Reprinted with permission from Inside Foos The newsletter of southern California foosball 1991
Most people think that I'm trying to play mind games when I pick stuff
off the table or wipe the top of my opponent's side. Well, let me confess.
Those things are not done to play with pesple's minds, they are done because
I like to play on a clean table with no distractions. I know I shouldn't
let these thirds bother me, but when you've been doing it for eighteen
years it becomes a habit. I know that this bothers some people, but it
is not done intentionally.
Here are a few tricks that I do that are legal and also work: If you
are losing and it looks like there is no hope, call a ref. This Scan cool
your opponent down and possibly change the momentum of the match. Some
players don't play well with a referee at the table. If you already have
a ref and you can afford it, get a second one.
If you are losing, change. Change what you are doing because it's not
working. Switch if possible, even if only for a couple of points. Change
the momentum. Use your time-outs!! I like to use them on critical points
to make sure I put a good shot on goal. 3 to 2, 4 to 2, 4 to 3 and 4 to
4 are the time I use them most often. I will also use them when I'm losing
3 to O or 3 to 1 or even 4 to 2.
Another very important thing to remember is that you have 15 seconds
on your two and three rods as well as 10 seconds on your five-man rod.
use this time to check out your opponents defense. If you watch all the
top pros, they take their time. I don't mean take 13 ½ seconds every
time, but if you're shooting after 2 or 3 seconds every time the goalies
have a big advantage of knowing when to jump! If you vary your shooting
times, the goalie has to be totally focused for the entire 15 seconds.
This gets tiring and a lot of times obvious hole will then show up!
The final thing I want to talk about is making sure you get enough
rest at the big tournaments. Staying up all night, drinking or playing
cards will most certainly hurt your game the following day. Get enough
sleep and allow yourself enough time to get to your match at least 30 minutes
before you must play in order to fully warm up. You need to be ready to
play at 9:30 am as if it's the finals of Open Doubles, because if
you aren't, you'll never get there.
Keep on foosin'.
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