How to Get Permission to Kick at SchoolBy Laird Smith
1. Print this article, the Circles Code of Conduct page in footbag.com, the Informal Games page, and the research paper.
2. All interested footbag kickers agree on a meeting time to discuss the organization of a
team.
3. When you meet, decide on a name - a nice one that Danceman used once for
one of his teams was "Elite Feet" and footbag.com has given permission for teams to use that if you wanted to do
so. Discuss all the stuff talked about in the materials you printed (give
everyone a copy if possible). Also talk about what, exactly, you want to
do: kick in circles, establish a net game team, learn stalling tricks,
footbag dance, or all of the above AND how often you want to schedule time to
kick together and where. In order to use school premises the first step is to agree on
two individuals to meet with the appropriate party at school. Figure out
what, exactly, you want your representatives to ask of the official. The official to approach could be a Dean, the Principal, the
School System Administrator, or even the School Board (if you start with the
Dean, if you have one, then you could work your way up if you get a "no" at the lower level).
4. Go ahead and consider yourself a team in the meantime and meet to kick
elsewhere - a park for instance - on a regular basis.
5. The two selected to meet with school officials should talk about how to
approach them and be the ones to ask for a meeting. At the scheduled meeting it would be good for the discussion to include these factors:
 Be respectful
Prepare a short statement to give to the official telling why you want to have footbag kicking at school, the current obstacles, and explaining that kicking is a viable international sport.
Also give him/her a copy of all the things you printed for your team meeting in order to inform the official about the sport of footbag. Go over the materials briefly informing the person of key
points like: 1. mention the doctors quoted in the "Bloughchi- a Renaissance of Modern
Movement" research paper who write about the valuable eye-foot
coordination, cross-brain activity, and positive social
interaction footbag kicking creates; and the fact there is an online instruction book ("Footbag Dance") for beginners to read. Also say your team members are willing to abide by the Code of Conduct developed by Footbag.com.
Request a certain location for footbag kicking during certain times at your school (recess, lunch, after school?). Be prepared to describe the kind of location you need and have one in mind.
Agree to be a liaison with the school so if there are problems they know
who to contact to let the team know something is wrong and how to change it.
Ask for permission to invite others to join the team so that you don't
appear to be exclusive and show a willingness to provide some instruction by
at least having new members read "Footbag Dance" online for the basics in
footbag kicking. Put a notice in the school paper about the team and invite
others to join.
Request a decision about your plan of when and where to kick at school.
Remember hallways are not a good place unless an area is assigned to you.
In a quad or in a gym would be best. You can also kick on a tennis court or
basketball court but it is harder on the feet and if you fall the concrete
can hurt you. The key is to ask for a kicking location that is good for your team
and that is viable for them to approve.
Let them know that kicking is a great activity for rainy days in P.E.
and volunteer to assist the P.E. instructor to help with this if desired.
Footbag.com offers trainer discounts that include "Footbag Dance" and
footbags for clubs and schools if they want to take advantage of them. |
Note: It is possible you will not get a decision at that first meeting so be
patient and wait for one, but if you do not have one within about two weeks
request another meeting. If you feel stalemated or get a "no" then go to the
next official up the line of command. Always be respectful. While you are
waiting for permission to kick at school go ahead and meet as a team, with a name, in another location.
We are aware that lots of young people need to
know how to get permission to kick at school so we decided to give some direction. Anyone can buy the Trainer
Discount packages so if your team wants to do that to save money that's
fine. At the least read Footbag Dance" online.
GOOD LUCK AND KEEP KICKING!!
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