I need your help

[Emagman]

I have been playing paintball for over a decade, and have been involved in tournaments over the past two years.

The problem is that after the last tournament, all of the fun has dissappeared. I used to enjoy the game and the thrill, yet now I dont even want to play, I just feel that I have the obligation to play tournaments. I always play my best, and we usually play well, but I am just not happy with the direction this sport is going.

I shoot a custom made Emag, with everything. I have played in major events such as NPPL. I am captain, and own my team, I am ust puzzled on what my next step is, whether I wait it out, or just retire to the woods where I came from.

[boss_automager]

Lay off the tournaments for a while.Only play recball.Don't play EVERY weekend it will take the fun out of it.Most of the fun comes from the adranaline,so if you play every weekend the adranaline won't flow as hard.Just take a break it will help.

[Load SM5]

You can't possibly expect to get enjoyment if you play only because you feel obligated. When a hobby becomes a chore it's time to take a break. Cut back or take 6 months to a year off. Turn over the reins to another senior or qualified memeber of the team. I'm sure they'll understand and would rather have you back after a rest at 100% then have you muddle through a season and not give it your all.

[PsychoMag]

why dont you just slow the pace, lay back and let another member take care of business for a while. Even if you stick to the business end and not play, that may help.

I understand your view on the direction of the sport, I am disgusted with how these "players" use every decent thing to their advantage to cheat their way to the top, example being hopper stickers.

Anyways, do what you feel is best, and when, or if you are ready, then come back to competetive play.

BTW...can i get a pic of ur custom made Emag?

[Emagman]

thanks guys for your help, I have been told by many teams that if I ever left, the team would fall apart. IMy team is highly recognized and we have created a large support base and loads of sponsors. We have guys come to see us play, just because its us. I dont want to be the cause of the downfall of a strong Am A team, but I am very unhappy.

My enjoyment comes from playing for fun, I enjoy playing rec, and i often sandbag so i dont ruin their day. I goto a very out of the way field where 99% of the ballers dont know my background. I even use a tippman when I play.

[bsolomon]

Your story reminds me a lot of my own. I, too was the captain of two different successful, sponsored amateur tournament teams. We played local, regional, and national tourneys, incuding NPPL. I have to concur - after a while, the work involved in the practices, sponsors, travel, team troubles, etc... literally sucks all of the fun out of the sport. I have retired twice from paintball, and even after two years off, I had no desire to play even rec ball.

Last year, a friend of mine (ironically the guy who introduced me to paintball all those years ago) told me that he had joined a scenario team. He talked me into playing a game in Florida that was 350+ players on a side. I was sceptical at first, but after playing a couple of scenario games, I am back.

What I like most about the scenarios is that there is literally something for everyone: If you want to take a small squad and play all out for a couple of hours - fine. If you want to put on a ghillie suit and lie alone at the back edge of the field for a few hours before taking a single shot - fine. If you want to concentrate only on missions that earn your team points - you can do that. If you want to role play, or command, or remain anonymous, you can do that also. In fact, you can do all of that during the same game if you want. Add in additional elements like smoke bombs, grenades, tanks, laws rockets, night vision, radios, props, and problem solving, and it can become quite complex and challenging, without being stressful.

I'm not sure if this is necessarily the answer you are looking for, but for me it is a way to play paintball without all of the added stress and tension of tournaments, while still keeping it more interesting and enjoyable than just playing weekend rec ball.

[PsychoMag]

My team is split between tourneys and Scenarios. In fact we have a killer scenario in a few weeks that is modeled after the movie swordfish.

how bout that for a refreshing way to play.

[Emagman]

That is really a good idea. I had played a few scenarios back in the days of old, with my '95 cocker.

thanks again