What does it mean to be a professional paintball player?

[jamtheman188]

Its everywhere, all this stuff about professional paintball players, but are they really professional?
I don't know much about the sponsorship deals with some of the top teams, but is the industry big enough for the sponsors to actually pay the wages of paintball players? Is it possible to actually have a job, solely playing paintball?
From what I understand even Ollie Lang, widely regarded as the best paintball player in the world works for Dye as part of his deal with Dave Youngblood and Ironmen.

I also hear stuff about teams turning professional, does this just mean that they have all their gear and expenses payed, or they get payed for playing? Because the term professional seems to suggest that is their profession and so what they do to earn a salary.

Some input please..I am ignorant and seek information!
Anything that you can shed some light on, in terms of "professional" paintball.

Cheers,

James

 

[Big Mac]

good question - i have always understood it to be your pro if you get paid to play but now im not so sure.

 

[Baca Loco]

Assuming proffesional is similar to professional I'll take a crack at this one.
The most important thing it means is that other players don't want you to play against them with their competition but it's okay if you play for them against their competition.
But seriously, there are pros who do receive assorted forms of remuneration for playing paintball but the easiest way to separate pros from the rest is simply by the level of competition in which a player competes. Even those who get something aren't getting a living wage. With exceedingly rare exceptions.
Then there's also the promissary pro, guys who almost got paid. Though mostly we're talking ex-XSV and Arsenal players.

 

[pJervis]

Then there's also the promissary pro, guys who almost got paid. Though mostly we're talking ex-XSV and Arsenal players.

lol'd at that

I guess the russian legion guys are the only truely professional paintball players, with the 9-5 training and monthly wage etc

 

[Angus41]

Also are you not considered a pro if you play at the top level of your sport?

I.e. CPL players in the MS are pros as they are the best players in Europe, same can be said for guys in the NXL and 'Pro' in the NPPL.

The industry is not big enough to fund all pro players but surely in time things will highten up in off seasons when teams get out their cheque books for the new season.

 

[john251282]

No to be TRUELY Pro you have to be paid to play.

Lots of people would call top division players in major tournaments pro, but using the true meaning of the word pro, they are not unless they make a living from it.

 

[sammurphy]

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/professional

 

[Nick Brockdorff]

It all depends how you want to use the word.

Professional can also mean you are really really good at what you do

But yes, very few paintballers make a living playing, most have to work for a paintball company on the side.

That then makes them paintball professionals - but not professional paintball players

Nick

 

[PEBBLE]

RL are the only Pro team in my opinion

as witnessed hanging around with Dynasty etc, they dont do much thru out the week, they dont go to the Gym, they just train 2 times a week on Sat and Sun and drills on the friday sometimes

 

[Angus41]

Do Rl practice 7 days a week?

Would agree though Mr. Stone.