{"id":891,"date":"2019-08-21T20:54:28","date_gmt":"2019-08-21T20:54:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/foosballtips.com\/?p=891"},"modified":"2019-08-21T20:54:33","modified_gmt":"2019-08-21T20:54:33","slug":"become-a-professional-foosball-player","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/foosballtips.com\/become-a-professional-foosball-player\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Become a Professional Foosball Player: Step-by-Step"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Foosball has a unique reputation. Many consider it to be simply a tabletop game that can be played by anyone and is simple enough to not qualify as a sport, but there is another segment of the public that considers foosball to be a sport in every sense and they are serious about it in ways more than one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Every foosball enthusiast may have considered the idea of becoming a professional foosball player at least once. However, given the controversial nature of the sport, it continues to remain an active topic of debate regarding whether it\u2019s a sport or just a game. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Given the fact that there is an international organization known as the International Table Soccer Federation or ITSF organizing competitive tournaments on foosball across the world, it is no doubt that foosball is an actual sport that requires training and dedication to master. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the same time, there are individuals who just eat, sleep, and play foosball (or teach the sport to others) and do absolutely nothing else. So, yes, it is possible to be a professional foosball player, but the road to achieving that level of skill in the sport is a long and difficult one (much like in any other case). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
There may be many individuals such as yourself who may have wished to try their hands at mastering foosball enough so as to play on a competitive level but lacked the direction or pointers to do so. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hence, in this article, you shall find in-depth instruction on how to become a professional foosball player: step-by-step. But first, let\u2019s make a note of the equipment needed before we begin training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although this is a no-brainer, it is understood that when you are embarking on your journey to become a professional foosball player, you need lots of practice. This practice may well extend to more than 1-2 hours every day for at least 3-4 days a week; you can utilize the remaining time to rest and work on your strategies or simply play casual matches with your friends. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, practice is one element that you cannot go without. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
And for practice, you need the essential foosball equipment which includes a foosball table, foosball rods, the ball itself, the foosball men, and finally, the cleaning supplies for the table, the rods, and the ball. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you are extremely serious about foosball as a game, you might consider buying a foosball table that is at par with the standards of tables used and approved by the ITSF. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Similarly, the same principle must be followed with the balls and the foosball rods. You should consider investing in a good brand foosball table that is ITSF approved because if you want to become a professional foosball player, you need to start playing on the same kind of foosball tables that are used by the players and the parties in the tournament. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some of the best brands of foosball tables that you can buy either online or from your leading sports equipment retails are given below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. Tornado <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tornado is the leading brand when it comes to the manufacture of foosball tables. The company has been there for a long time now and their foosball tables are made from the highest quality solid wood and quality raw materials that ensure the longest durability and therefore last the longest. The International Table Soccer Federation has officially approved Tornado tables year-after-year. If you do not have budget constraints, you should certainly go for this brand of tables.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. Shelti<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After Tornado, Shelti foosball tables are the next biggest brand that is known to have been operating in this space for a substantial period of time. Their cabinet-based foosball tables are known for their quality and durability. You can choose their tables as well, and you will not be disappointed. There isn\u2019t a world of difference between Shelti and Tornado, so you can just choose the table that fits your budget.
As for the foosball rods, you can choose telescopic ones as they are the ones used in the tournaments. When it comes to the ball, you can go for a cork or textured ball depending on whether you want a fast-paced or a slower, relaxing game. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before we proceed any further on this journey of you becoming a professional foosball player or even starting out on the same, one question you must ask yourself is: why? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why do you wish to become a professional foosball player? What appeals to you the most?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Is it the money they make? Is it the popularity they receive? Perhaps the respect they receive from the juniors in the sport? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Whatever it may be, but you need to be honest and clear with yourself. For once, foosball has a peculiar reputation indeed in the sense that it is perceived by the audience or the public to be a far too simple\u2019 activity as it involves very little motion of the body except for the torso and hands.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Moreover, in contrast to sports like soccer where several players run around a huge field behind a ball, foosball certainly appears to be far less challenging and relatively less intimidating for someone who has never tried it before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, every sport requires serious dedication and foosball isn\u2019t an exception. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, if you want to become a professional foosball player for the sake of money, then it\u2019s worth mentioning that foosball isn\u2019t a highly paid sport compared to others like soccer or basketball. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
While professional foosball players can make anywhere between $39,000 \u2013 $135,000+ per year, their earnings wildly vary with their level of skill at the game.
So, if money is what you are after, you should try doing something you are already good at, because that way, you will save the months and years of your time that you would have otherwise spent training to play foosball at the competitive level. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If it is the fame or popularity that interests you, then you must know that in this internet era, it is possible for anyone to become popular by showcasing their talent on social media platforms such as YouTube and Instagram. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If we are being honest, the only way you can ensure discipline and consistency in your plan and journey to become a professional foosball player is when you wish to play the game at a professional level simply because you love the game itself and nothing else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, if you happen to be someone who wants to play foosball professionally for their love of the sport, read on!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When you start any new activity with an aim or objective to get better at it over time or derive something of value (mostly money), you will have expectations from yourself as well as from the activity that you are taking part in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Humans are motivated by rewards as it is the sole reason they strive to do or try anything at all, so you and I are hardwired to think that way. No action can be executed without some hope or expectation of a desirable result in mind no matter whether that is about learning a language, starting a business, taking an educational course, learning a new skill, or trying to master a sport. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Similar to any other endeavor that you engage yourself in, it is likely that when you start your journey to becoming a professional foosball player, you will have several expectations \u2013 both from yourself as well as from foosball as a sport. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unfortunately, quite often, you might end up setting unrealistic expectations either from yourself or the activity you are practicing, and when you do not see the results as quickly as you had hoped you would, the natural reaction would be an utter disappointment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
How many times has it so happened that you planned to learn a new language or a new programming skill but found it to be excruciatingly difficult at some point and lost interest? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Well, there is a fair chance that something like this may have happened to the best of us, right?
So, what is the key to ensuring consistency in your activities? Realistic expectations, of course.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Instead of having over-the-top optimistic expectations of the results, you need to be more practical and think logically about what you can expect in return for your efforts. This reasoning is applicable to any activity whether that be a sport or skill, and in our case where we are trying to become a professional foosball player, it is relevant as well.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hence, it is necessary to know what to expect when you are starting out to become a pro foosball player and set realistic expectations. Some of the areas you may need to consider are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The average monthly and yearly incomes of professional foosball players \u2013 the figures you find on the internet are what those individuals earn after years of practice. You must not expect to make as much as them when you are just starting out, because it does not make sense logically. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, you must note that there are multiple ways for professional foosball players to make money; this includes: starting your online foosball training courses, writing books that serve as guides for beginners wanting to learn the game, or joining a club as a foosball coach and helping young talent develop their skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Additionally, the most successful foosball players on the competitive level are also paid money from the sponsors to highlight their brand and market the same. Sponsorship money could be anywhere between a few thousands of USD per year to several thousand per month depending on the popularity of the player and the marketing budget of the company offering the sponsorship. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Therefore, if you can just focus on becoming an accomplished foosball player, you can rest assured that money and riches shall come your way automatically. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A number of hours to practice daily \u2013 it is not uncommon to view professional foosball matches online (or in-person) to see them get over quickly and think that you don\u2019t need to practice hard or long enough for this. However, make no mistake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Professional foosball players do not consider the sport as their job or hobby or interest, because for them it is their lifestyle. Pro foosball players live to play foosball and get better at it. So, the performances you see in the tournaments are the result of months and years of practice. If you want to play foosball at a professional or competitive level, you have to give it as much time as you would give your 9-to-5 job. If you end up treating your foosball like your hobby, you shall remain an amateur for life; serious sports demand serious dedication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Achieving game mastery \u2013 may be the last time you saw a professional foosball player beat their opponent in a blazing fast manner, you were left dumbstruck by their skill and talent? Perhaps you too would like to build skills at their level and (hopefully) replicate such amazing feats of skill and finesse someday on the foosball table? Well, given enough time, you certainly will.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, you need to give yourself time to reach that level of skill. The professional foosball players you see in the tournaments have been practicing the sport for years possibly and that too with utmost dedication. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Additionally, you need to enroll yourself in some moderate-intensity physical training classes. While foosball may not seem physically demanding, you need to build arm and wrist strength to ensure that you can hit the ball hard and advance it towards the opponent\u2019s goalpost. Incorporate some form of cardio into your workout regime too, because competitive foosball can be intense when it comes to tournament settings, and you can even burn about 250 \u2013 300 calories per hour of intense foosball matches. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you are hoping to see significant progress within 1-2 months of your starting out, prepare to be disappointed. Foosball is a difficult sport and hence demands a considerable amount of time to achieve its mastery.
Therefore, it is necessary that you set realistic expectations about foosball and ideally write them down somewhere you will easily see every day so as to not stray away from your goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you wish to become a professional foosball player, you must acknowledge that the road to doing so is not easy in any case or manner. Not only it is a difficult task, but it also takes time for anyone to build a strong set of skills that can help you with playing foosball competitively. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
As we said earlier, becoming a competitive foosball player isn\u2019t easy, and you will be facing several challenges while you try or attempt doing so. Whenever facing anything that is new or unknown, the best thing you can do is to be prepared for what comes next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In other words, you need to plan what you would consider doing in case your dream to become a professional foosball player does not pan out well. We suggested this as the third step right after asking you to be realistic with your goals and expectations because if you are being realistic about your dream or ambition of becoming a professional player, you must have realized that you need to be realistic about it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
There is always a chance that it would perhaps take longer than you imagined for getting to the point you always wanted to. In this case, try to determine the number of hours that you can give to foosball practice every day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
For example, if you are still studying in school or university, you might have more amount of time in hands compared to when or if you are already working at a 9-to-5 job, for instance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Try to understand what foosball demands from you. One element of the sport is a regular practice, but how you manage to fit the same into your schedule is completely up to you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s worth noting that those days, most universities and offices have a foosball table to complement their recreational area, so you can practice there with a buddy to ensure that you are not left without practice completely.
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Most importantly, you need to keep the second option in mind that you can turn to in case at some point or any point you feel that the decision of yours to become a competitive or professional foosball player was not the brightest one, you always have some other profession to turn to and continue your living.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We would advise our younger readers who are still yet to graduate to not sacrifice their academics for the sake of foosball no matter how much they may enjoy the game, but at the end of the day, they need to graduate and get their degrees. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
For everyone else, ensure that you have a backup option in case you feel like backing out of your professional foosball player goal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We would like to highlight that backing out from a goal isn\u2019t something bad. After all, it\u2019s only reasonable to understand that some other option might be way more suitable for us than foosball as a career option. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Still with us? Alright, let\u2019s move to the next point! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Playing foosball professionally isn\u2019t possible unless you know the rules set by the International Table Soccer Federation (ITSF) like the back of your hand. Unlike casual foosball matches where almost like spinning the rods to shaking or jarring the table is applicable, international tournaments are quite strict and particular about what they permit and what they object. <\/p>\n\n\n\n