Beginners?

[SlapShot]

I was wondering what it would take to get beginners to play in a DYP and then how to get them to continue playing?

When I first started we just played. We got thrown into the water and had to sink or swim. There was no beginner tournament, there was no free entry fees for beginners, there were no pro am tournaments, you had to really love the game in order to put up with the beatings you took on a weekly basis.

What's happened?

Let's hear what it took for you to start playing on a regular basis...

SlapShot

[Foosfest]

For me the thing that sticks in my mind that kept me coming back was nothing but simply encouragement. Even though I wanted to play, I was shaking in my boots at the thought of playing. When the players took the time to point out what I was doing right, it made me feel like "wow" maybe I can play with these guys. Also, when no matter how bad I was they made me feel like I was a foosball Goddess and we were going to take em down, that was so much fun. Then I would ask them how to get better. The fun atmosphere kept us coming and I made friends. Carry Thornwall and I became great friends and we would hack around for hours at my house calling each other names. I still have that old TS Million Dollar Table and it's in pretty good condition.



Lorraine

[SlapShot]

Great Post Lorainne!!!

I absolutely agree that Fun, a Great Atmospher, Comraderie, Support, and Encouragement are keys to keeping players. So now that we've figured out what's needed to keep players, what do we do to get new players to play???

Unfortuneatly the days of jamb packed arcades are over and the lack of new foosers is a direct result of this. With a limited number of new players showing interest, hopefully we understand the intense severity of retaining these players to help grow the local scene.

What kinds of things would help create an interest with new players?


I know there are tons of businesses that have foos tables with employess spending hours playing. I've met foosers have 20+ friends and family that attend their monthly basement tournaments. How do we attract these recreational players?

Any ideas?

SlapShot

[Foosfest]

You are right there are a lot of untapped players out there. One thing I would love to get started is a "Salt Lake Corporate Foosball Challenge." Have any of you guys tried that before? Danny Bergman's company has about six or seven players, and the NBS people have about 17 and those guys really want to get out and play. We need to sift them out and approach them, because God knows they're out there. I'm willing to make calls to get them excited and pit them against one another. Mike and I have been to NBS and we'll go to more if they want us. If we can't find enough right off, we could split the alphabet between some foosers and call around until we find them. The bowling alley might be good place for this type of tournament and I believe the time frame is approximately 5-6 weeks on getting that going. You may know that Scott wants to do a beginner's tournament there with an ABC rating system and spots. Unfortunately, not everyone is as thick-skinned about losing as you were or I was in the sink or swim days. Especially for us girls. I'm not sure where that determination comes from when playing against guys like you, other than to say the guys have been so good to encourage and help.

If anyone reading this post knows of any companies with tables and players, please let me know and I will put them on the list to be approached. Or if anyone has ideas, please chime in. We all working together here and any help is appreciated to help grow foosball in Salt Lake.

Regards,
Lorraine

[SlapShot]

If anyone reading this post knows of any companies with tables and players, please let me know and I will put them on the list to be approached.

I think Oliver's work has a table...Also, Ebay in Sandy has a table, and I know Costco has tables in their breakrooms.

SlapShot

[nick]

I've got several employees who dink around, and employees.
Nick

[Foosfest]

Can they be organized into a team? What's the company name? Would they be willing to challenge other companies. How do you think a "SLC Foosball Corporate Challenge" could be played out?

Lorraine

[nick]

Oh yeah,
team name, I would let them decide.
Nick