ITSF World Cup -- USA Team Selection Process

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The USTSF Executive Committee (composed of Larry Davis, Jim Waterman, Bruce Nardoci and Kathy Brainard and with guidance from the ITSF) has established the following criteria to be used in the selection of the USA Table Soccer Team for the 2006 ITSF World Cup team competition in Hamburg, Germany, May 25-28, 2006:

* Ability to represent the United States and the USTSF in a positive manner, as demonstrated by professionalism, good sportsmanship and courteous behavior both on and off the table;

* Ability or experience in adapting to play on the non-American tables;

* Ability to fill required playing positions in the team format, including ability to create good "team chemistry" with other team members;

* Ability to compete at the highest level of international play, as indicated by rankings on current Tornado, Bonzini and ITSF points systems and recent performances in major events;

* Must have played in a USTSA major in the last 18 months. In the case of Bonzini players, must have played in a Bonzini regional in the last year.

* Must be eligible to travel internationally (passport required) and per ITSF rules, must be a U.S. citizen.

Thus, unlike the ITSF World Championship in Italy this year, a player’s ITSF ranking is only one consideration in the team selection process. Names selected (male or female) are further drawn from a limit of the top 150 on the current USTSA points list as of 30 September, 2005. Only eight players will be allowed per team (6 men/2 women) and only eight will receive paid trips. The USTSF is welcome to have ten (two alternates who can be substituted/rotated in), but the expenses of the additional two players would be out of our pocket. With that in mind and based on the above criteria, the USTSF Executive Committee has nominated the following players for consideration (in alphabetical order):

MEN / WOMEN

Mike Archer                        Dusty Bambenek
Louis Cartwright                Laurette Barton
Bobby Diaz                        Kathy Brainard
Ahmed Ghayath                Becky Cherry
Dave Gummeson                Lotus Chesbrough
Todd Loffredo Stayce Fowler
Rob Mares                        Christina Fuchs
Tracy McMillan                Cindy Head
Steve Mohs                        Shelly Langley
Terry Moore                        Caryn Matassa
Brandon Moreland                Tiffany Moore
Billy Pappas                        Gena Murray
Trevor Park                        Vivian Park
Ron Sipiora                        Cara Richardville
Dave Radack                        Kathy Richey
Fernando Rosa                Maggie Strong
Terry Rue / Joy Steward
Tony Spredeman
Tom Yore
Adrian Zamora

BONZINI
Alan Cribbs
Jimmy Little
Bruce Nardoci


All nominees will receive invitation letters in a couple of weeks (nominees: please make sure your address is up to date with the USTSA). Nominees will have to accept or decline their nomination in writing by 01 January 2006 (we expect a few to decline because the World Cup is the same weekend as Texas State). Of those who accept, only 8-10 will form the final team, the narrowed list of which will be voted upon by "the foosball masses" via the EZBoard. This ensures both transparency and democratic, public support of the final team selection.

The resulting final team will get expense-paid trips to Hamburg for about 4-5 days plus travel, much like the ITSF World Championships this year in Italy. Note: For those with a little vacation time available, this would be an ideal time to stay in Europe for about 17-18 days total, as the following week is the ITSF EuroSoccer Championships in Belgium (I think it's a US$50,000, but I'm not sure; Rico may know that plus he may be able to arrange lodging for US players) and the week after that is the US$60,000 Lehmacher Championships (in Stuttgart, Germany; I'm working on getting free hotel for the U.S. players but can't promise anything yet). You can drive or take a train from one tournament to the next pretty easily, and given the free round-trip airfare from the World Cup it sounds like most U.S. players would easily win enough to pay any added expenses, if not come out ahead...

Nominees should be informed that, while the expenses of the trip are covered by ITSF, there will be no prize money offered for the World Cup itself. Your trip (an approximate US$2,000 value) is itself the prize – opportunity to win money and/or earn ITSF World Series points towards another free trip to the ITSF World Championships can be won at the two follow-on tournaments. Even so, given that some 20-22 countries are sending teams of at least eight players all on ITSF-paid trips, that makes the minimum value of the ITSF World Cup equivalent to around US$200,000+. (Clearly, this is no small event for ITSF to conduct. Note also that including the follow-on tournaments, this is further equivalent to playing in US$300,000+ worth of tournaments in an 18-day period!!)

Also, nominees should again be reminded that the World Cup takes place on the same weekend at the 2006 Texas State Championships, and if selected, the World Cup in Hamburg will require a minimum time commitment of 7 days including travel: May 23-29, 2006 (if not staying for follow-on tournaments).


As I have noted in the past, the ITSF has been making remarkable progress in improving the recognition, visibility, salability, and sponsorship potential of table soccer as a sport. Hamburg, Germany is the host city to the "real" World Cup of Soccer, which is in fact the largest sporting event in the world (there will be over 20,000 members of the press in Hamburg alone). By tying our sport in to the activities and massive media exposure of the soccer World Cup, ITSF is definitely maximizing exposure potential for table soccer. While it may take a while for the every day American foosball player to feel the impact of ITSF’s efforts, it’s surely nothing but positive news for us all – something a few of us need right about now. And whatever happens, as the Executive Committee of the USTSF, we are proud to be a part of something so important (and to be able to ensure that the players of the United States can participate!!).

Respectfully submitted,

Larry Davis, Executive Director
for
Jim Waterman
Bruce Nardoci
Kathy Brainard

"Ask not what the sport of foosball can do for you, ask what you can do for the sport of foosball."

Edited by: qfoos at: 12/5/05 11:22 am