Foosball kicks into a higher gear

"Today, things are on the upswing," says Jim Stevens, the undisputed king of foosball commentary. The latest resurgence began with the formation of the International Table Soccer Federation (ITSF), a France-based organization that wants to get foosball recognized as an Olympic sport. The ITSF instilled discipline among players and promoters worldwide, forcing them to create federations and deploy ranking systems. In four years, ITSF spawned a dramatic rise in the number of participating countries and international tournaments (56 are planned for 2007, up from 33 in 2006, and just 12 in 2005). In 2006, it organized a World Cup to coincide with soccer's World Cup in Germany, and also hosted its fourth world championship finals in Italy.

"One of our concerns is not to fall victim to the rapid evolution and success of the ITSF," says Farid Lounas, ITSF president, in an e-mail. "Things are moving very fast, and ITSF is expected to do a lot."

The shrinking of the foosball world, complete with unifying styles (most international tournaments are played on five specified types of tables) is helping the game come back, Mr. Stevens says, even though many still view it as a joke – "that dorm room sport I used to play."

To Stevens, foosball is more like an incredibly fast chess game, with large egos and nail-biting finishes. A former player, Stevens now makes a living from selling DVDs of major tournaments through Inside Foos, the company he runs. For the USA v. France game at the World Cup, with 15,000 people in the stands, Stevens did continuous play-by-play for four hours, an "amazing experience."

That's the thing – if foosball hooks you, you're in it for the long haul, he adds.

"On a small little table, there are no limits to what you can do," says Mr. Davis of the US Table Soccer Federation. If you watch pro-foosball videos online (try YouTube), you will notice the pros are very good.

"You may be the best in your bar, but you might run into trouble when you play in a tournament," Davis says, laughing.

The game is so fast, you don't see the ball move, which some say is the main reason you don't see it played on ESPN. There are amazing trick shots, strategy plays, and mind games. Played by the best, foosball looks as intense as any sport.

But if it's really serious about becoming one, it has to resolve an issue more pressing than prize money: player development.

"It has to start with the kids," says Brandon Moreland of Minneapolis, one of the rising stars of the game, in an e-mail. "Going for an older population of foosball players is pointless. Kids are easily addicted to competitive games, and parents usually shell out for their children's interest."

Replenishing the rosters is a challenge – especially given its "bar game" label. Champion says he hopes to persuade some of the better players to give clinics to children at YMCAs and other organizations, but that task won't be easy.

"The older players are always a little reluctant to let you into their space," Mr. Moreland says. "If you take a spot in the top 20, then that means someone has to be pushed out. Not that they would be mean to you on or off the table, they just don't think you deserve to be on the table with them."

Moreland didn't view this attitude as a put-down, taking it as a challenge. He stuck with the game, he says, because foosball offers the "chance to become the best in the world at something."

"It's not something lucky, boring, or dangerous," Moreland says. "It is extremely skilled and takes tons of discipline and creativity to reach the top."

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