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Chat Area => Archives => Topic started by: kayko2000 on November 24, 2008, 12:01:58 PM
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Hi folks, I'm a fooser in Taiwan. I'd like to get some expert advise on a few areas of my game, and would appreciate any thoughts...
1. Pullshot + Recoil
2. Singles Defense
3. Doubles Defense
FYI, we use Tornado here.
1. PULLSHOT + RECOIL
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I've been doing a pullshot for years, but only recently started emphasizing the recoil. My first feeling is that my pullshot has become slower with the recoil. Before tonight, I would only occasionally get a good shot off, where I feel a crazy whip action that's lightening fast (faster than I can see it), and my recoil goes all the way back to the starting position. Feels great, and it's how I think the pull + recoil should feel. After some practicing this evening, I found that I somewhat improved the consistency of the shot (maybe misfiring 20% of the time). I found that I was able to keep better control of the ball by bringing the ball back behind my 3-rod as I did the pull motion. So when I kick forward with the recoil, the ball is behind the man. In other words, the ball does go straight sideways during my pull, but rather comes to my nearside at a slant. Is that the right way to do it?
Any tips you can give on how to practice my recoil more? Unfortunately, I'm not in an area where there are any advanced players with technically-excellent pull shots.
I'm getting a 2 - 3 out of 5 success rate with the defending 2-bar about 1 finger width from deadman (just practice, no actual defender). Still tons of room for improvement, and I'd still love to hear what you have to say. But at least making some progress...
2. SINGLES DEFENSE
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One big concern for me in my singles game is defending the opponent's 2-bar. In my last tournament, I tried to create a "wall" to stop any straight shots using my 4 rods. e.g. back 3-rod's middle guy covering the far hole, 2-rod's guy (closer to me) covering the 2nd furthest hole, 5-bar covering the next whole, and my front 3-rod covering the last. But while I found this helped with most straight shots, it opened a huge hole for bank shots off the close wall.
Could you please provide some defensive strategies and rod positions (including whether to tilt the rods forward or back) that could help?
I don't feel like my left hand spreads wide enough to span across both my goalie and 2-bar, as I see guys like Collignon doing. Maybe if I wore gloves I'd get more control.
3. DOUBLES DEFENSE
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Similar question for doubles. I play front to my partner's defense, and we don't have any "coordinated" defense - i.e. my bars relative to his. I typically defend with my 3-rod middle man and my 5-bar's 2nd or 4th man, depending where the opponent has the ball. I think this defense seems to work well taking away most "dangerous" lanes and angles, but I feel there must be some way to improve this by making use of all 4 rods together.
Thanks in advance!
Kevin
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1, from what you describe it sounds right to me...the key to making it better is practice...LITTERALY shoot it about 5,000 times...more if you can...and keep track of how many you shoot...(i know it sounds crazy but that is the best way to get better!
2, watch another player not Fred his hand speed is TOO good...copy a zone that you like and find the strengths and weaknesses...
3, work together to block specific shots...work as a team! this can be based off of your singles zone!
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Hi folks, I'm a fooser in Taiwan. I'd like to get some expert advise on a few areas of my game, and would appreciate any thoughts...
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3. DOUBLES DEFENSE
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Similar question for doubles. I play front to my partner's defense, and we don't have any "coordinated" defense - i.e. my bars relative to his. I typically defend with my 3-rod middle man and my 5-bar's 2nd or 4th man, depending where the opponent has the ball. I think this defense seems to work well taking away most "dangerous" lanes and angles, but I feel there must be some way to improve this by making use of all 4 rods together.
Thanks in advance! Kevin
Kev, you might try this that I've showed countless beginners and rookies for doubles D:
link: http://foosworld.com/forum/forums/thread/21633.aspx
have fun!
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Thanks Chase and Foozkillah for your replies.
I'll keep working on the pullshot. I agree that it'll take a lot of repetition for it to "feel right", but it's coming along. Not sure how long it'll take to get to deadman.
Thanks Foozkillah for the link. It's a lot to digest, so I'll slowly make my way through it and try to incorporate it into my/our game as early as... tonight?
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FoozKillah, I want to summarize my understanding of your Central Zone D to see if it's correct (along with some questions):
1. Defending forward's 3-bar defends against passes and shots between either wall and edge of big box using the side men.
-> I claim to have decent speed against other players here where I can often catch them with my 3-bar middle man. So right now, I tend to defend a lot more using my middle guy. If the opposing two-bar has the ball at the near side ready for a push, do I stay with him with my far man only until the big box and switch to my middle man after that? The assumption here is that if he shoots while I'm switching, my goalie will stop the ball.
2. My goalkeeper defends either 54-53 or 52-53 lane at a time.
With this defense, it seems like a lot more balls will get through to the goalie, but the goalie should be in position to stop them; rather than stopping most of the balls in the central area at the forward 3-bar.
If the opposing 2-bar is tick-tacking, I assume I still defend the best I can with my 3-bar middle man and let the my goalie handle the 54-53 and 53-52 lanes (moving roughly 1 inch at a time, and keeping one man behind the big dot).
Does that sound about right?
Thanks a lot for the detailed article -- I'm sure it'll be helping in coordinating our front and back D.
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Sorry, one more question about the Central Zone D...
How do I adopt this to a singles game? Do I need to control both goalie bars with my left hand?
Thanks.
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FoozKillah, I want to summarize my understanding of your Central Zone D to see if it's correct (along with some questions):
1. Defending forward's 3-bar defends against passes and shots between either wall and edge of big box using the side men.
-> I claim to have decent speed against other players here where I can often catch them with my 3-bar middle man. So right now, I tend to defend a lot more using my middle guy. If the opposing two-bar has the ball at the near side ready for a push, do I stay with him with my far man only until the big box and switch to my middle man after that? The assumption here is that if he shoots while I'm switching, my goalie will stop the ball.
Yes, your disciplined decision to cover outside the big box near or far side and then switching to your middle 3bar is exactly what I try to teach our rookies and beginners in Central ZoneD. Some gifted superfast forwards can stay still, without having to move laterally, and accelerate to race a 2bar push or pull, but most normal forwards, including all beginners and a lot of rookies (with much better ball control) get tired or distracted or intoxicated as more games are played. Most barhacks try to race or shake side-to-side blindly, and most opposing goalkeepers trying to shoot a pull or push can simply wait till the 3bar slows down or even stops: then they have initiative and can easily pull/push around the nearest 3bar figure or just pump fake and shoot OR PASS behind the nearest one.
A forward learning the habit of laterally moving the 3bar defensively against the 2bar, like "treading water" in a swimming pool or the ocean, forces that forward to be ready for a shot released towards the goal, AND a straight or downward lane pass, brushing "away" from the goal. In addition, it cuts the available angles for a bank shot or bank clear. Remember, ONLY THE FORWARD can do anything about the opposing goalkeeper's alternatives when not shooting on goal: making a straight or "away" pass to the forward partner, or even just clearing the ball. You might actually shut down all central shots, but that won't really help you, with you doing your goalkeeper's job, while the opposing goalkeeper has close to 100% passing and clears against your team. That would be extra free passes to the opposing forwards, and more chances to get slopped out of the game!
The motion for moving the 3bar laterally while defending should be end to end, BUT NOT CONSTANT, and with no rhythm at all. I recommend staying near the far end, pausng , then the near end, pausing, then changing the sequence, adding a quick motion back to the other end every so often, so the shooter/passer cannot time you. Also, years of observation indicates a high majority of quicksets from a good natural goalkeeper shows their 5 natural release points: the pull or push sprays from near either wall, the area around the big dot or center, and the two "posts" in the area near the first two outer dots (in front of either goal corner). The lateral end-to-end motion covers these areas. It is recommended, when pausing, to keep the 3bar figures shaking or circling around whichever of the 5 quickset release points they are at, always in motion. I've actually demonstrated this lateral motion with my 5bar near the center, pointing towards the opposing goal, while an opposing beginner or rookie goalkeeper tries to shoot, all the while with me looking away and talking to spectators instead of at the ball. The opponent may clear, but keeping count of how many times the shot is deflected or not able to be put on goal can often be ridiculous, and you have to be careful to make sure the shooting goalkeeper understands you're not trying to embarass him/her, just "treading water".
The Central ZoneD will always be good against quickset shots from any level opponent, but obviously won't be as effective against better players, who have practiced shots and passes to release points of THEIR CHOOSING. But it will be much harder to overrun & even overslop you with several points or passes from the goal area. And against advanced shooting and passing, you'll have turned it into what it's supposed to be, a GAME. How well can you react to and adjust against a timed or extremely smooth release, how well can you remember these ploys and strategies as the game goes along and what fakes and wrongsteps can you trade back and forth to get the upper hand? Foosball, with the cheap or cheesy shots and passes minimized.
One way to drill down your 3bar lateral motion is to play the opponents side with the ball, MEANING YOU PLAY GOALKEEPER, with the opposing 3bar set: shoot several dozen quicksets from a moving 2bar (or at least just after a split second as you stop the ball). Remember the release points areas and make slight adjustments to exactly where you stop to pause the 3bar to block these release points. Then observe and try to remember which goalies favor which areas to release (the most natural) their shots and passes. In fact, once you "profile" a goalkeeper, it's like magic sometimes, I swear! The more practiced the goalkeeper (or forwards too), the more consistent and reliable their release points! Remember that you must not do the 3bar lateral too fast, but more so in a smooth, relaxed but ever-moving motion. Hard, fast, virtually shaking 3bar lateral motion prevents you from reacting in time to practiced set shots or passes from the goalkeeper. The faster and harder you do ANY lateral motion, the more your natural rhythm will take over, making it easier for the opponent to time you. Plus it wears you down.
2. My goalkeeper defends either 54-53 or 52-53 lane at a time.
With this defense, it seems like a lot more balls will get through to the goalie, but the goalie should be in position to stop them; rather than stopping most of the balls in the central area at the forward 3-bar.
The more you play HERO, trying to shut down the middle, the less concentration and readiness you have to stop off-goal or off-center passes and banks. This may be effective against beginners and rookies who probably don't even have consistent passes or banks or simple clears, but any advanced goalkeeper player won't stay stupid if you do the classic 3bar "fork" with your 5bar. They will do their job and pass or clear the ball off-center, and your goal keeper will be helpless. This is even a greater problem in singles where your middle 3bar has to start covering a tic-tac'ing or back n forth series to include the farther middle (52-53 or 54-53) central lane. Especially if you can't control your goal & 2bar rods simultaneously with your left hand to switch central lanes, as you've obviously seen many pros and pro-masters do. Leaving the off-center release points makes you so vulnerable to passing, bankshots, and slop, worst of all.
REMINDER: In doing the 3bar lateral motion, NEVER pause in the middle where only the middel 3bar figure is covering one natural release point or area, the big dot. This is the STUPIDEST position, which we call Ice Cream Cone, to be caught in, since you should always be able to jump from either side to the big dot with the 3bar without hesitation. In the Ice Cream Cone position, you're actually making two large funnels on either side of the big dot to "Welcome" the opposing goalkeeper's shot or clear!! Many good goalkeepers will consciously try to freeze you in this position! In fact, pausing near either end makes it simple, if the shot or pass doesn't go near where your 3bar figures are guarding, you can't get frozen or wrongstepped by a good savvy tic tac'ing goalkeeper with a shake, a pump fake or continuous back & forth lateral setting. In other words: if you are on the near end or the far end of your lateral, and the shot is obviously not a quickset but a practiced motion, you don't have to worry about pushing or pulling - at the far end, pull the 3bar to race the ball; at the near end, push the 3bar to get there. It Keeps It Stupidly Simple.
If the opposing 2-bar is tick-tacking, I assume I still defend the best I can with my 3-bar middle man and let the my goalie handle the 54-53 and 53-52 lanes (moving roughly 1 inch at a time, and keeping one man behind the big dot).
Does that sound about right?
Thanks a lot for the detailed article -- I'm sure it'll be helping in coordinating our front and back D.
The Central ZoneD discipline is to protect against off-center shots, passes, and clears with your outer 3bar player closest to the opposing goalkeeper's release point. The middle 3bar must cover the area just past the central lanes, especially if the opponent tictac's or switches from their near side to their far side, waiting for the zone to break down. In doubles your 3bar should be concentrating on the edges outside either central lane, and your goalkeeper only has to concentrate on moving between the two center holes.
In singles, if you cannot, as yet, control the 2bar & goalplayer with your left hand while leaving your 5bar centered or adjusted against an opponent's natural lanes, and move your 3bar laterally end-to-end: You have to leave the goal & 2bar rods alone to shut down the nearest central lane, and you have to adjust your 3bar to cover past the first central lane - more work, but that's singles. You won't be able to shut down the 90% or more goalkeeper shots through both central lanes, having a narrower "safe zone" and you have to cover more lateral outside area with your 3bar.
Special Note 1: Remember that Central Zone D only has to have the goalkeeper close the two central lanes, smoothly JUMPING 1 to 1 1/2 inches TO EITHER HOLE, not sliding, while waiting to stop all slow banks and clears if they get deflected off your own 3bar and 5bar figures. And every central lane ball your goalkeeper captures IS A LOSS of POSSESSION, as they say, 9-tenths of the law! You put your goalkeeper in a very simplified, more relaxed zone, while covering the outside areas which only you, the forward, can.
Special Note 2: Experienced zone-breaking opponents can and will try to shoot through the central lane ANYWAY, especially if you have a really horrible beginner or sleepy rookie goalkeeper, who allows many suicidal rebounds to the opposing forward. You must emphasize that your goalkeeper be alert and really concentrate on not giving up any rebounds to the opposing forward. And if that doesn't work, then you have to be a HERO and start blocking the whole lateral area, but you'll probably get assassinated by more advanced opponents anyway, if your goalkeeper is that bad. If it works and the opposing goalkeeper has to make either careful set shots (much harder physically and taking more concentration, of course) or rely mostly on passing or clearing, you've won half the battle!
Remember: the idea is not to give up the natural quicksets, easy set shots, and uncontested passes or clears. The opponents may still execute them, depending on how experienced and talented they are, but you will have turned it into a GAME, A COMPETITION: Foosball.
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Wow, great info.
One observation as I was playing the goalie position last night:
It was difficult to stay covering a middle lane with my partner's 5-bar moving so much. To coordinate this effort, does the 5-bar need to slow down and just do smoother lateral shifts? Or almost not move at all?
"If the opposing two-bar has the ball at the near side ready for a push, do I stay with him with my far man only until the big box and switch to my middle man after that?"
Actually, it seems like I need to stay with him until almost the inner post before shifting to the middle 3-bar man. I don't think the middle 3-bar can reach the outer post.
"In singles, ... You have to leave the goal & 2bar rods alone to shut down the nearest central lane, and you have to adjust your 3bar to cover past the first central lane"
So my goal and 2bar stay pretty much stationary here, and I assume I should just stick with that configuration even if the opposing goaltender crosses the ball over to the other side.
Thanks for the helpful hits and hope I'm not taking up too much of your time. We've got a tournament coming up this weekend, so I'm hoping to get these concepts down in the next few days (to some degree).
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Wow, great info.
One observation as I was playing the goalie position last night:
It was difficult to stay covering a middle lane with my partner's 5-bar moving so much. To coordinate this effort, does the 5-bar need to slow down and just do smoother lateral shifts? Or almost not move at all?
That is both the difficulty & challenge of a team zone. Most good team goalkeepers will note that their forward who does a 5bar shake or other motion, like sitting on one or the other wall depending on the opposing goalkeeper's initial or favorite release point, or just a standard backNforth motion, will almost always snap to a certain position as the opposing goalkeeper shoots or releases the ball. THIS is what a good alert goalkeeper playing Central ZoneD looks out for, and the more you play with that forward, the better you both defend the center lanes and the better you lock. I never recommend that the forward do any kind of really quick shaking to defend, just a smooth and unpredictable backNforth motion.
If your forward favors a set location for the 5bar (probably adjusts according to whether the opposing goalkeeper is most probably going to release: a pull or push from near wall, or from either edge of the outside goal area box, or right from the center area in front of the goal), then that's easy.. Your central lanes are consistent and you can cover those. If your forward has a 5bar motion, then you better figure out quickly where the central lanes are generally and how your forward moves as the opponent shoots. If your forward stops the motion, you must block those lanes as the opponent shoots. If your forward's 5bar keeps moving, you stay in the center, with either your 2bar or your goal figure at or near your own big dot.
Note that a lot of good forwards will try to bait the opposing goalkeeper by moving the 5bar, and getting ready for the release by stopping the 5bar as the shot releases, and knowing where the holes are, and assuming the opposing goalkeeper has decided on a hole, jumps to block with the 3bar. This is a baiting forward D. Moving then suddenly stopping the 5bar at a predetermined location (near wall, middle or far wall) and KNOWING where the opposing goalkeeper has been BAITED to shoot through. The defending forward has initiative, knowing where the opponent must shoot through to get past the 5bar.
So you as the defending goalkeeper, must stay pretty much in the center, as long as your forward understands that the near and far areas on either side of your Center D are your forward's responsibility. If your forward does the baiting strategy formulated above, then you must identify where the central lanes are and jump to either of those lanes to cover when the ball is released. The motions are less than 1.0 inches or 25mm for the goalkeeper and aren't that hard to keep in mind. I have more of a problem with a beginner or rookie goalkeeper moving or jumping WAYYYYY too far and leaving the central lanes wide open. A taser, or perhaps a baseball bat for the goalkeeper's head is highly recommended. :P
"If the opposing two-bar has the ball at the near side ready for a push, do I stay with him with my far man only until the big box and switch to my middle man after that?"
Actually, it seems like I need to stay with him until almost the inner post before shifting to the middle 3-bar man. I don't think the middle 3-bar can reach the outer post.
Most opponent shots from a beginner or rookie aren't that long, and a good defending forward actually has to be careful that the 3bar doesn't overrun the ball, and there is no problem staying with the usually slower and more deliberate shot from a less experienced shooter. Against a more experienced shooting goalkeeper, the defending forward must absolutely cover any spray or quick release up to the big box' edge, because the defending goalkeeper is guarding the central lane. Keeping the discipline to switch the D to a block by the middle 3bar is the best D I have observed against a good shooting goalkeeper. Use the outer 3bar to race and shut down any release less than 3 inches, and against the long push or pull (greater than 3 inches or 75mm) switch the D to the middle 3bar, with the extra knowledge that the goalkeeper must shoot through either central lane to be successful. So jumping with the middle 3bar figure is a lot easier - You know where you have to jump with a switch to your middle 3bar figure on a well-shot long push or pull.
As to reaching the outer post, the defending forward can easily close that off with the 52 or the 54 player. In fact, placing the 5bar there or snapping to there as the opposing goalkeeper shoots is part of the baiting D. Any ball shot on those outside edges of the 2 central lanes are blocked back to the defending forwards 3bar or can be turned into a stuffblock. That is in fact a guide for the defending forward: line up the 54 (against a push) or the 52 (against a pull) so that a good accurate opposing goalkeeper has to go past the outer edges of your goal to score - and that's where your goalkeeper is waiting for a loss of possession: in the Center!
"In singles, ... You have to leave the goal & 2bar rods alone to shut down the nearest central lane, and you have to adjust your 3bar to cover past the first central lane"
So my goal and 2bar stay pretty much stationary here, and I assume I should just stick with that configuration even if the opposing goaltender crosses the ball over to the other side.
Yes, which is why you see superb players learn to handle the goal & 2bar rods with the left hand to switch to either central lane, while using the right hand on the 3bar to do the same thing described above. Stay with the outer 3bar figure up to the edge of the "post" and switch to the middle 3bar figure for longs. There is extra work of course, if the player cannot comfortably control the goal & 2bar in the back. With only one center lane shut down, the defending forward HAS to switch earlier to the middle 3bar to defend past that narrower defended area. A good opposing goalkeeper will see that, and the defending forward has to do the "jump" to past the nearest (and covered by the goal & 2bar) central lane. But the defending forward has the advantage: knowing where the uncovered central lane begins (past the defending 53 figure) plus ANY super long push or pull, or a pushkick or pullkick, gives the defending forward time - the shooter has to concentrate and execute better on a superlong shot or any 2 figure shot, (pushkick or pullkick).
Advantages:
1. You force the opposing goalkeeper to shoot a harder shot to pass the near and central areas.
2. You know where the vulnerable area is: you can train your 3bar middle to jump there.
3. Against a very good shooter who can switch to the other side to shoot a pull or pushkick you can also train your other outer 3bar figure to jump there and close off the shot. Note that transposing to the other side on a pullkick or pushkick is hard enough: usually the shot will release from the same point and you HAVE to recognize where this is. If the opposing goalkeeper can transpose and shoot a spray pushkick/pullkick or pull/push from the other side AND at the same time varying the release point .... you are defending a high expert, pro or a pro-master goalkeeper, and you have to rely on your scouting of earlier games to see the 2-4 different releases.
* Against a high expert, pro or pro-master goalkeeper - if you do the Central D, the new challenge is recognizing and forcing your two other 3bar figures to transpose. But then it's become a game, where you force the opponent to rely on hard and more difficult practiced crossover shots, no easy spray or short quicksets and set shots.
Thanks for the helpful hits and hope I'm not taking up too much of your time. We've got a tournament coming up this weekend, so I'm hoping to get these concepts down in the next few days (to some degree).
Not to worry, if you can't find a goalkeeper who can stay in a lane, jump less than inch, consistently, then you better get another goalkeeper. You have to watch and keep reminding the goalkeeper to stay in the Zone, until they get used to it. Another thing I do as forward when playing with a very inexperienced goalkeeper is to not move my 5bar too much on a Bait D, or make sure the goalkeeper knows where I will stop the 5bar as the opposing goalkeeper shoots or releases. You have to communicate in doubles. Do this and you'll have a solid D with all cheap, easy goal shots or quicksets turned into losses of possession. Note that you should also RECOGNIZE when the other side is not doing any zone, especially if they're moving independently of each other... that's when you recognize which lanes are WIDE OPEN... quickset or do easy sprays through those to punish them severely. This is really emphasized in singles play when the ball is banging around end-to-end... Identify the open lanes and quickset if the opponent hasn't set up in time.
Helpful Hints? No problem, just pay for the most recent US Government bank bailouts (800 Billion), and we'll be all even. :)
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foozkillah,
Just want to thank you for your help on the defense.
The tournament I'd been prepping for was today.
In the Open Doubles, we bowed out after getting to the Top 8 (total 16 teams in round robin, and top 8 advance to a single-elimination round). But we lost because my goalie fumbled the last 2 balls... we tried our best.
The defensive strategies you listed did help with my singles game, and landed me a 2nd place finish in the Open Singles.
We're doing what we can to promote foosball here in Taiwan - and these tournaments, while not huge, are a big part of getting new players out. In Taiwan, the level isn't great, with no one qualified to be a pro/master. At best, we have some guys who may be able to pass as amateur/semi-pro. One step at a time.
Thanks again.
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foozkillah,
Just want to thank you for your help on the defense.
The tournament I'd been prepping for was today.
NoProb. Glad to hear you had the opportunity to try those things quickly. Tried to make the tactics as simple as possible, since they are the first thing I show to beginner and rookie players.
In the Open Doubles, we bowed out after getting to the Top 8 (total 16 teams in round robin, and top 8 advance to a single-elimination round). But we lost because my goalie fumbled the last 2 balls... we tried our best.
Congratulations in getting past the roundrobin! I hope you were able to explain the Central Zone lanes to your goalkeeper and convince your goalkeeper to stay, stay stay in those lanes. Did your goalkeeper at least recognize and guard the central lanes, and were you able to snag or at least block some balls going off-center (away from the goal?). I take it you goalkeeper tried to shoot or clear the last two balls and lost them to the opposing forward who scored? Then I recommend learning a set shot, where the goalkeeper learns to pull or push long. That is the key to clearing against equal or more advanced forward defenders. The goalkeeper trying to shoot or at least clear the ball MUST learn to push or pull the ball at least 3-4 inches, SMOOTHLY - speed is not necessary, whether shooting a square shot (parallel to the sides) or a spray shot. A rookie's or beginner's first goalkeeper weapon is a reliable long lateral shot, because this forces the opposing forward to choose AND commit either the outer or the middle 3bar player. A pushkick or pullkick using both 2bar players, also does this same "forcing" of the opposing forward. Trying for short shots against an equal or better defender will rarely result in a less-experienced goalkeeper "fooling" a racing 3bar in defense. With a long push, pull or pullkick/pushkick, the odds are much better.
The defensive strategies you listed did help with my singles game, and landed me a 2nd place finish in the Open Singles.
That's even better! The more you use those techniques, the smoother you get at transitioning into "instant Central Zone D" the very splitsecond that possession goes to the opposing goalkeeper! Did the 1st place player outpass you? Outshoot you with a higher percentage? I have other links to basic shot blocking and basic 5bar pass defense, if you're into that.
We're doing what we can to promote foosball here in Taiwan - and these tournaments, while not huge, are a big part of getting new players out. In Taiwan, the level isn't great, with no one qualified to be a pro/master. At best, we have some guys who may be able to pass as amateur/semi-pro. One step at a time. Thanks again.
We all have to start somewhere. Fred Gower, from Canada, just came back this summer from 3 years in Shanghai, where he started and developed their league and actually led them to 2nd place in the Asian Championships earlier this year, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He lives in South Florida now, and recently won one of the daily DYP's at the recent Tornado World Championships in Las Vegas, NV, the last week of September. He plays with our Sunrise (Ft. Lauderdale) group in South Florida. He tried to collect and share every video and DVD of world and international class foosball play. He and his group did their best to travel when possible, and were exposed to the current best players in Asia (Miqdad "Mickey" Suwaidi of Dubai and his buddies, who also happens to be very familiar with us in South Florida since his sister lives in Miami and he used to be in our group, too!).
Good luck and remember: even in a simple pickup or practice game, to always scrap, scrape, grab and claw for every loose ball - that is a foosball state of mind!!!
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Congratulations in getting past the roundrobin! I hope you were able to explain the Central Zone lanes to your goalkeeper and convince your goalkeeper to stay, stay stay in those lanes. Did your goalkeeper at least recognize and guard the central lanes, and were you able to snag or at least block some balls going off-center (away from the goal?). I take it you goalkeeper tried to shoot or clear the last two balls and lost them to the opposing forward who scored? Then I recommend learning a set shot, where the goalkeeper learns to pull or push long. That is the key to clearing against equal or more advanced forward defenders. The goalkeeper trying to shoot or at least clear the ball MUST learn to push or pull the ball at least 3-4 inches, SMOOTHLY - speed is not necessary, whether shooting a square shot (parallel to the sides) or a spray shot. A rookie's or beginner's first goalkeeper weapon is a reliable long lateral shot, because this forces the opposing forward to choose AND commit either the outer or the middle 3bar player. A pushkick or pullkick using both 2bar players, also does this same "forcing" of the opposing forward. Trying for short shots against an equal or better defender will rarely result in a less-experienced goalkeeper "fooling" a racing 3bar in defense. With a long push, pull or pullkick/pushkick, the odds are much better.
Well, he said that's pretty much what he was doing already (guarding the lanes), but I think he can still improve in that - and I can improve in not moving my central lanes laterally as much. I'm going to have to work on my longer pushkick and pullkicks. My push had been good in the past, but somehow I lost it over the last couple of years... the feeling just disappeared.
That's even better! The more you use those techniques, the smoother you get at transitioning into "instant Central Zone D" the very splitsecond that possession goes to the opposing goalkeeper! Did the 1st place player outpass you? Outshoot you with a higher percentage? I have other links to basic shot blocking and basic 5bar pass defense, if you're into that.
I felt I was actually having a very good defensive game throughout the singles event, but I lost because of my offensive execution. In the end, it was a match of offensive percentages. My pullshot wasn't fast enough, and hasn't been quite explosive as before I added the recoil. In time...
YES! I'd love to get some more tips on shot blocking and 5-bar passing D. With some of our better passers, I often get burned on blocking passes.
We all have to start somewhere. Fred Gower, from Canada, just came back this summer from 3 years in Shanghai, where he started and developed their league and actually led them to 2nd place in the Asian Championships earlier this year, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He lives in South Florida now, and recently won one of the daily DYP's at the recent Tornado World Championships in Las Vegas, NV, the last week of September. He plays with our Sunrise (Ft. Lauderdale) group in South Florida. He tried to collect and share every video and DVD of world and international class foosball play. He and his group did their best to travel when possible, and were exposed to the current best players in Asia (Miqdad "Mickey" Suwaidi of Dubai and his buddies, who also happens to be very familiar with us in South Florida since his sister lives in Miami and he used to be in our group, too!).
It's funny you should mention Fred. I met Fred in Taiwan this year when he came to visit some friends of his, and he came to our playground to give a clinic (one of my friends met him at the tournament in Malaysia). He's also from Vancouver, my hometown. In fact, I email the same set of questions before posting on this forum. But he's been too busy to reply, so I'm glad to have gotten a response from you.
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Well, he said that's pretty much what he was doing already (guarding the lanes), but I think he can still improve in that - and I can improve in not moving my central lanes laterally as much. I'm going to have to work on my longer pushkick and pullkicks. My push had been good in the past, but somehow I lost it over the last couple of years... the feeling just disappeared.
There's an instant way to check how different your goalkeeper's perception of "covering the lanes" is versus reality:
Get a bright small flashlight, have him set up to guard either central lane and shine the light through from where the opposing goalkeeper would be shooting from. Then tell him to jump to the other central lane, (no SLIDING, remember! the goal & 2bar figures are useless between the two center locations) and shine the flashlight from where a good goalkeeper with a long or kick shot after crossing over would be shooting from. No if's, and's, or but's. The light shows whether he is covering correctly or not. If he is, then an opposing goalkeeper will have no choice but to shoot or pass on either side of whichever central lane is totally blocked off. Period.
It's actually very interesting with inexperienced or first-time goalkeepers using the Central Zone D, how wildly their view or perception of "covering" can fluctuate. The flashlight shuts them up.
Another recommendation for the goalkeeper is to use the standard "claw" configuration of the 2bar & goal figures.
Standard "claw" config is with:
1. Both handles, the goal bar & 2bar are basically right beside each other. (This forces defense with the nearest 2bar figure & the goal figure, & ensures proper distance to block a central lane)
2. The 2bar figure is pointing backwards towards your goal, between 30 & 45 degrees off vertical.
3. The goal figure is pointed forwards away from the goal, also between 30 & 45 degrees off the vert.
Just like in blocking a pull/push or pullkick/pushkick from the 3bar, the claw is an attempt to trap the ball if the shot ball hits the 2bar figure, although a goalkeeper still has to develop the touch to prevent rebounds to the opposing forward. If the shot ball passes the 2bar line, the forward pointing goal figure is the last line of D, and cutting off any angles and keeping the ball away from the goal is of the highest importance. With a successful goal figure block, there is also more area anyway, to make sure the ball doesn't rebound back, out of the area to an evil-smiling forward.
I felt I was actually having a very good defensive game throughout the singles event, but I lost because of my offensive execution. In the end, it was a match of offensive percentages. My pullshot wasn't fast enough, and hasn't been quite explosive as before I added the recoil. In time...
YES! I'd love to get some more tips on shot blocking and 5-bar passing D. With some of our better passers, I often get burned on blocking passes.
Glad to hear you were having a good defensive game. It is such a relief with the system to know where your 4 rods should be once your opponent or opponents control the ball in their goal area. After a while you just take a split second to look where the ball may be quickshot or setshot from and move the rods accordingly, without looking, while you keep your eye on that ball.
As for basic 5bar D, I usually send a link to the foosworld.com pages where I place them, but foosworld.com is down, and the description text is too big for this site, foosball.com to allow inside a PM or a post. I'm sure of that because I tried to load it into a private msg to you several times and it failed. You'll have to private msg me back your e-mail, (never show your private e-mail on a public post, if you can help it) and I'll send it that way. If that works (or foosworld.com comes back up, probably after their moderators return from either the North Carolina States or the $50,000 Super Doubles in Culver City, CA, and fix it)... then I can send you the procedures I use to define basic shot blocking after that.
It's funny you should mention Fred. I met Fred in Taiwan this year when he came to visit some friends of his, and he came to our playground to give a clinic (one of my friends met him at the tournament in Malaysia). He's also from Vancouver, my hometown. In fact, I email the same set of questions before posting on this forum. But he's been too busy to reply, so I'm glad to have gotten a response from you.
Yeah, we were wondering over here, too! He was running the Tuesday night DYPs at Strikers' Lanes in Sunrise, FL (Ft. Lauderdale) up until about 3 weeks ago, and he suddenly had to stop them, and he must have gone out of town because he hasn't been on our central online forum at www.netfoos.com since. I hope there wasn't a family emergency or anything.
BTW, dunno if u follow CFL, but did you see Sandro DeAngelis kick 5 field goals and lead the Calg Stampedeys 22-14 over the Habs? Word..
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Habs is a nickname for montreal's hockey team, the canadiens. It come from habitant, which is why the canadiens have an H inside the C on the logo.. They beat the alouettes which is montreals football team in the CFL. I'm from canada but didn't watch the game because the Colts were playing. Some people here follow the CFL, but I think easily as many follow the NFL. 5 field goals is impressive though.
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Hey Will,
Yeah... after & living going to college in Phiwwee for over 10 years and being a Flyers fan, I'm used to calling the Canadiens Habs or "habbies". Same name for all the Montreal-are citizens, who come in droves every summer down to the South Jersey Shore, mixing with all the Phiwwee and Souf Joysey troublemakers (dis was us, Yo!).. We were all familiar with both Lord Stanley's AND Lord Grey's Cup, and many Eagles fans were always looking for the next Jim Kelly or Warren Moon we could grab from the CFL, and which next Bernie Parent we could get from the Canada dev leagues.
You could always spot habbies at the beach, coz these guyz loved to wear Euro thongs, although they definitely weren't "knob-polishers". Late night, you could spot habbies at their table at Denny's or other diners at the Shore, when the tipsy ones would try to order "One, mebbe two, okehhy 12 Labatts or "Blu" with their Grand Slam breakfasts wid dee eggz, dee sunny side on zee top". :D Pretty interesting bunch of crazy frenchies.
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Hi Foozkillah,
I tried to send my email to you via the Foosball.com messaging "service" a couple of weeks ago, but I'm not sure whether it got to you. In any case, it looks like FoosWorld.com is back up again. If you have time, would you mind letting me know where I can look for the 5-bar defense and defense on certain offense styles?
Thanks...
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Kev,
I'm sure I sent that to you on 01-Dec ... as an attachment because I couldn't load it in a message window without bombing out. Here's the link from Foosworld's "Foos Strategy" forum anyway, again:
http://foosworld.com/forum/forums/thread/22506.aspx
Guess the attachment didn't go through?