[tallsmallboy44]

cport, on 16 January 2013 - 08:25 PM, said:

tallsmallboy44, on 16 January 2013 - 08:20 PM, said:

cport, on 16 January 2013 - 08:17 PM, said:

You know I think we may be getting off track as far as talking about professional leagues and refs. If we could have a body that covered strictly certifying instructors, this would be ideal. I have actually done something similar to this at a local field with the younger kids that wanted to get started in tournament play. This also actually doubled as a feeder type team for those that wanted to be more than just a walk-on on Sundays, but didn't know where to start. I would be more than willing to do whatever I had to to get this of the ground.

I was just saying that it may be hard to create one governing body, seeing that we can't even create a governing body for the professionals.

Please don't take that the wrong way, I completely agree that it is ridiculous that we cant merge the two pro leagues, however there are many other sports out there that have multiple pro leagues, like Roping. I believe that if we were to direct our efforts towards the field owners and their revenue, we would have more success.

I'm not taking this the wrong way, if that is what you are thinking. If this ever does get off the ground, I will be sure to direct it towards my boss.

[Kikkia]

As a Ski instructor I had always wondered what lessons for paintball would be like. But i never gave it that much thought. Awesome points and some great observations.

[Pump Player]

HeroForADay, on 16 January 2013 - 06:54 PM, said:

gmore70, on 16 January 2013 - 06:48 PM, said:

HeroForADay, on 16 January 2013 - 05:35 PM, said:

It's an interesting idea, and something I've thought about for years. Except, the response I got to it was less than stellar, and in many cases I was basically laughed at, or scoffed off as an idealist. I my case, I actually wrote this out rather than a video, but I had shared my ideas to some locals, which included field owners, and some local players I know quite well about trying to start this up ourselves. Unforuneately my ideas largely went unheard, and true new player lessons do not exist, although there are programs somewhat tailored to advancing knowledge and skills in more experienced players - the foundation is ignored.

I wonder if I can dig up my blog posting, and papers I had in relation to this.I touched upon referee certification, universal rule sets for the league(s), and creating a progression model for skill/feeder programs and series that was less artifical than the one we have today. Then I remembered who I was surrounded by.

Do it. I am getting some very supportive emails from people that are well known in Paintball. This is getting a bit of momentum.

I actually found my works, I file/categorize written projects of mine based on the year I worked on the original project. It's 5 pages of my ideas, and pratical/functional ways to implement it. If only I had a scanner.

Maybe take pics of each page and put them up? I would have loved that stuff when i started out.

[cockerpunk]

came expecting shit

left after finding pure gold

[PREDATOR 47]

Awesome video, I never even thought of things in this perspective.

[gmore70]

I just made part 2

[nighthunter]

Without restating my first post, I think it's a great idea. I think the next step toward getting this thing done would be to have a handful of field owners try it with their fields. Assuming it worked on a small scale, a push for lessons on a national scale would be only logical.
Since I don't own a field or have industry connections; my effectiveness (as well as the effectiveness of most other members here) starts to drop off. While we can talk to about it all we want; it's really up to them and the industry professionals to make things happen.
I know a handful of members here actually do have connections to make things happen; but that's mostly up to them at this point.

[Klub]

I'm a ref, so i may be able to get the field owner to try lessons.

[PREDATOR 47]

I agree completely with getting someone like a manufacturer, or field, or tournament organization or, in short, someone with the resources to get the ball rolling. I feel a good place to start would be a manufacturer. Let's take Kee, or Empire, for example.

I've seen on YouTube they made a series of short PSA's for parents about paintball to help educate them as to what their children are asking them to let them go play on the weekends. They have offered the Free Rookie Pass, where a new player can go try paintball for free, no strings attached. They have also released the JT Splatmaster line, which is geared towards educating younger players in a fun and safe way as to how to play paintball, handle equipment, etc.

I feel that they are a company that has a similar opinion as to how we should welcome new players into the sport, easing them in safely and in a fun way. As opposed to throwing them in a game with a 30 second rundown of the rules, and then getting lit up by more experienced players.

Empire and Kee also sponsor many fields; supplying them with rental fleets, paint, and guns to purchase. Maybe if we talked to them as a community, showing them the facts you've presented in your videos, maybe they can start to implement something similar to a "Paintball 101" sort of thing. Something as simple as a 30 minutes of instruction by a field employee, or maybe even the owner to establish an environment of familiarity and taking the edge off.

Something as simple as using the chrono range to teach them how to shoot, how to properly handle a marker, and all the other simple things that are essential to playing effectively. I feel that this idea is very do-able at just about every field, if not all, and it has the possibility to make all the difference in the way paintball is perceived by those who don't play.

EDIT: The title of the instructional videos are titled "How To Play Paintball: Part 1". There are 3 parts.

This post has been edited by PREDATOR 47: 18 January 2013 - 09:35 PM

[Jerryd]

First time to a field it was like..

Pay up.

Get handed a mask, bag of paint and a 98..

Get a basic safety instructions. Then your on the way to a field to get shot at and learn by experience.

I was somewhat surprised there was nothing like what your suggesting offered or at least some experienced players to help out.

I suggested something close at that time, so right on target.

[Orange Chicken]

Well, I have a start. I monthly bring people from my school to go play paintball, and beforehand, they all stay over at my house(or whoever offers), and at some point in the night provide a quick startup lesson for all of them: How to shoot, how to hold it, how to get to a bunker, easy do's and dont's, both playing and safety-wise. In the morning, I let them shoot at the chrono and tell them to come back and meet us when they got a good feel of the gun. To reduce prices, they all borrow guns from my friends dad who's an avid old-school paintballer, and so they only pay for paint. I teach them on the field when they play, and give them tips in the staging area. Most come back a regulars or at least to play again, whether it be on a weekly or monthly basis, they come back. Each time they come back, I give them a bit more advice. I also have friends at the field who are refs and tourny players also help me in short lessons, and they trust us.

[gmore70]

My home field is going to do this. Win!

[nighthunter]

gmore70, on 21 January 2013 - 12:07 AM, said:

My home field is going to do this. Win!

Great. Keep us posted on how it works out. Hopefully once a few fields start doing it, more will follow.

[cockerpunk]

lots of fields do group-ons to try to get new players in.

how about a group-on lesson pack? like 3 lessons/days of play, 150 bucks?

[cybermaniac15]

Finally got around to part 2, still think this could really work. Great ideas!