What is the best way to bring out smash players who have never tried competitively?

[Morphine]

I live in a very small state which, as surprising as it sounds, is proving very hard to spread the competitive smash gospel to its unknown believers. I KNOW they are out there as I've heard of groups yet attempts at reaching out to these groups has always been met with unequal amounts of effort. What is the best way to reach out to these players who may not even be playing the game but would instantly fall back in love with the game they spent countless hours on as teenagers?

 

[-Ran]

Amateur only events where good players from the community are not allowed to play in. Add a venue fee that supplies some pizza, and make sure your local competitive scene comes out. Show the fun of the game, and then you'll find a few players that are going to want to become better.

 

[Fuujin]

Tell everyone to go easy on the noobs.

If you go hard they will be crushed and not want to come back.

 

[ZelDan]

Amateur only events where good players from the community are not allowed to play in. Add a venue fee that supplies some pizza, and make sure your local competitive scene comes out. Show the fun of the game, and then you'll find a few players that are going to want to become better.

That could work though where would you draw the line on what a "good player" is or isn't?

 

[-Ran]

I would play everyone that wanted to enter the bracket and determine if they should be in it. Or, if I was feeling lazy, I'd find a player that I considered represented the ideal skill level of the group I wanted in the event, and have them play everyone.

 

[shadrach kabango]

lol, sounds a lot like religious hegemony

expose them to it. if it fits their temperament, great. if not, keep it moving.

 

[Pheta Ray]

What about showing them matches involving high-caliber players, so they know how good you can get? How about inviting them to experience a tournament without actually entering, like I did my first time? The hype should bring them back if they're really interested.