new players things. In the end, it's there own decision, what they want, not what others do that determines how far they'll foos. And thanks for posting that we don't need new tables TIm. |
| ||
|
You've read point 1 from Fred's posting. Read points 2,3,4,5,6,and 7. |
| ||
|
The bigger picture. |
| ||
|
Tim you may no longer go to the major events, but there are other's who are. |
| ||
|
I agree Dave, we've always had people who behave in an unsportsmanlike manner. It used to be me and sometimes I slip up and it's still me. I've tried to change over the years and anyone who played me 10 years ago would, I should think, suggest that I have improved dramatically. I used to scream and yell at other people and bang tables just about every tournament. Now it's maybe one in five that I yell at myself and seldom yell at others? Not sure when the last time I lifted a table was - probably more recently than I care to remember. The fact of the matter is more people stop coming because of the bad attitude of players than stop coming because of the quality of the table. Without new players, the game cannot grow and will die as regular players quit for various reasons. So no, the pro players are NOT the most important. The newbie players are far more important and we do nothing to attract them. When a few of them do show, we usually thank them by putting on a scream fest thereby ensuring they won't want to come back or their partners openly rag on them and complain about how they can't block anything or they get stuffed. I stand by the statement that the tables are not the problem. Any new player or sporadic player who occasionally comes down is not going to notice the quality of the table and think, "Gee, that net is chipped and this three bar is a little bit stickier than the three bar I have at home. If I play on this I won't be ready for the World's". Their not even going to notice those things. In other words, that is NOT the reason they won't come back. As for reading all 7 parts of Fred's post, I did. By your logic, I should suggest that you and Rob only read point 5 and ignored 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 7. Instead, I would suggest that we tend to notice the parts of somebody else's post that agrees with our opinion and pay less attention to those parts of their post that don't ring true in our minds. As such, I may have paid more attention to points 1, 2 and 3 which address the broken culture of foos in Vancouver. This, in my humble opinion, is the main problem and that is probably why Fred listed it as 1, 2, 3 - it was first and foremost in his mind when he typed up the post. |
| ||
|
personally, id rather have 2 new tables to play on and no new players, just a handful of regulars instead of 30 new players with 2 sh*tty tables,but thats just me. in a perfect world id love 2 new tables and 30 new players. but i want my game to b tight. |
| ||
|
Just be a good role model yourself. I still talk to Fred almost everyday, I don't need to assume, cause I know. Like I said before read 2,3,4,5,6,7. Can't wait to play you in a tournament. Should be fun. |
| ||
|
with referees hahaha |
| ||
|
a wise man said, "WHAT A CHEAP COP-OUT. You guys have been whining about unsportsmanship behavior for the last 20 years. You just change who you want to blame it on every so often. Some people just don't like losing, and instead of overcoming it, they move on to other things. SIMPLE AS THAT."  |
| ||
|
For the most part the tables are fine, but I think there have been some changes over the past few years that would be nice to get here. It's hard to keep up with all the man updates, which I can understand not wanting to waste time/money on. The sidestrips and the fixed bumper is one fix that is most likely going to stay and might be worth looking into getting put on the tables. |
| ||
|
I have played in Vancouver a few times and do find the tables to be on the poor side. Luckily being a promoter in Calgary I am able to make sure we have quality newer tables. I personally do not like playing on bad tables. As we all know there is a cost to upgrading and there is not a lot of money in foosball. |
| ||
|
I know someone who is willing to put 2 brand new tables into Soho, what do you think? |
| ||
|
Thanks for rubbing salt in our wounds Brian:) |
| ||
|
yeah, thanks for reminding us what we don't have |
The last post to this thread is more than 30 days old.