As a widely popular game, Foosball has its unique standing and credibility. Although some people consider it as a simple game, some others who have got the fun out of it know the seriousness and challenges of the game to play like a champ!!
Despite having some debates over the recognition of foosball as a sport or simple game, strong presence of International Table Soccer Federation (ITSF) for organizing competitive tournaments sweeps away all the confusions about it. Mastering the sport requires deep-down dedication and tireless training.
You are browsing this article means that you have a strong desire to grow like a great foosball player someday. Keep in mind that a pro can play, teach, eat, think, and sleep foosball. If you want to master the skills for becoming a top-notch performer in foosball, you have to go through a challenging and long journey.
In our article, we shall present an in-depth instruction and step-by-step guideline on how you can become a skilled foosball player.
For more details comparison about Which one is the best for basement: foosball or ping pong table.
What You Will Need?
For enhancing your skill up in foosball, there is no alternative but to practice 1-2 hours daily and 3-4 days a week. For the remaining time, take rest and set your strategies. Else you can play with your friends to assess your skill level.
For practicing continuously, you will need some basic things like:
- Foosball table
- Foosball rods
- Ball
- Player figures
- Cleaning supplies
Step-by-Step Guideline to Become a Pro Level Foosball Player:
1. Know your motivation and believing self
Why do you want to become a pro-level foosball player? What qualities do attract you? Is it money, popularity, or respect? So, before starting the journey, ask yourself first the mentioned questions. If you have the right answers in mind, you are quite set to move forward.
However, when you will love foosball and maintain your eagerness, consistency, and discipline for the game, you will find yourself as a pro shortly.
Besides, like all other events of life to become successful, you have to believe in your ability. Don’t get indulged for the success or failure in the journey. Overjoying in case of victory and depression in case of failure will not help you grow as a champ foosball player.
You should consciously learn from every situation and apply those on the board. Stickiness to the set objectives by believing self will catapult you to the road of being.
2. Realistic Expectation is Where you need to move
After setting the motivation to carry on your enthusiasm for becoming a professional foosball player, you must set the expectation level as low as possible. Since expectation is the major driving force of any venture, breaking up of the same may create unbearable pain leading to frustration and distraction from the game.
Thus, experts always suggest to set the expectation realistically. You can’t become a successful foosball player if you want to earn money and fame overnight. You need to think logically and practically to make realistic expectations.
Don’t get baffled with the income level of pro-level players, hours of the day they practice, and short-cut way to achieve game mastery. Rather, take a deep breath, focus on your abilities, and practice without forgetting the reality.
3. Organized Planning
You surely know that being professional in any area of life requires facing so much pain and difficulties. When you will go through a tough, new, or unknown process, your learning will be matured to give the right shape of performance.
For facing the challenges, you must have an organized planning. Since you have set realistic goals, your strategic planning should follow that. At this stage, you would realize which ways will lead you to grow as a great foosball player.
If you are a student, find your way to adjust the time for practice. Make a back-up planning that will help you out if at any point of time becoming a professional or competitive foosball seems not brighter to you.
4. Learn the rules by heart
International Table Soccer Federation (ITSF) is the authority that formulates all the rules necessary for conducting competitive foosball games. So, if you want to see yourself as a professional player, you must have complete understanding of the rules as if they are back of your hands.
Unlike casual matches, international foosball tournament strictly monitor and disavow the issues like shaking/jarring the table and spinning the rods. You must collect all the handbooks of ITSF and familiarize yourself to various terms and jargons of the game by reading them out.
Make it sure that you know and understand the significance of different parts of the table and other related equipment. Gradually, you will understand the entire sport. Also, learn the different styles and variations of the game. Some of the styles may be permitted in some games while some others wouldn’t.
The chance of winning the game will increase when you are well-versed with the rules of foosball. One very important way to test your understanding is watching the casual games played by your friends and detecting the break of a rule. You can enhance your memory and knowledge on the rules by discussing with those who are already working hard to uplift their foosball skill levels.
5. Practice persistently with a mentor
A mentor is a guide who helps mastering the skills necessary to become a professional player. As a beginner, you can make the mistakes like holding the rods wrongly or spinning the rod. It is very natural to make mistakes when someone learns new tactics.
The mentor can quickly identify your weaknesses and find out the ways to overcome those willingly & happily. You shouldn’t get disheartened if your mentor sometimes becomes dissatisfied with your performance. It is an opportunity for you to try hard.
Like other games, practice is a vital part for becoming expert in foosball. You must practice doggedly if you have the vision to make your dream true!! Find out a like-minded mentor with whom practicing foosball will be a fun and worthy to enhance your skill sets.
6. Discover new shots and be master on one particular classified shot
For becoming a foosball pro, you have to create the image of an upcoming superstar. One of the significant ways to make such image is discovering various new shots and apply those while playing.
Surprising the opponent with new style of shots will increase your chance of winning the game. Try to make new dimensions in push/pull kick shot, snake shot, bank shot, spray shot, aerial shot, tic-tac shot, and dead man shot.
Learn to get mastery on one particular shot which would be your trademark. For example, Tony Spredeman is a master in snake shot and he dictates over the opponents in many foosball tournaments.
7. Keep the mind and body sharp
Like many other games, foosball also demands sound physical condition of the participants who dream to become great one day!! You may know ins and outs of the game more than a pro. But if you don’t have the required physical sharpness and fitness, it is highly likely to lose the game even against the weakest opponent.
Hand-eye coordination is the key thing in foosball game for keeping a player ahead of many others. Therefore, you need to have a focused mind to help making the sync. Have a strong mind not to get depressed if you fail in the game. Keep yourself alert to realize the mistakes and learn for betterment.
8. Be watchful to competitive games
So far, you have achieved a good command over foosball. But before entering into the ring, watch the competitive games regularly. It will make sure to keep the right mindset. You will understand how the professional players act and respond in a particular game situation. Furthermore, it is a good chance to know how a pro changes his strategies & game plan over time depending on the standing of his opponents. Take all the details of the game and prepare yourself for the battlefield!!
9. Replenish the techniques
After you achieve the skills needed to play in the foosball tournaments, it is imperative to update your tactics and techniques to sharpen the saw. Be mindful to identify your mistakes and work consciously for rectifying the same as soon as possible. Don’t hesitate to ask the experts about your development and work on their feedback.
Keep in mind the fact that the best foosball players are best not because of their years of experience alone. They spend each day in attuning and replenishing their techniques and strategies.
10. Face the real-life games with worthy opponents
Now, you have gained all the skills. You practice those regularly for enriching your abilities. At this level, you have the confidence to show the performance against the strong contenders in the tournaments. The more you compete against worthy opponents, the more refined your skills will be.
Final Words
As a newbie, you may have the courage to dream for becoming a great foosball player when you have a detailed guideline in hand. However, despite following the guidelines, your dream may not come true unless you have the mental setup that “becoming a foosball pro is a journey, not a destination”!!
