Editorial: Keeping the ArtistryBy Laird Smith, 2/19/02
Our philosophy has always been, and remains the same, that footbag kicking is a fitness activity for life that does not necessarily need to include competition. See our message for more on our philosophy. However, if competition is desired then how it is judged is obviously very important. Footbag kicking as a competitive activity is currently judged by points, as in the net game, or by "adds" as in stalling tricks, leaving little room for artistry. This artistic judging dilemma is highlighted currently by the Olympic skating judging scandal. Unfortunately, the Olympic judging changes suggested so far in reaction to the problem includes a system of adds which will take the artistry out of skating. If points are given for skating tricks then obviously skaters desiring to win will do as many triple axles as possible in a routine rather than skating how they feel is artistically indicated. Similarly, in the current footbag freestyle system of judging, by giving "adds" for tricks in order to accumulate points, the only focus in freestyle competition is on stalling tricks rather than on artistry.
All kickers know that footbag kicking is addictive, mesmerizing, beautiful, and thorourghly engrossing. Most kickers also know that kicking has its own reward without needing to compete. But if competition is held, then the artistry, not just technical and oftentimes exhausting moves when trying to get the most "adds", should be included. One alternative would be to let the audience judge freestyle routines. Of course there are not always that many in tournament audiences, other than the players themselves. But a non-peer audience is aware of technique as well as artistry. The audience reaction at the particular Olympic event in question is one of the reasons this whole skating judging scandal happened. The audience was very annoyed at the judging results. The "magical moments" of the Canadians skaters were recognized by the audience!
Footbag dancing is artistry. It can include stalling to punctuate a routine but the flow and beauty of kicking and what is done between very strong, high kicks with a very firm footbag is especially appreciated by observers. The "magical moments" are evident and, like a good play, they "work." To limit kickers to "adds" incurred by stalling tricks is to divorce footbag freestyle competition from artistry. This thing with skating and the negative direction it is going is exactly what we are talking about. While skating judging seems to be moving into the arena of "adds" everyone commentating on it agrees that artistry will be lost in the rush to gain points by performing ad infinitum triple axles. The "magical moments" will be lost in an atheletic impetus to just get the most best-scoring moves for the most points rather than for a beautiful and artistic routine. This has already happened to footbag freestyle competition and should be changed.
An alternative to judging by adds or audience reaction would be one similar to the current gymnastics judging format. All entrants start with a top score and then points (or percentages of points) are taken off for misses, for mistakes. This leaves room for technique AND artistry. Something of this nature is the best way to judge artistic and technically excellent routines short of giving the judging to the audience. Letting the audience judge of course, would necessitate making sure that one country is not represented more than another in the Olympic audience. Or in the case of footbag, that one club of kickers or organizational group is not over-represented. First of all, competitors should not be judging their competition. In footbag freestyle kicking events, there should be a judging panel from non-footbag atheletic professionals - such as: martial arts, soccer coaches, and dancers. The tournaments held in Willits CA in the 80's had such judges.
With this editorial we want to help crystalize our position about how footbag freestyle is currently judged to exclude artistry and join with the commentators to plead that the same thing does not happen to ice skating judging. There are better ways to do it and to insure the continuation of artistry. If a game is played and points are made it is clear who wins. However, in freestyle artistry is important, the very nub of the thing in fact, and the current judging practices which preclude artistry keep a large number of potential competitors away from tournaments because they know about, love, and appreciate the "magical moments" and are not content to be forced into just doing stalling tricks in order to compete successfully.
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