July 1, 2008 News Update:

This is a "quick" update to all concerned regarding a few (but not all)
currently important issues pertaining to our sport.

First, with IFP in a transition state from Tornado to Warrior, the process for
Warrior to gain "recognized" status from ITSF for the new table is one that
will take some time. As most players know, the immediate result is that KY
State and LA State cannot be ITSF point-value events since they are to be held
on Warrior before official ITSF recognition can be granted. Per Brendan
Flaherty, Warrior will pursue active engagement with USTSF and ITSF, it's just
that the timelines between production, tournament dates, the formal USTSF
equipment evaluation process and subsequent ITSF approval were too condensed
to allow Mary to do an effective job of advertising the results. (Note: USTSF
qualification of U.S. Junior National Champions in singles and doubles will
still take place at KY State as advertised all year. Of additional important
note and just like last year, first in Junior Singles at Tornado Worlds wins an
automatic airfare to the ITSF World Championship Finals as do the first three
places in Open Singles and first place in Women's Singles (courtesy of ITSF).
And again like last year, Tornado Worlds is also the U.S. National Champions
qualifier for Senior Doubles and Singles. Details on how to qualify and what
levels of sponsorship for winners of each category may be found on the USTSF
website.)

As a direct result, the 2008 USTSF/ITSF calendar now needs two more tournaments
to be ITSF points-race qualifiers in place of KY State (ITSF Master Series) and
LA State (ITSF Pro Tour Series). Joe Koonce has stepped up to add the Bart
O'Hearn tournament as a Pro Tour Series points value event in place of LA
State, and hopefully that will be approved by the ITSF Executive Commission by
Friday. But in order to ensure that the USA's top players have every
opportunity to qualify to compete in the ITSF World Championship Finals, we now
need at least one other promoter to commit their tournament to being part of
the ITSF World Tour and points race at the Master Series level. Both Loyd
Mandel and Mury Johnson did so last year, but anyone holding a state or
regional championships ending before November 3rd may submit their requests to
USTSF. Please see the USTSF website for benefits to promoters who participate,
or email me directly and I'll fill you in.

ITSF World Championship Finals: There has been a rumor circulating that ITSF
has cancelled their World Championships. This is entirely untrue. As posted
on the ITSF website since last December, due to the addition of more events and
many more participants at the ITSF Worlds in St. Vincent, Italy each year since
2003, ITSF is now actively looking to find a larger, less costly, and more
media-accessible location to hold the event. In connection with that
objective, ITSF has also realigned its tour calendar to match the calendar
year. As many may have heard, it has been problematic to hold the ITSF Worlds
at the end of October when the last of their points-race events was held in
early October, since there left no time for final points submission and
calculation in order to announce who the actual points-race winners/Worlds
qualifiers are -- and then still have any chance for them to obtain passports
(currently taking up to 90 days), make international travel arrangements and
find a hotel room in tiny St. Vincent. Realignment to the calendar year also
permits easier understanding/synchronization of age cut-offs for junior and
senior qualification categories.

Here is the status of both parts of this:
a) While ITSF has been looking for the ideal location across all of Europe and
has extended invitations/bidding to interested parties around the world, as a
matter of expediency and cost savings ITSF will probably hold the upcoming ITSF
World Championship Finals in it's home town of Nantes, France. As of this
writing (7/1/08) this has not been formally confirmed by ITSF, as they are
still taking bids and undergoing related negotiations but due to time
constraints it is the most likely scenario for this year's season finale, and
this should only be for the one year (Japan's federation has been courting
sponsors for future years, for example, as has the UAE federation). Certainly,
the venue high in the Italian Alps was unique, but is no longer in any way
practical, especially considering ITSF's rate of growth.
b) The adjustment to align the ITSF competition season with the calendar year
means that ITSF tournaments that will count towards the points race and trips
to the ITSF World Championships Finals shall be extended through the end of
October, with the World Championships Finals now to occur annually somewhere
mid-way between IFP's Tour Kickoff in January and USTSA's Hall of Fame Classic
in mid/late March -- somewhere around late February. This allows the most
planning time for this and every year's participants, allows participants to
travel at a time of year that air and hotels cost lower than any other, and
provides for the least amount of schedule interference with top tournaments
worldwide. As such, the ITSF Worlds usually held at the end of October/first
week of November in each year's season will -- from now on -- be early 2009,
early 2010, etc. (This also finally resolves a 5-year end-of-October direct
scheduling conflict the ITSF Worlds has had with one of the largest and most
popular tournaments in Europe, the P4P German Championships.)

Next: ITSF continues to make significant inroads towards "recognized" status
for the sport of table soccer with the International Olympic Committee and
several Olympic affiliated sports organizations that are preliminary to IOC
recognition. This year ITSF had another favorable progress report from the
IOC, although there remain a number of compliance recommendations made that
ITSF will still have to address (organizational structure, member federation
documentation, etc). It's really been quite interesting to follow. Keep your
eye on the ITSF website under news, press and monthly newsletter for updates.

Here in the USA, the USTSF is now assembling its 5-year progress report to the
U.S. Olympic Committee. The original package submission by Kathy Brainard was
some 100 pages of forms and supporting documents; I expect to we'll produce a
similar volume for this submission as well. Among the most important parts of
this package, USTSF needs to formalize/solidify our organizational structure
and map out (then publicize and implement) our specific goals a lot better. To
this end, USTSF has been undergoing substantial revision and/or expansion of
our organizational documentation (over and above "by-laws" and which will also
include clarification on how voting by our new State and Regional directors,
etc. will be done on USTSF matters) and all of which will very soon be
published on the USTSF website (in August). We have submitted additional
filings to the government regarding our non-profit and tax status, the results
of which will hopefully allow USTSF to expand and yes, finally implement its
player base development concepts via both grass roots and corporate level
participation and bringing the game back to the every day player.

As prelude to that, USTSF has this year commenced the new State and Regional
Directors program, designed to begin to bring greater focus to USTSF on local
promotions, communications, core players and player base building. Kathy
Brainard has initiated the lead on this, and she has probably contacted all
recipients of this email about it at least once. We will soon be putting out a
survey seeking ideas and input into our processes, services and local
promotional opportunities that USTSF and area directors can work together on.
In the area of better defining USTSF's business and marketing of the sport to
the public and/or potential corporate sponsors, I would like to ask for
volunteers -- specifically to help draft & refine a five-year business plan to
include a marketing plan and budget alternatives that would result from the
marketing concepts we have in mind. Anyone having excellent
skills/success/experience in building such plans, please contact me by email:
larry.davis@ustsf.foosball.com.

We've also established or hope to build on three new community
involvement/player base building programs: Tables for Kids, Tables for Troops
and Wounded Warriors. As kick-off to the new Tables for Troops program, we are
currently arranging to send a Tornado T-2000 table to a forward-based Army unit
in Iraq that has specifically requested a Tornado table to help relieve the
stress of very arduous, dangerous daily patrols. (See the inquiry letter
below, which in my view provides ample justification to get a table to these
troops right away.) USTSF has established a contact at Ft. Campbell that can
ensure the table is delivered -- now we just need donations from those
interested in supporting such a unique cause. (We also have a forward-based
unit in Afghanistan that will take a table as well!) We next have the Morale,
Welfare & Recreation office at Walter Reed interested in our supporting
therapeutic/fun tournaments there, and we have a building list of Boys and
Girls Clubs seeking durable tables (most would take any table, but a few have
specifically asked for Tornado!). As this message is directed to a good number
of top players, promoters, our State and Regional Directors and a number of
other interested parties, my hope is that a number of you will see fit to
personally donate any amount to any or all of these programs via USTSF, and to
help us to pass news of these valuable programs to the foosball public at
large. Donations may be made via PAYPAL on the USTSF website, or USTSF's
mailing address is: USTSF, P.O. Box 14455, Washington, DC 20044.

Last, we continue to seek business sponsors first for the U.S. National Junior
Champions, then the Women's Champions, and finally the Men's Open Doubles
Champions to represent the USA at the ITSF World Finals. Juniors are the first
priority (to include at least one chaperone), and women are next, as these two
categories are important, yet long neglected player base categories in need of
development, if not inspiration to play at all. Since the ITSF Worlds are to
be approximately three months later than in previous years, we do have a little
extra time towards those fundraising objectives, which means I may not have to
pay so much of the $3-5,000 out of my own pocket that I have the last three
years and instead we can work together to gain proper business sponsors. The
key is that we always should be having business sponsorship participation for
this type of activity, rather than individuals donating. So again, readers
of this message are encouraged to refer interested businesses our way at any
time...

Players: Please note that just as in previous years, USTSF cannot guarantee
sponsorship of airfares or any other portion of expenses for U.S. National
Champions seeking to compete at the ITSF World Championship Finals (even if I
continue to pitch in from my own funds). Rather this is something the USTSF
would like to be able to do as a service to the USA players -- if sponsorship
funds can be obtained. In accordance with our position as a national governing
body for the sport and per USOC, IOC and ITSF, USTSF is obligated to make it
possible for USA players to qualify to attend international competitions such
as the World Finals by sanctioning points rated tournaments, etc., but it is
also important to note that USTSF does not use our "normal" USTSF funds
(donations etc) to send USA players "on vacations" unless the sponsors or
donors have specified as such.

Having said that, I'll additionally be commencing a long-awaited fundraising
drive on Ebay, selling a number of foosball collectibles out of my personal
collection (and several donated memorabilia items) beginning the week after CO
State. Sorry for taking so long to get this together, as a number of you have
been anxious to bid on a few of the rare items I'll be listing throughout the
months of July and August. I should say in advance about it, that of the above
programs (Tables for Troops, etc.) and the National Champions sponsorships,
that all memorabilia auction winners may choose which of these they want their
funds to go towards.

So, I think that's enough for a "quick" update! I hope to see a few of
you at CO State, VA State, KY State, & Tornado Worlds. As usual, there will be
open USTSF Q&A meetings at KY State and Tornado Worlds, where players and
promoters can contribute ideas and/or volunteer to help implement the many
things that need to be done. And there will be State Directors meetings at
both CO State and KY State, and a State Directors/General Assembly meeting at
Tornado Worlds -- plenty of opportunity for everyone to participate in the
processes and/or provide feedback. Certainly, those receiving this email know
that none of what can make foosball grow can or will happen by itself -- it
takes those willing to take the great ideas & plans for actual action, rather
than those who stand on the sidelines espousing criticism, apathy and
negativity. Remembering what I am known to say from time to time, "Ask not
what the sport of Foosball can do for you; ask what you can do for the sport of
Foosball."

P.S. Don't forget about CO State (Tornado) this weekend, and the VA State
(Bonzini) on July 18-20 -- both ITSF Pro Tour Series points race events!


Very respectfully submitted,
Larry Davis, President/Executive Director
United States Table Soccer Federation
larry.davis@ustsf.foosball.com
www.ustsf.org


TABLES FOR TROOPS INQUIRY FROM IRAQ:

To: larry.davis@ustsf.foosball.com,

"We are the Soldiers of Alpha Company Two Five O' Two in the most historic
military division in the United States, the Hundred and First Airborne Division
Air Assault. We are a company of 120 Soldiers currently serving in Iraq in the
Global War on Terrorism. Our area of responsibility is arguably the most
important sector in all of Iraq - Iskandariyah. This area is south of Baghdad
and consists of a fault line between Shia and Sunni extremists. We combat, on
a daily basis, the current civil war and work to rebuild a nation in need.

Our company has been pushed forward of all main logistical support. This is
where you come in. Right now we Infantrymen receive logistical resupply
operations three times a month consisting of food, water, and sandbags. There
is no running water for showers or sinks. Actually we have the opportunity to
shower twice a month. But guess what? None of this bothers us. We are a band
of brothers enjoying the hardships of combat together. A shower every-now-and-
again is all we really need.

We have occupied a two-story building. This building is inhabited by both
American Soldiers and Iraqi Police. Each room in this building is packed with
bunk beds, cots, duffle bags, and military equipment. All rooms . . . with the
exception of one. This small, lonely room has an empty feeling to it. It is
missing one very important feature. A foosball table!

The love we share for the game of foosball is another way we all connect.
Without this foosball table we will remain isolated to the mere discussions of
such a game without being able to physically enjoy the fun. Without a foosball
table our morale will continually lower, knowing that every week that goes by
we miss an opportunity to have fun. On the other hand, with a foosball table
we will be able to decompress after combat missions. We will be able to
temporarily forget about the dangerous environment we exist in. Most
importantly, we will have some fun.

Your contribution is simple: one standard tournament level soccer table
according to the International Table Soccer Federation and 20 foosballs. We
all know that this is an inexpensive contribution that will produce great
happiness. Therefore, you have no excuse! As USTSF President Laurence M.
Davis once said, "Ask not what the sport of foosball can do for you; ask what
you can do for the sport of foosball." Rest assured that your contribution
will be remembered as one of the positive highlights of this deployment for the
Soldiers of A/2-502 Infantry Regiment.

Sincerely,

Gabriel R. Bowns
1LT, IN A/2-502 IN REGT

P.S. My promise to you is a positive campaign for your business and products to
include photos of our Soldiers enjoying your equipment e-mailed back to you.
The story and photos will make for great advertisement when posted. Thanks for
your time."

---------------------------------------------------------------------