footbag.org

[Jeremy Mirken (TheSpecialist)]

Lately in Santa Cruz we've had about 2 newbs who show up at each of our Sunday sessions. Because it is hard to keep everyone hapy at one of these sessions, here is what Santa Cruz is doing at the momentp.

After we discuss the rotation with Newbs (which we preserve) so they know that nobody will be playing every game, we match them up with the best setters we have in Santa Cruz. This is the best way to get the newb players kicks during a game and it makes the better players focus because when you're kicking to a newb the bump truly does have to be perfect. It raises the consistency of the veteran and helps out the newb. We try to talk a bit of strategy, such as where to stand on the court and why throughout the game, but mostly to promote fun. We do this for about 3-4 games before we switch up the partners. After a few games the newb will have an idea of whether he wants to stick around and play more games regardless of the partner he gets. When the newbs are not playing on the court, our club is always circle kicking with a net bag on the sideline.

What do you do, and does it work for your club?

[Steve Dusablon (dusablon)]

If anyone walks up to NPR practice and wants to play, we let them play.
That simple.

If we are having some heated match, the worst we might do is ask them to wait until the game is over. Other then that they get the full red carpet treatment at all times. We ask for their e-mail and add them to the list of folks who get e-mailed about upcoming practices.

We added a WOMAN just 2 days ago

[Oxana Prihotko (oxana)]

We true every time change partners,becouse usalu i train with newcomers who play not more than half year.
If play only nebs games go boring becouse thay havent enought control.

Realy best for nebs when they train spikes.It is very interesting and they feel what they can kill.
Best fun for everybody it is spikes and big problem control.

We have 2 new girls they join one mounth ago. And they true train every day.
One girl who train half year.
And around 10players who train 1 year.

[Martin Côté (martincote)]

In Montreal, in the summer, recruiting is almost non existant. The guy/girl have to be dawm good already to be able to play on a regular basis. Being a relatively big club, people don't go around much recruiting. In the winter it's a different story, we have one court reserved for rookies. So when they come they are sure to play.

I used to welcome rookies from any level to play in our winter session, but now i'm thinking about letting only the ones who have at least some basic ability to power kick, play over a net. If someone can't kick back the bag from 5-6 feet, he/she cant expect to have any fun over a net.

So I'm thinking to set quick evaluation for people who wants to try. And if they don't have the basic skill, then they don't play over a net in our practice (in gym winter time, during summer, they can do what they want).

In 20 years i don't think i've seen someone who didn't have those basic skill when they started to play net, really being able to make it as a regular player anyway. So in my opinion, it's probably better to let them work on their basics through power kicking than have them mixed with already skilled rookies over a net.