Are you sure, irishman, that this is a social tournament?
Because if there's any money or prizes involved, then it may have social trappings but real league or "open" event underpinnings.
For any prize event, the idea of bonuses and penalties is two-fold:
1. To motivate the losing team to play an honest match to the bitter end, no "tanking."
2. To reward the dominating team for maintaining their level of play, even at "garbage time."
Similar to wagering in pool or other head-to-head matches for money or other wherewithal, ("prizes, goods, favors") the practice of "double on the blitz," or a bonus for a sweep, is pretty common, PLUS IT REWARDS THE WINNER ACCORDINGLY for maintaining the superior play through to the end, which statistically is a lot harder to achieve. As in your case, beating you 10-nil vs 10-2 or even 10-1. The points or rewards would then be based on probabilities, just as in any regulated and "honest" casino game. It's a lot harder to skunk you guys than to just beat you, and beat you to a pulp.
On the other side, it also makes the game worth more, win or lose, as the losing team can use the incentive of not penalized for "tanking," or "taking a dump" penalties to continue competing to the bitter end. That and to make it easier as each match unfolds, to amass points without starting "behind the 8ball."
If your event values the spirit of fairly rewarded competition, at least in comparison between each contender/team, then bonuses and penalties for blitz or sweep results make a ton of sense.
Think of it: it's a lot harder and more accomplished for a team to win every point, no matter what, and shut out the opponent. So they deserve more (i.e., a bonus) than if they had just beaten the opponent and coasted the rest of the way. A swept or shutout team also deserves a penalty for probably giving up after getting initially dominated and not competing harder, and competition is often a major raison d'etre for having a tournament in the first place.
If it was for charity or other less intrinsically valuable prizes, then yes, 10-0 is enough, but otherwise, no. You get skunked, wear the "stink." Whether you believe or not in evolution, or survival of the fittest, it is a common and understandable need to win absolutely, be alpha, and dominate. Foosball, like several other sports, games or hobbies, is close quarters "civilized" hand-to-hand combat, where you usually quickly find out all your opponents' sometimes deep-seated motivations, idiosyncracies and reactions, as well as their perfume, their odors and breath.
If your team continues to get dominated, then perhaps buying donuts or even baking some goodies for the office, might be a better channel for your "aggressions." It's wonderful, reinforcing the saying: "you learn something each and every day, especially in foosball." Was it Master Yoda that said, "Just as life, foosball is ..... points you score, or your balls you lose?" Crying there is not, in foosball.
2 Replies
8015 Views