Freestyle Schools ?

[VRK]

this concept of freestyle schools is this right or wrong and is this a new thing or existing for some long time? what is the take of you guys on this? cuz i was really after this thing especially when i saw some russian freestylers uploading pics on FB naming 'My Freestyle School' also i saw artes' new vid. in the end he says if there is a fs school you should join it n stuff.
Is is right having a fs school and fs is kinda become a subject rather than an art or a sport? i know it helps beginners a lot having someone to make them learn things... but doesn't this underrates a guy who learned everything on his own without taking help or something from other guys?
Your views ? 

[redsforlife]

I'm pretty sure there is not such thing as a "freestyle school." There just isn't a market for that. Most parents will never be willing to pay money for their kid to learn just freestyle. Now, soccer schools/programs with emphasis on freestyle and street type soccer skills definitely exists. JK is doing it in Korea. I'm doing programs similar to this in the US. There are also several others throughout the world.

The fact is it is highly unlikely there will ever be a large enough demand for a freestyle school alone without the actual soccer influence as well. I personally have no problem with this. I enjoy both, and we will probably introduce more people to freestyle with the soccer schools with emphasis on great technical skills by training freestyle and streetsoccer stuff than only freestyle skills alone. In freestyle alone, you get many people with the idea, "I can't do this." With a soccer school that occasionally practices freestyle, you'll get people that realize they can learn it. They then can make there own freestyle.

The other reason I'd be against a "freestyle school" is I believe to keep it as freestyle, not doing specific tricks, you must learn things your own way to a point. You can be taught some things by people, but to truly be free with your style, you can't be taught everything by a coach. You already see a high amount of mechanical soccer players from coaches over coaching on how they should play. This will happen in freestyle as well. I'd rather people be given hints and find their own style.

[Christof]

If you see freestyle as a sport and your main goal is to become good, I don't see a reason why you shouldn't join a fs school. And the Russian attitude is the most extreme towards sport.

Personally I would not join and also not recommend a freestyle school, because that's not the point of freestyle for me. Getting a few tips like once in a while, that's ok, but I'd already feel like a robot if I were to execute Lehas tutorials step by step.

[Zarzi]

School freestyle is probably not a good idea. As mentioned Christof, giving directions and general assistance is fine, but not for a longer period of time.
Freestyle in my opinion is one of the most beautiful sports, life experiences, because through freestyle express yourself. You decide in which direction to go, how to play.
I think the support from other freestylers is good, but I doubt anyone pay for learning this game (I mean mainly parents).

[Knnthh]

There are two freestyle schools which I know off, the one from ARS and Leha in St Petersbourg and the one from Artes (and AnyOne?) in Moscow.
I think it's a good idea, they let people train on their own as I know and just help whenever they have a question. It's not like they force people to train something, they just help. Also, it gives the guys who joined the school a place to train, since they train in halls

@Noblet, the guys saying 'I can't do this' will reach nothing in freestyle anyway 

[Adi]

I think some parents can be won over.  The fact that freestyle is in demand and kids frequently get paid for commercials, live gigs, etc shows that there is a market and a potential career for it.  Heck, parents with money pay for all kinds of extracurricular activities in the US.  I know they would consider this if they kid really wanted to be part of something like it.

[L_I_S]

Although right now I can't see it being profitable in most countries, people will pay for anything once it's well-known. If the added benefit is health, people are even more likely to pay for it. Can you imagine if you could gain belts every time you were considered a new level
As others have said, if people think it can be profitable they will see it more as an investment.

[redsforlife]

It's already very profitable in the mixed soccer/freestyle style. I make a living doing it right now. Hell, 90% of my team's practice today was kind of freestyle. My practice pretty much was having them learn to juggle with all surfaces of their bodies. Most of which are extremely practical for football, but I also did some almost strictly freestyle juggles like shins, back, and soles. They love it, and they learn. I just think convincing people for freestyle alone is kind of difficult right now. I also just think the majority of people will go for the soccer and freestyle school over just freestyle. It's kind of the best of both worlds.

Knnth- Do Ars and Leha have schools or are they giving private lessons? There is a big difference. A school must have a location and curriculum. Just giving private lessons doesn't make you have a school.

90% of peoples first reaction to freestyle is they can't believe it's possible. Encouraging them in way to learn can change that opinion. Some people can do it alone, but not everyone. I've taught far too many people basic freestyle tricks to think otherwise. Just nudging them in the right direction will open up many possibilities.

[VRK]

does anyone knows what those schools offer? i mean whats the routine of freestylers and are they told to do something in a specific way or are they given their own liberty to do things on their terms and their way and not having a kinda time table like you gotta train this thing from one point of time to the other etc. etc.
and talking about parents allowing or not allowing their kids to join these fs schools yes it's possible for rich parents who are willing to pay for their extra curricular activities like adi said... but don't you think that the spirit of freestyle would be dead   ?

Personally I would not join and also not recommend a freestyle school, because that's not the point of freestyle for me. Getting a few tips like once in a while, that's ok, but I'd already feel like a robot if I were to execute Lehas tutorials step by step.
exactly what i wanted to say.

[L_I_S]

lol I can just imagine the schools curriculum and when it comes to block or footbag moves all the hardcore lower guys sigh.
Tommy from Aus is currently doing private sessions, so there's a start for us. In my head I can think of a 6 month course 2-3 days a week for 2-3 hours. It would take a lot of planning though.

[VRK]

lol I can just imagine the schools curriculum and when it comes to block or footbag moves all the hardcore lower guys sigh.
Tommy from Aus is currently doing private sessions, so there's a start for us. In my head I can think of a 6 month course 2-3 days a week for 2-3 hours. It would take a lot of planning though.

really??? that's amazing 2-3 days a week i don't even think that would be possible schooling and stuff does not even leaves the room for guys to train for that long may be weekends could be an alternative. 

[L_I_S]

really??? that's amazing 2-3 days a week i don't even think that would be possible schooling and stuff does not even leaves the room for guys to train for that long may be weekends could be an alternative. 

Yea, really.
I said course as in after you finish your schooling you can do this. Even if it was for people in school, I remember a lot of kids that did football, tennis, basketball etc and they still had time for school..Why not freestyle?