Sid’s Paintball

A lot of people are under the impression that paintball is a small recreational activity played by 4-6 players at a time in someones back yard. Some might know that there are tournaments, but think that it is not that popular. Well, let me see if I can shed some light on this subject.

Paintball is huge…simply put. Yes, some games are small and played in a field or someones back yard, but other games, called scenario games are phenomenal. These scenario games attract thousands of players all across the country and sometimes players from other countries. These scenario games will sometimes even have tanks (yes, I said tanks) and other forms of heavy artillary.  some games even rent Helicopters to add to the realism.

Here is a list of some of these games. Click on the name to see just what these scenario games are like.

Oklahoma D-Day 2007

F.E.A.R.

Battle for Ironforge

Kong Island

Spartan Project

These are just a few of the 100’s of games played to this magnitude. So, how big is paintball? I would say it is more popular than than having your in-laws over for the weekend:)

About 1:30 into the video, check out the amount of paint flying by the guy knealing on the ground. I would hate to be hit with that much paint…lol

Teamwork…The Winning Formula:

Teamwork is the foundation of success in paintball. Playing by the
seat of your pants is fun and exciting, but it won’t win you games
as consistently as knowing how to play like a real team.

In paintball, winning teamwork depends on three major ingredients:
attitude, skill and strategy. 

Let’s start with attitude, since it’s often what makes or breaks a
paintball team.  A team of expert strategists with tournament-level
skills, but without a similar attitude, will still lose games.
Great teamwork, the kind that wins, requires teammates to share
certain characteristics.

First, commitment: Do you play occasional pick-up games?  Do you
play weekly?  Or do you practice constantly and play at every
available opportunity?  And how seriously do you take the game?  Do
you futz around, splattering each other with paint?  Or is each
game an all-out death match?  Teammates who are prepared to devote
similar amounts of time to similar goals will likely work together
best.

Second, how does each of you handle conflict and criticism?
Teammates will screw up occasionally.  When someone makes an
error…

Do you fly off the handle? Joke about it? Ignore it?

How about receiving criticism — do you get defensive?

Insist it wasn’t your fault?

Take responsibility?

Teammates don’t need to react identically, but they do need to be
able to work with each other’s approaches.

Third, you need mutual trust and respect.  Without them, you’ll
second-guess each other’s decisions and actions, and your strategy
will break down.  Each player needs confidence that everyone else
knows his role and can perform, even if all hell breaks loose.

Skill is a major ingredient in effective teamwork. 

Teammates of widely varying skill levels can work well together;

the key is ensuring that each player's skills integrate well with

everyone else's. 

If one person's tactical skills are far below those of his

teammates, he probably won't be able to keep up.  If his skills are

vastly superior to everyone else's, he'll get bored and quit.  Then

the team has lost time that could have been spent getting a better

candidate fully integrated into the team. 

Another issue is each player's learning curve.  Say you've found

the perfect candidate in terms of attitude and commitment, but his

skills are a little below everyone else's. 

Does he have natural talent, or is he a quick study? 

Is his strategic approach similar? 

Is he always working to improve his performance? 

If each answer is "yes," then he probably is the right person

after all.

Each team member should also be able to play a backup role, in case

you lose a crucial teammate.  Suppose your team loses its wingman. 

At the moment, you need someone to watch the center, but you don't

need a sniper. Does your sniper have well enough secondary skills

to fill in as wing man? 

However, strategy is often more important than skill.  No matter

how well you get along with your teammates or how high your skill

level, lack of strategy loses games.  The most common strategic

mistake occurs when players forget that they are part of a team. 

Yes, it sounds obvious, but in the heat of a firefight it's hard to

remember that what's happening to you is only one part of a much

larger picture. 

Paintball is also a game of logic.  One expert player describes

paintball strategy as "playing chess in your head," and it's an apt

metaphor:  Teammates must think several moves ahead and plan for

contingencies that may never occur.  Each player needs to be able

to think logically, anticipating each move's potential results, and

analytically, anticipating unexpected or unintended consequences. 

There is a final factor that grows out of the other three:

Communication. Communicating with each other clearly, both on and

off the field, goes a long way toward ensuring that attitude,

skill, and strategy take care of themselves.

I tell you what. Watching these videos really makes me want to get out there and throw some paint.

Nowadays, more and more specialized fields are being built. This is because of the growing popularity of the game and the necessity of these fields to be more exciting.

Just imagine a huge place with a lot of sieges and barriers that are perfect for hiding. Imagine the feeling, when you don’t know where your opponent is, and the fear of being watched and aimed at. In order to achieve some degree of this feeling, the obstacles and other structures are not put in a maze, but placed in such a way that players have to run from one to another in order to compete on the paintball field.

Different paintball fields have different sizes and different types of scenarios, such as western towns, facade villages, abandoned buildings, junkyards and many others.

Good paintball fields have their own atmosphere, which will make your game more exciting. This is achieved mostly by the variety of brightly colored and different sized towers, bunkers, forts, wrecked machinery (like tractors and trucks), tires, thick woods and many others. Some of them are really huge, but others can be ‘used’ for hiding behind them.

Although most players would rather go in and shoot for the kill, defense is equally as essential to any game. A player must have defensive skills to survive. Of course some defensive strategies may see like second nature to you, but you must still remember the keys when you are getting shot at on the field.

Instead of taking a long glance around the field to spot an opponent or search for a flag, take very quick peeks. Taking more than one is an option. But, remember not to peek from the same exact spot twice. If your opponent spotted you during your first peek, you can bet that they will be ready for you the next time. Also, when you are peeking it is always safer to peek around something rather than over. You can duck back quicker and you are not so much of an easy target to spot.

Always keep your profile as small as possible. Keep your elbows and legs tucked close. The larger your profile, the easier target you are to hit. Stay low to the ground because it will be harder to see you.

Now this may seem like a no-brainer, but if you are being shot at and cannot get a good shot, drop back. Once you have dropped back a bit, you may be able to get a better angle on your opponent. Do not be afraid to move. Movement gives you different, possibly better angles. Playing as a squad will benefit your team. If you hear one of your teammates being surrounded by fire, move and give them cover.

Finding cover is a critical defensive strategy. Whether it is cover for you or cover for your team member, it is always important. If you or your team member needs to move, cover for each other. And, if you are being peppered with enemy fire, your fellow team member may be able to take out the shooter, maybe even more than one.

The most important defense tactic is concealment. Why? Concealment gives you the opportunity to surprise your opponent. Nothing in this game is better than having the element of surprise on your side. Be hidden well and be patient. If you are hidden near your flag, you will be in the perfect position to defend your flag. Just sit and wait for the perfect opportunity to strike and defend your flag.

Finally, a critical key in defense is to spread out your team. Don’t huddle up in the same area. Spread out in several directions. But, keep at least one of your team members in your sights. You might need one another for cover.

If you want to get more victories, defense is a critical element to surviving and winning a few more games, and therefore helping your team achieve more wins. Study the strategies above and you’ll see results.

  The National Professional Paintball League (NPPL) is hosting an official NPPL Paintball Referee Organization (P.R.O.) referee course at Cape Cod Paintball in Bourne, MA.  The training class will be taught by Dan Perez of the NPPL P.R.O. This dynamic course covers the art of officiating sanctioned NPPL events.  Referees will gain knowledge on safety, positioning, rules, making the right call, paintball equipment support, protocol and general guidelines for refereeing major tournaments. The class will be both on the field and in the classroom.

 What:               NPPL P.R.O. Referee training course

When:              June 23^rd – 24^th  2007

Where:             Cape Cod Paintball
                         245 Morris Road
                         Bourne, MA 02532     P (508) 759-5130     www.capecodpaintball.com 

Time:               Registration begins Saturday morning at 9:00 amThe class will run from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm on Saturday. Sunday from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm

  Cost:                $100.00 payable at the beginning of the class. Includes in-class training, on-field training, certificate, official I.D. Card, a NPPL PRO Referee Manual and Official 2007 NPPL Rule Book.  Referees must register in advance: Limited Spots Available To register for the course and for additional information, please contact NPPL Headquarters at (909) 230-4388 or email PROrefs@nppl.tv 

WOW, can paintball guns get any more realistic? Rap4 has a reputation for putting out paintball markers that look so real, you can hardly tell the difference. The new Rap4 AK47 with 40mm grenade launcher will set your opponents straight in a hurry.

This is a great gun for those who like the simulation and scenario games.

OK, one thing I noticed today was that I have not talked about all the different types of camo that you can buy. Camo is one of the main ingredients to playing woodsball. If the other team can see you, they can shoot you.

Camoflouge clothing comes in many different styles and patterns. My favorite is the Ghili-Leaf pants and jacket. Yes, it does get kind of hot running around wearing a jacket but, it is not that heavy and everybody will have a hard time spotting you even when you are shooting. Any type of 3D clothing will give you a definite advantage while playin gin the woods. This is great stuff. Here are some other 3D clothing that work excellent. Cabela’s Leafy-wear Pro Suit, Cabela’s Leafy-Tee pants, Cabela’s Leafy-Tee shirt, Cabela’s Ghillie jacket and pants.