Problem with paintball?

[Trina]

I have met some awesome kids of all ages at many different paintball fields across the US, AO events, and big scenario games. I really do believe making rules not allowing younger kids to play would not be the answer. Kids are the future of paintball, without them as "clients", I could forsee many fields, online stores, and companies in paintball going out of business. As avid players, we enjoy seeing paintball get more popular and we ultimately want it to survive (wasn't it exciting when it first aired on TV?). I know you don't plan on babysitting when you go to play paintball, but if you see someone doing something wrong, the right thing to do is to say something. And instead of alienating the younger generation, be nice to them and maybe help them out (of course this doesn't always work). If all they see in paintball is bad attitudes, guess what?

But really, the only problem here seems to be with the field owners. If you have a problem with the refs, talk to the owners. I wonder if it would shape some of the fields up if you asked the owner for the name of his insurance company...and if the situation is real bad, (I know, this is evil) contacted them?

[SpitFire1299]

I got into paintball when i was in like 3rd grade. It was the coolest thing ever to me. But back then, i was the youngest of everyone and didnt know exactly what i was doing.

Now days... theres a million little kids on AO and on the field that are really immature, are bad at paintball, and are just annoying. Paintball should be a sport for everyone, but should be played in age groups, or by matturity level.

Little kids also get the biggest advantage running behind bunkers and stuff, you dont know where they are until they bunker you.

[Mr. Mouse]

not so much children taking over paintball but they are the majority of people buying all the hype stuff, i mean im 17 and just play to have fun and if i reffed id call cheaters and whatever out.

[Trina]

I got into paintball when i was in like 3rd grade. It was the coolest thing ever to me. But back then, i was the youngest of everyone and didnt know exactly what i was doing.

Now days... theres a million little kids on AO and on the field that are really immature, are bad at paintball, and are just annoying. Paintball should be a sport for everyone, but should be played in age groups, or by matturity level.

Little kids also get the biggest advantage running behind bunkers and stuff, you dont know where they are until they bunker you.

I have met many adults who are just as bad, sometimes much worse. And....I've been bunkered by and have bunkered all types of people...not just younger kids. Sometimes I think the smaller kids help me to up my level of play a little and modify my tactics.

I suggest changing fields occasionally...it gets you around different types of people instead of playing with the same guys every weekend.

[RusskiX]

Kids are the future of paintball

No disrespect Trina, but at the perceived burnout rate for paintball players in general and younger players specifically, the future under 18 player seems to last about 3-4 years before hanging it up. And IMHO the burnout rate is even higher for the tourney scene than recballers.

While it is good lip service to claim that younger players are the future, my completely unscientific observation over the past 15+ years points out that generally the older, more mature player sticks with paintball for any amount of time.

Personally, I have played with lots of great kids, introducing them to my hobby. And it is thrilling to watch their face light up when they get their first elimination. But more often, I see 12-17 years olds on the other team, talking smack, spending obscene cash on gear, and getting rolled on the field. Now, if that is their idea of "fun", more power to them; I love the extra targets.

I just think that the financial obligation and respect which should be accorded to our potentially controversial sport is more suited to a higher maturity level than displayed by most under 18 players at my fields of choice.

Sorry for the pseudo-rant... /grumper off]

[Xzion]

Ultimate in Bad Fields

I know one field that was -exactly- that, just there to make money. I live in a very rural area, and the closest 'real' field is a good hour away, however there is one that is nearby, unfortunately his practices are very 'iffy' when it comes to safety, and its obvious hes there just to make the money. most of his customers are 'renters' with a couple spyder owners that attend, and he rents out BE Stingray IIs last time I checked (which was some time ago) though the part that bothered me most, the -only- chrony he had was the owner shooting the marker at a maple tree, he judged whether it was shooting too hot by one or both reasons. A: he could tell by osmosis how fast the marker was shooting, or B: the shots took the bark off the tree. To me it was obvious he was more about the almighty dollar than the safety of his players after they or a parent signed the weiver.

To say the least, I never -actually- dug my gear out to play there. I value my health more than that to risk it at the hands of some schmuck in judging whats an 'acceptable' velocity was. I was seriously tempted to bring a field chrony and set my 'mag to 300FPS on the dot to see whether he deemed it 'acceptable' or not.

[shartley]

No disrespect Trina, but at the perceived burnout rate for paintball players in general and younger players specifically, the future under 18 player seems to last about 3-4 years before hanging it up. And IMHO the burnout rate is even higher for the tourney scene than recballers.

While it is good lip service to claim that younger players are the future, my completely unscientific observation over the past 15+ years points out that generally the older, more mature player sticks with paintball for any amount of time.

Personally, I have played with lots of great kids, introducing them to my hobby. And it is thrilling to watch their face light up when they get their first elimination. But more often, I see 12-17 years olds on the other team, talking smack, spending obscene cash on gear, and getting rolled on the field. Now, if that is their idea of "fun", more power to them; I love the extra targets.

I just think that the financial obligation and respect which should be accorded to potentially controversial sport is more suited to a higher maturity level than displayed by most under 18 players at my fields of choice.

Sorry for the pseudo-rant... /grumper off]

[Trina]

No disrespect Trina, but at the perceived burnout rate for paintball players in general and younger players specifically, the future under 18 player seems to last about 3-4 years before hanging it up. And IMHO the burnout rate is even higher for the tourney scene than recballers.

While it is good lip service to claim that younger players are the future, my completely unscientific observation over the past 15+ years points out that generally the older, more mature player sticks with paintball for any amount of time.

Very good point. And most kids do tire of a sport after a few years. I guess I didn't really think of it like that.

I can see many kids quitting while they're busy chasing girls (or guys) and then coming back to it when they're more mature and have expendable income of their own...let's be honest, going to a paintball field is not a way to pick up girls!! LOL!!

Seems to me like a lot of the "older" players are quitting as well though....

EDIT: Wow Shartley!! That was well put. I definately agree. Every good field I've been at has had an active owner who was involved in the ENTIRE operation, not just the income. And, of course, that is what keeps people coming back..

[JoshK]

Trina...you know just what to say to stick up for the little guys (literally ). But the thing about good field owners being active is a good point. It's also one of the reasons I love my field. Not only are the refs helpful, the ref is even more helpful! He'll spend an hour working on your gun instead of trying to make money. Also i wouldn't be surprised if he trained the refs himself. One of the big problems for me, is relating to people who have bad local fields, and a bunch of cheaters. We just don't really have the problems it seems like paintball is having.

[Evil Bob]

There are two parts that I perceive here....

1) Your perception to what is going on around you has changed, you're more aware of what is happening around you and less focused on yourself. That's part of life, its called "growing up", you start to dwell less of yourself and more on your surroundings (ie. others). You'll understand this deeper when you become a parent and your entire focus changes drastically.

2) Basic laws of human nature: people in large numbers are stupid. With larger numbers tuning into to paintball, the common denominator IQ level and personal responcibilty level drops. Paintball related drive by's are on a raise, crime with paintball equipment are on a raise. Per capita percentages the numbers are still quite low, but the actual raw number of incidents per year are on the raise. Why is this? Simply because there are more people in the game and access to gear is now even easier then it used to be. You can now buy gear that performs well enough to play with at your local super store (walmart, kmart, Fry's, etc.). That has opened up the game to a great number of people who might not have ever even thought about it before. That's called "market penetration" and "mainstreaming". You think the stupidity level is high now, wait until everyone is playing it.

With that said, there have always been and there will always be young people in paintball, its nothing new. I was 16 in 1982 when I started playing, there were other teens there, some older, some younger. That's how life goes, much like being in school, you come to a point where you're the "seniors" in the class rank and you're ready to graduate and move on, you look down on the "freshmen", whom you perceive have no clue, you shake your head and laugh and move on with life.

-Evil Bob

[Recon by Fire]

Hey GT, which fields are you referring to? Anything in particular? I completely agree with your assessment. The problem with the kids is not their age though, it is in what the parents and society have allowed these young "wastes of brain matter" to become.

My neighbor and a group of his co-workers are newer players. It did not take them long to lose interest in the official fields because of the poor service and conditions. They have now gone to playing almost exclusively outlaw. I cannot say that I blame them.

Informing the owners of the conditions is not always the answer either. I have done this, received lip service back, and observed business as usual with no changes. Owners need to ba hard handed and drop these poor referees like a bad habit. If they do want to put forth the effort, there is 10 more people waiting in line to take their jobs.

[GT]

Hey GT, which fields are you referring to? Anything in particular?

Its been two fields in particular. Man I completly forgot to give you a shout about saturday. I was so pissed I thought about selling all my gear and take up golf. I here that pbUSA is a great place. I think that is where we are headed next. What weekend is good for you? Jason just got sat and sunday's off.

jb

[-=Squid=-]

Wait wait wait... I guess I fail to see where this is the fault of 18< aged people?

Wait, it isn't.

You say that the owner is all about the money? He's the adult, right? Sounds to me that the root of the entire problem is the adult, not the kid, by using your logic.

[Trina]

Paintball should be a sport for everyone, but should be played in age groups, or by matturity level.

Wow!! I can't believe I totally missed this! That would put me in a whole different category!!

[shatter_storm]

Wait wait wait... I guess I fail to see where this is the fault of 18< aged people?

Wait, it isn't.

You say that the owner is all about the money? He's the adult, right? Sounds to me that the root of the entire problem is the adult, not the kid, by using your logic.

It's not all about crummy owners. Think about the age groups here... 16 and under are pretty much in high school and then either have a job, have extracurricular activities, or have a lot of free time. College kids are more of the same, plus drinking, but homework and having to work usually takes up more of their free time. Get into the 21-29 age bracket and most everyone's working full time or more. Much more past that and people usually have families to take care of.
I know, it's a massive generalization, but the younger you are, the more free time you have. The more free time you have, the better your chances of using it to play or ref.
Field owners are being irresponsible when they employ referees that are underage... but when that's the only age group that wants to ref or is available to ref, then that's what they'll hire. Plus, they'll work for less.