Is paintball at (or near) a peak

[The_Leech]

Sorry to digress, but I feel the need to argue this point. Maybe competitive sports are for those who aren't academically smart, but academics do actually matter. Most people play sports as a release, as a game, recreation. To make the generalized statement that sports are for people who are smart, but aren't educated, and that education doesn't matter is untrue, insulting, and stupid.
I understand that you're trying to say that the term "sport" refers to physical activity, but I don't think anyone classifies a spelling bee as a sport. Paintball is a sport. And many people I know (non paintballers)have seen paintball championships, and when they hear I play, they say, "That sounds so fun!" or some such line. Paintball is seeping out to the general population.

i dont think you understood what i ment. When you play sports, your not using academics. It wasnt made for some kid who can do math at the most amazing levels. Its ment for everyone...anyone can play a sport if they tried. You dont have to be smart.

But academics....lets not get into it. But lets just say i ment ways that actually matter means- things people might end up using everyday. How often will i need to talk about the Japanese Invasion of Alaska in WW2? Yeah sure its good to know, but will i ever need to talk about it when im writing up tax forms? Never. Unless they make a "Knowing WW2 tax"


But yeah....anyways... O.O

[Lohman446]

i dont think you understood what i ment. When you play sports, your not using academics. It wasnt made for some kid who can do math at the most amazing levels. Its ment for everyone...anyone can play a sport if they tried. You dont have to be smart.

But you have to be smart to excel at sports. Anyone can do academeics too, not everyone can be good at it. Anyone can play sports, not everyone can be good at them. I'm sorry, its referred to as the genetic lottery for a reason.

[paintballfiend]

I agreed that paintball blew up too fast and too soon, but not at it's peak. How are we to know, you could see paintball in the Olympics 10 years from now. The problem may be that paintball is TOO popular. Everyone says the old days were the best days. If paintball's popularity is declining, we could bring back the good old days.

[Lohman446]

Is _________ at (or near) a peak?

Well, fill in the blank here with whatever you want actually. Paintball, cars, cellphones, mp3 players, war, tv's, the list goes on. Yet they all survive

The question is not if it would survive, the question if it was at a peak in popularity, followed by a decline.

[The_Leech]

But you have to be smart to excel at sports. Anyone can do academeics too, not everyone can be good at it. Anyone can play sports, not everyone can be good at them. I'm sorry, its referred to as the genetic lottery for a reason.

But everyone can be at some sort of sport in some way or fashion.

[Lohman446]

But everyone can be at some sort of sport in some way or fashion.

Be good at it? No...

The difference is that in sports we don't let the best play with the worst. Once you find players of your level you can play and enjoy the game regardless of skill level. Of course one must then question how well it fits the definition of sport.

[shartley]

[The_Leech]

Be good at it? No...

The difference is that in sports we don't let the best play with the worst. Once you find players of your level you can play and enjoy the game regardless of skill level. Of course one must then question how well it fits the definition of sport.

yes they can be good.

This is proving to be a very good convo. Im glad you aint flaiming me like the people on PBN. But anyways.

They be good in anyway shape or form. Anyone can learn to do something as long as they try hard enough physically.

Sports is no exception. Yes they may have different skill levels, but if you take the time to practice you get better at it. Anyone can play a sport as long as they try.

[Lohman446]

I don't know. Go to a non-division 1 A school. Some of the athletes there try just as hard but will not make it because they are missing height. There are certain genetic conditions that predisposition someone to be good at athletics. That being said, even college level academics a lack of natural talent can normally be overcome by hard work.

[dahoeb]

There are certain genetic conditions that predisposition someone to be good at athletics.

muggsy bogues. one of (if not THE) shortest player to play in the NBA at only 5'3.

[Lohman446]

muggsy bogues. one of (if the THE) shortest player to play in the NBA at only 5'3.

As with anything there are exceptions. If I'm 5'3" there is really no way I am playing wide receiver or CB at the highest levels.

[dahoeb]

As with anything there are exceptions. If I'm 5'3" there is really no way I am playing wide receiver or CB at the highest levels.

Rudy Reuttiger of Notre Dame was only 5'6 and 165lbs. (don't know his position though...)

He didn't go to the highest level, but who knows. those are exceptions, but if other people trained like them and had the drive like them, why couldn't they have similar success?

You can call those people exceptions, but I think they're more or less proof of what can be done if youre ambitious or passionate enough.

But different sports are a little harder to make up for predisposed disadvantages though, (eg. football) which i think is what you're really getting at. but not impossible.

[SCpoloRicker]

I like dahoeb's reasoning.

"Well I can think of an exception!!1"

/dual sport AA in high school
//D1 NCAA, off the bench at SC

[Jeffy-CanCon]

On the original topic...

I think Yes.

Like Tom, I have heard from industry people that business is way down. From manufacturers and field owners both. 20-30% from recent peak sales, I've heard. Industry wide that adds up to $300,000,000. Not small change!

Part of it might be tech and BPS and the general shallowing of the learning curve. Ten years ago 15bps was an amazing skill possessed by a very few players. Now its standard for $250 at the pro-shop. The effect of that is that you no longer have to be in the tourney scene to get lit up with 20+ balls. Most casual renters who are on the receiving end of that sort of punishment simply don't come back.

I suspect the actual culprit is demographics. When I first played fifteen years ago you needed to be 18, or 16 with parental consent. It was rare to see anyone under 18 playing. In the last seven-eight years, age limits have dropped to 10. Most of paintball's recent phenomenal growth has been a result of those changing standards, I bet. And now there is nowhere else to go for new players. And demographically, age cohorts are getting smaller. I.e., there are fewer 9 year olds to be next years Newbies than there are 15 year-old players who are ready to quit.

[dahoeb]

I like dahoeb's reasoning.

"Well I can think of an exception!!1"

/dual sport AA in high school
//D1 NCAA, off the bench at SC

the exceptions just support the point i was making.
the point was that most people can excel at a sport if they are willing devote enough effort into it some sports just require more effort from the player than others.
maybe you just didn't read the whole post?

either way, this is all off topic of the original thread topic.