BTSF

[KILLERLEGS]

1. How did you get started playing, and how long have you been playing for?
I started in 1990 at school.

2. When and why did you get involved in the organisational side of the game?
I started to get involved in the organisational side of the game in 1991, while organizing tournaments in France, first locally and regionally, then on the national level in 1992 (president of French Federation in 2000) and on international level in 1998. I could see the problems linked to international organization of the game and its recognition by
national and international sports authorities. I knew someone would have to come forward and get fully involved in the the development of the various aspects of the game. At first I was like everybody else, waiting to see who would offer tackle that job, but after a while, when I realized nobody really wanted to do it, I decided to get more involved. The main goal then was to have table soccer taken seriously by players, fans, media, sports, authorities...

3. The ITSF has overseen amazing growth in the formalisation and organisation of tournaments into a global pyramid. What have been the key steps to doing this and what have been the biggest problems that you have faced in pushing through the required changes?
For an overview of these steps, please refer to the presentation of ITSF and table soccer which is to be found on our website:
http://www.table-soccer.org/itsf/documents/2007_ITSF_presentation.pdf
In fact, all the steps that have taken place are linked to each other, whether it be the introduction of the Women's, and then Junior and Senior categories in the World Rankings; or the first World Championships...
The evolution is ongoing. Biggest problems? probably trying to get people to understand that table soccer is a "normal" sport practised in a "normal" environment. It is very difficult to rally the right people to work and move things forward because often they don't believe in the potential of the sport. At the same time, we have to make sure we don't rush towards inaccessible goals. One thing at a time.

4. What are the biggest challenges facing the ITSF in the next year?
Future challenges: see p 6, 7 and 9 of the presentation document.
The biggest challenge is actually the development of our member federations; some of them work hard, others have a very long way to go in order to have a proper structure and truly represent table soccer in their countries.

5. A lot of people think the ITSF has the aim of getting table football into the Olympics, can you clarify what are the medium to long term aims of the ITSF?
Relationships with the Olympic Movement. No, we are not looking for table soccer to become an Olympic sport at the Olympic Games! Too many sports, with a much higher number of players and which are much more publicized than table soccer, are waiting for their turn to become an Olympic sport. Rather our aim is to be recognized by the International Olympic Committee. The IOC cannot be a governance body for ITSF, it is not an issue of control. But we can be partners. Being recognized by the IOC as a sport would help for the development of the game in each country. To get that recognition, several steps have to be taken as shown in the graph on page 7 of our presentation document. It will be a long road, ITSF and all federation will have to work hard for this.

6. The ITSF has been instrumental in bringing a convergence of different tables design, and the rules. Would you like to see complete uniformity, or do you see it beneficial to have a variety (much like tennis has different surfaces and football tournaments use balls from different manufacturers that have slightly different behaviour).

I know I feel slightly uncomfortable about exclusion of manufacturers who are not one of the 5 official tables. Can you clarify the ITSF position towards other manufacturers - how do you ensure that ITSF manages to be inclusive to other manufacturers, and ensure that the quality of
play possible is the key attribute to table selection rather than simply giving to the richest manufacturers?

Of course, having a single style of play and using only one table would make a lot of things easier! However that would mean a series of very lengthy alterations in the various playing styles and onthe different tables ; we are very far from that! If it ever happens, it won't be in the near future. Plus, it would not necessarily be in the best interest of the players worldwide. One of ITSF aims, as stated at the beginning of our Statutes is:

"to promote the development of table soccer throughout the world and to tighten the ties of friendship which unite players of all countries by setting up lasting relationships between the groups they represent and to nurture the improvement of our sport practise in every way"

This is very important. We have to make sure that the move towards a more homogeneous style of play doesn't go against this. It is a tight rope we are walking on: on the one hand, variety is important as it allows us to rally more and more players worldwide, even though we are well aware that still many people are unfortunately left behind. On the other hand, the limitation of the number of sanctioned tables has been instrumental to the development of the ITSF and the current organization of the ITSF Tour. Huge efforts were required to reach the current balance. Playing on 5 Official Tables is a major challenge for international players. As for the manufacturers of these 5 tables, they have worked a
lot towards making it possible for players to adapt their playing styles more easily from one table to the next. As you know, ITSF also sanctions another category of tables : Recognized Tables. These tables are sanctioned by ITSF for the practice of table soccer leading to major International competition. Whereas all event categories can be organized on Official Tables, Recognized Tables can be used only in Master Series and Pro Tour events. 2 tables have been granted ITSF sanctioning as Recognized Tables; there is room left for 3 more, as the maximum number allowed is 5 (same as for Official Tables). So there probably will be more Recognized Tables in the near future. Regarding the quality of ITSF sanctioned tables, 2 major elements have to be taken into
consideration:
1. the quality of the materials of course, as overseen by ITSF Technical Commission
2. the more subjective idea of quality, as seen by players who feel their home tables are necessarily the best ones, since they feel more comfortable playing on them, because that's what they are used to, etc. A player who's played 20 or 30 years on the same table will definitely find it hard to play on a new table, even if it's better quality.
Apart from these 2 aspects, ITSF also takes into consideration various criteria:

“the table company must be able to sell its tables worldwide.
It must respect its competitors, especially with regards to copyright.
It must also respect the ITSF Charter for the Environment and Human Rights ...”

Please note that the manufacturers who currently have their tables sanctioned by ITSF are not the biggest or richest table soccer companies; in fact many "richer" manufacturers are not ITSF partners. It is rather the ones making the tables that the players know the best who are currently
our partner manufacturers.

7. What development in the game that you have been involved in gives you the greatest pride?
It is nice when people get involved in the development aspect of our sport, when they don't just care about the game or their personal interest but instead are eager to help build the right kind of structures (national and international). These people are hard to come by to, especially the ones who not only want to help but are also able to help. Also, too often people might enjoy the idea of holding a position within an Executive Committee or any type of Commissions within a federation, but then they might not be ready to do the work it entails. The World Ranking is a good start. It sets some objective ways to measure the players' performances, although it is obvious that many players can not attend tournaments the same way others can, for financial reasons, lack of free time, etc... But at least it is a move in the right direction. Ranking (regional, national or international) have to give motivation to competition players to practise, to go to tournament and to do their best. This is not always the case...

8. What do you see the strengths and weaknesses of the British game and the BFA in particular are - what needs improvement? What are the key points of advice that you can give to the British players and organisers to help grow the game?

Of course the work of each national federation has a strong influence on the game itself. Each federation needs a strong team of people ready to move the development of the sport forward and fulfill their responsibilities.
That involves managing/organizing table soccer for all (amateurs, competitors, juniors, women...) on the whole national territory. Waiting for other people to do it just won't do. This is the hardest part because it involves work in various areas: administration; sports management; political issues (such as the relations with the National Olympic Committee and other sports authorities in the country); focusing on the needs of the players, manufacturers, distributors; etc. Every country is different so a real effort is needed to understand what the national federation can do to adapt as best as possible to the situation in the country, instead of following a pre-established plan that might work for one place but not for another. We had a meeting in London last January, with some members of your executive, you certainly saw that you have many options to develop table soccer in UK, it is just a question of making
choice and do the job.

9. Where do you think the UK lie in the overall world order? Do you think the UK game is developing as well as it is in other comparable countries, or is it in danger of being left behind? And finally, will we be seeing you in the UK for one of the ITSF ranking tournaments this year?

It is alway nice to meet representatives and players from national federations in their own countries and witness the work being done.
Sometimes the visit of ITSF representatives can also have an impact in terms of relations with the media or political figures. However, we get many requests of this kind, this is why we have to ensure that this type of trips are well prepared in order to really be useful for the national federation requesting it. About the BFA, I'll just mention a few points:
on the up side:
- great variety of players, who play on different types of tables
- good knowledge of the game itself, partly due to the fact that British players travel to other tournaments in Europe or elsewhere
- hence the high level of play of such players as Rob Atha and others...
on the down side:
- the BFA needs to be more structured, with a clear program including goals and deadlines, which would enable all players to know where the federation is at and where it is going to
- getting involved and making things happen is not an easy task but it has a snowball effect: more people then want to join in because they are aware that things are moving and they are in a better position to help when they see a group of strongly motivated people already at work. Then it is just a matter of moving one step at a time, keeping close to the reality, not making promises that can not be fulfilled. And of course, the ITSF is ready to help all its member federations do this kind of work.

Thank you Farid for taking the time to answer these queries.
It is notable from your point of view that the key impression is that the BFA needs organising in a more professional manner. I agree that this is the thing that most needs developing in the UK. I know I have strong feelings on that as well, although ultimately it actually comes down to a lack of time that people have to commit, and it is something that requires a change in attitude of everyone in the UK who aspires to play at the top level. Basically what it comes down to is that there is no point sitting there complaining about the BFA, and what they are/are not doing. It is down to everyone to put the effort in to help out, and help professionalise the sport. If not then the game in the UK will be left behind by the rest of the world just at the point that the international game is threatening to take off.
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