Specifically, How Does Bloughchitm differ from
Hacky Sack, the Style John Stalberger Teaches? Mr. Stalberger introduced
footbag hacky sack as a front oriented game using the 180 frontal peripheral
boundary. This was done by teaching the front kick as the major kick. The
front kick is an inward, upward motion of the kicking foot. This kick was
stressed to facilitate the playing of the Footbag Net game because it is used
extensively during serves, returns, and sets. In Footbag Net games the kicker
always chases the footbag trying not to let it get beyond the 180° frontal
peripheral boundary. The inside kick is one of the major kicks and is usually
the first kick learned..the outside kick is another major kick and generally the
second kick to be learned...the back kick is the third of the major kicks
learned. (Footbag, an Instructional Handbook, pp. 9-12).
Bloughchitm focuses on the footbag after it has
passed the frontal peripheral boundary, thus opening up the rear peripheral
boundary. The kicker learns to think in a 360° way by developing the rear
peripheral stretches and eye-foot coordination required to successfully return
passes from the rear. This enables the child to develop keenness for movement
in a full circle (360°) around his or her self. The kicks learned to reach
and return a footbag in the rear peripheral boundary become conditioned
responses/thought. The eye becomes sharp, the feet and legs become strong, the
mind is opened up for the neuron journey which creates new brain passageways.
Simply speaking, developing the front kick first, and then teaching a front
oriented game in which to use it, and only minimally stressing any kind of back
kick reduces the amount to be learned and gained by footbag play.
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A limitation was introduced early in the sport's development which is not
necessary and actually adversely affects the player's development in that during
competitive excitement he/she will become entrenched into the front direction
and front motion play with little attention to the rear boundary or the
stretches required to address it. This limits action, inhibits growth in the
skill, and actually limits neurological growth along with the social limitation
which competition encourages.
Bloughchi tm has been developed to overcome all
of these initial limitations which were introduced and concluded in the game of
Footbag Net, opening up a whole new world for footbag play. Additionally, the
side kick (taught second in the closed style created for Footbag Net) is
actually a much more balanced and physically more beneficial to kick to players
because it builds strength in the knee muscles, tendons and ligaments enhancing
the individual as an athlete. The inside kick actually produces the wrong type
of strengthening. The knee becomes limited and awkward. "Strength,
endurance, and ability develop only as a response to the body to demands made
upon it. One of the true marvels of the human machine is its adaptability and
nowhere is this more evident than in the muscle system. Apply stress regularly,
and the muscles respond by an increase in size, strength or endurance. (The
Parent Book of Physical Fitness, Martin L. Lorin).
"Contemporary games our society needs to focus on are the creation of
more diversity and value in the games it teaches. The enjoyment of playing is
more important to children than the satisfaction of winning...play helps
children learn about their world and serves as a training ground for skill
development. Play also continues to serve as a training ground for social
behavior and personality characteristics that will be important in adulthood.
Children's games allow them to acquire mental, social and physical skills."
(A Survival Guide for Parents, PP 11 & 27). This same source goes on to
declare that as children mature, they gain more and more information from their
experiences. Further, that for children two types of information apply to self
concept and self esteem development: how significant people in their lives
respond to them and how they compare to other children. Also, that the way any
experience affects a child's self concept depends on several factors including
existing self concept and the importance of the activity.
Sport experiences have a profound affect on children and non-competitive
learning is an important tool in the development of contemporary children.
Bloughchitm gives the child, or adult, an excellent
start in the world of sports, exercise and building of self esteem, and social
etiquette. What Bloughchitm teaches one never
forgets. Bloughchitm is like riding a bike -- once
the basic skills are learned, the activity can be dropped, even for years, and
easily picked up again at the old skill, and often at an even better skill,
level. The increased skill level appears to be a side product from other
activities which relate to the same brain pathways which increase the ability to
play this style of footbag. In short, Bloughchitm
provides a positive tool for lifelong sport as well as the hidden benefits
associated with positive social activity that accomplishes self-esteem building
in an inexpensive activity.
