People deal with stress in different ways: some vent, some make a soothing cup of tea, while others just go for a drive.
Here at Flow Communications, we play foosball (also known to some as table soccer).
Foosball has become an integral part of Flow's culture
The foosball table in our Jo’burg office – kindly given to us by Etana Insurance as a Christmas present last year – is fondly known as the “foozie table” and it’s where we go to unwind.
Foosball is a table sport loosely based on association football.
When the foosball table first came to Flow, it was embraced by some, while others thought it would take a long time for them to learn how to play.
Over time it has proven more than a fun way to unwind – it’s also where Flow foosball terminology has developed into an art form.
If you don’t score any goals we call that a “white wash”. If you score just one goal or two, that’s a “blue wash.” If you miss a ball while playing, that’s a “freshie”.
The foozie table has also inspired Flow staff nicknames such as “Wrists” and the “Williams sisters” (Tara Turkington and Tiffany Turkington-Palmer (Flow’s CEO and MD, who often partner one another). We also have “T and T” (Tara and Journalist Itumeleng (Tumi) Makgobathe).
Speaking about the foozie table, Tumi says, “The adrenaline rush it gives me is inexplicable. The table is about socialising and unwinding, releasing some steam and forgetting your stresses for a few minutes; it’s a uniting force – though can sometimes be a dividing force if you are on the losing team.”
Flow’s undisputed foozie champ is Graphic Designer Ryan Levenson, a mean defender who is skilled at scoring goals all the way from the opposite posts.
Asked how he does it, Ryan says, “Winning a foosball match has nothing to do with skill or talent – distracting your opposition with embarrassingly female shrieks seems to work the best!
“Apparently laughing reduces co-ordination,” he adds.
Often, when people come for interviews to join our growing team, they’re asked to demonstrate their foosball skills (or lack thereof), as part of the interview. Says Flow’s CEO Tara Turkington: “Getting potential new staff to play a game of foosball is a great way to see how they relate in a group, how they respond under pressure, and of course how competitive they are. And if they really thump everyone, they’re pretty much assured of a job, of course!”
Tumi concludes, “It’s great fun for everyone who is a regular at the table. My feet are bad at playing soccer, but my hands are starting to master it through the table.”
Comments
1
2
Thanks Chris, may do a blog on that.
Now you are giving me ideas,(jokes)
Soon we will have a Flow Foozie tournament.
Watch this space!
Awesome blog Milli. So glad you didn’t explore the worst foozie players in the company, for my name would surely have been right up there!