Footbag Net
Footbag Net is a singles or doubles court game where players use only their feet (below knee) to kick the footbag over the net. The size of the court and the height of the net are the same as in badminton. The rules for doubles net are a lot like volleyball: players are allowed three kicks per side, and must alternate kicks. In singles, however, players are only allowed two kicks per side.
Playing strategy is much similar to beach volley. Offence is basically done by setting the bag up and hitting it down to opponents’ side. Good offensive players hit the bag hard while simultaneously directing it with good accuracy to an empty spot. Defence is done by either blocking opponents’ hits over the net or moving rapidly and “digging” the bag up and preparing for counter-attack. This all is done with feet only!
The best footbag net players are exceptional athletes. Playing on the highest level requires extreme body coordination, quickness, flexibility, endurance etc. And these are only the physical requirements. Also good game reading skills, mind control and focusing are extremely important qualities.
The 26th annual World Footbag Championships gather all the best players around the world together to compete for the world title. Finnish footbag net players challenge Emmanuel Bouchard from Montréal, Canada, who has won seven singles titles in a row, and the reigning doubles champions John Leys and Paul Lovern from California, USA.
For more information about footbag net visit: http://www.footbag.org/net.html.
