Why paintball will never be a "real" sport

[evildead420]

I think its time to kill speedball and get back to the basics.... the woods.

too much BS going on in speedball, really not much honor either. IMO

[PumpPlayer]

I drive six hours each way to go to a good field.
I love playing paintball there.
I can't stand to play more than once or twice a year at the 'local' fields.


I'm with the people that say you need a new field.
The commute might suck but man, it's worth it.

[tippett]

I think its time to kill speedball and get back to the basics.... the woods.

too much BS going on in speedball, really not much honor either. IMO

Players cheat in the woods also. I just got back from a large woodsball game and cheating was rampant. What I don't understand is why people cheat in game when the outcome determines no prizes or personal glory in anyway. I am not say people should cheat when prizes are involved because that bugs me too. I guess there just isn't any honor in sports anymore everyone is trying to gain an advantage over the other guy.

If we really wanted to curb cheating officals should just kick cheaters out of the tourney possibly out of the league make harsher punishments for those caught cheating rather than just a 3 for 1. Make punishments carry over for the next game make teams overcome their mistakes so they don't cheat again.

The answer isn't to kill a part of paintball (speedball) the answer is remove cheaters. If only we could figure out how.

I ask myself before every game whether or not I wanna continue to play then I remember why I play my friends no matter how bad a day I have on the field the people I play with continue to make the day worth while. Really everything is about relationships if my friends weren't involved neither would I and that would be just ine by me.

[evildead420]

Players cheat in the woods also. I just got back from a large woodsball game and cheating was rampant. What I don't understand is why people cheat in game when the outcome determines no prizes or personal glory in anyway. I am not say people should cheat when prizes are involved because that bugs me too. I guess there just isn't any honor in sports anymore everyone is trying to gain an advantage over the other guy.

If we really wanted to curb cheating officals should just kick cheaters out of the tourney possibly out of the league make harsher punishments for those caught cheating rather than just a 3 for 1. Make punishments carry over for the next game make teams overcome their mistakes so they don't cheat again.

The answer isn't to kill a part of paintball (speedball) the answer is remove cheaters. If only we could figure out how.

I ask myself before every game whether or not I wanna continue to play then I remember why I play my friends no matter how bad a day I have on the field the people I play with continue to make the day worth while. Really everything is about relationships if my friends weren't involved neither would I and that would be just ine by me.

Totally agree with you there. Whats the point of playing if your going to cheat you know.... Its about sportsmanship, honor and pride but Ego get in the way for kids these days, its about looks to them really. try to shoot as much as you can and get away with wiping and such. Not even the right code of honor and is it just complete nonsence. That "cheater" shouldnt be playing this sport.

In real life, You can't cheat Real Warfare.

[tippett]

In real life, You can't cheat Real Warfare.

I agree with you I must say though I am getting tired of paintball and war references maybe the game devloped as a war sim game it has however evolved into what we see now players cheating to win a game.

Nobody will ever be able to stop the cheating all we can hope for is sponsors and officals of such events will help raise the standards of expectations of players who attend these events. Either that or everyone start wearing sensor suits that records hits rather than breaks and count hits. This might be something for people looking for the next inovation in our sport.

[kruger]

I own a field in Rome, GA. 43 acres. We dont have a speedball field. We are scenario ball only. The closest thing to speedball we have is a hyperball field and we use that in the games that we run. We dont cater to the speedballers just because of the reasons that you guys dont like speedball that much anymore. I have notice something at my field. Its the younger players that do a majority of the cheating. The older players know that the game is played, just for the sake of playing it. The younger players havent gotten that point yet. And, in reality, at my field, we dont play paintball, we play Honor ball. You guys are correct, it is so easy to cheat in the woods, not enough refs to cover all the areas. But, we, at my field, and on my scenario team, play hororably. I dont need anybody to tell me that I made a good move, or a bad on for that matter. You think that I dont know when I do it right? Of course I do. Do you also think that I know when I screw up? Sure do, just look at the paint all over me. The point is this: at the end of the day, I know if I have played well, even if I didnt get anybody out, or made any great moves. And it does not matter who I impress, or who I dont, because, at the end of the day, I know that I played like I want the other guy to play. Fairly. I really dont play against anybody else, I play against myself, because thats the only person that I have to impress. If I catch a player cheating, he is out of the game right then. It usually is one of the younger players, not much experience with the game. If it is an older player, one with a lot of experience, then I watch him a little closer. If he makes a habit of cheating, then I ask him to leave and not come back. One cheater can ruin the whole day for everybody else, so, not only is it an honor thing, but also a business thing. People come to my field to have fun, and they also know that we dont cotton to cheaters. Thats why they keep coming back to my field.

[RoadDawg]

It's pretty obvious that the major leagues have sold out. The only way competetive paintball will have renewed respect is through a better game format. And a different national level league. But, if that ever happens it's going to be awhile.

I disagree. Starting a new league will change nothing but dwindle the playing force down. It has to start with the players having a reason to change. Harsher rules, steeper penalties, fines, etc should all be looked at and within the current system and should carry over to the other leagues (NPPL/PSP etc). If a promoter changes a call then maybe an outside ref source is needed. One that has final authority and not the promoter. If teams want to leave, let them. If they think they have all the pull, of course they are going to walk all over league. If sponsors want to leave, let them. To me if a sponsor tries to change a call or way a tournament is played then they are not better then the players who cheat and should be exposed as such. Accountability is what I'm speaking of. Make the players and sponsors responsible. Don't let them walk all over the organization that is letting them play as the organization doesn't need to "allow" them in, in the first place.

[kruger]

What is really going to make a difference in the Pros is only one thing. And that is a change of attitude. Right now, their only goal is to win at any cost. The sponsors dont care, they are selling everything that they can make. And, if a player is caught cheating, and makes paintball headlines, the sponsors win again. Free publicity. As long as the sponsors are paintball companies, then the cheating will go on. What needs to happen is sponsorship from completly unrelated companies. Get Ford or Chevy involved with some real money, and the cheating stops. Chevy is not going to have their name associated with anything neagative by a bunch of
kids that have to cheat to win. And to get the real sponsors, they have to change the way that they play, ie. with honor. Then, maybe the "outside" sponsorship will come. The Pros are really nuthing but company owned players, totally dependant on their owners. They either win, or they lose their support. Thats the way that I see it.

[Beemer]

Why paintball will never be a "real" sport

Holy crap Lohman, dont stop now youre on a roll.

You forgot or didnt mention one other Major reason. No Real Governing Body.

Even DodgeBall has a governing body and after twenty years we dont. Wonder why that is.

[lather]

Paintball will never be a sport just for these 2 reasons imo: Human nature and more than one ball in play at any given time.

14 people-- all potentially shooting 15 bps makes it very difficult for refs and tv viewers to establish a focal point or point of reference. Cheating would also be just as rampant in traditional sports if the participants knew that more often than not, they could get away with it.

[Cameo]

paintball is a real sport... I have proof....

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cameosteph/198531132/