When it comes to major footbag tournaments, most serious players — those who have modified shoes and custom-made bags — choose to compete in at least a couple of the events offered. But many choose to remain on the sidelines. They offer a variety of justifications: “I’m not going to win. I get scared and self-conscious in front of crowds! My BAP nickname isn’t good enough! I don’t want to pay an entry fee. The stage adds 10 pounds to my hips! I don’t think I’m good enough to enter.” … and so on and so forth.
But Sole Purpose would like to encourage ALL players attending this year’s World Championships to compete instead of simply paying the non-competitor fee and watching from the bench. Participating benefits both you and the sport, for all the reasons listed below:
You’ll enjoy the week more if you participate in the events; they’re for everyone.
Anybody can attend a World Championship…how many people get to say they competed at a World Championship?
There are a dozen events throughout the week, some of which are offered in multiple divisions based on skill level, gender, and age. By signing up as a competitor, you get access to all these events:
Freestyle Singles Routines, Doubles Routines, Circle, Shred30, Sick Trick, Big 3, Request Contest
Net Singles, Doubles, Mixed Doubles
Golf and 2-Square
Competing will make you a better competitor.
Great performers and competitors are made, not born. Their performing skill is forged in the fire of countless failures at previous tournaments. Most new players don’t realize how different it feels to perform in front of a crowd or play under tournament pressure, and how much it can affect their ability to play at their peak skill level. There is no point in waiting to compete until you feel “ready,” because if you don’t compete you have no way of becoming ready.
But it doesn’t stay that way. Top players maximize their potential because they’ve taken the stage many times before. The only way to reach that potential is to compete and lose a few times. And while the losing isn’t fun, the payoff is worth it. One day you will be truly ready. Victory is a feeling you never experience until you try and lose and try again. But you did and now you’re the champ, Champ.
Competing will make you a better player.
Nothing can replicate or replace the experience of competing. You learn more from one tournament experience than you would in 100 training sessions at home. You can read every book written about swimming, but all of them combined can’t replace the sensation you get the first time you swim in the ocean. Come to Worlds, compete, and then drive to the ocean afterwards and go swimming.
It supports the sport.
Simply put, the more people we have competing at Worlds, the more legit our sport appears to the media, sponsors, spectators, and to ourselves. News outlets are more interested in covering a tournament with 100 competitors from 20 different countries, than they are in the exact same tournament where only 15 people entered. If everybody attending entered as competitors, we’d all get to go home and tell our friends and family: 1. “I competed at World Champs!” and 2. “I competed against people from X amount of countries, and while I finished in 34th place, it was in a field of 78 players!” OK, so technically only one person could say that, but if you change the numbers around it still is legit.
As a competitor, you also get the satisfaction of knowing your entry fees help make the event possible. You’re supporting a group of volunteers from a nonprofit put on a huge, expensive event; participating is a way of giving back. Plus, the players pack comes with a t-shirt and more swag and memorabilia to take home to prove you actually were there.
It makes you more attractive.
There was a study or something published by some smart people which showed that competing and losing spectacularly increases your confidence, charm, and mojo. It may also help you finally lose that last bit of belly fat which has been pestering you for years and you’re still self conscious about, even though it’s not really THAT much and nobody ever notices or cares except you. Ridding yourself of this emotional burden alone makes choosing to compete worthwhile.
So there you have it. All the major reasons to be a competitor in this year’s World Footbag Championships. Don’t hesitate any longer, and commit to being part of the event!