Really? you can crawl around a player in the zipper with a 3foot lump of plastic on your arm? And if you put your shield down to check said player, then when you have finished you are going to take your eyes off the game in order to pick it up again.How does it prevent you doing anything that may be required of a ref, you can do all the checks and signals.
I strongly disagree with the mobility point - ever seen a ref with a shield able to run and slide around to check both sides of a player who is gunfighting?It does not limit any mobility and as for encouraging sideline reffing I believe and my experience shows it does the opposite.
True - they don't protect everywhere, but neither do shields so that kind of moots that point nes pas? And personally I find that wearing pads all day is no problem - but there again I do wash mine after every days play! Also carrying a shield is going to be more of a strain on your body than wearing body armour, however light you make them.Its ok saying wear this and that but after a few hours reffing you really don't want to wear them any longer and they do not protect the areas that always hurt when you are shot.
Do they? Really? Many thanks for pointing that out to me - I wondered why I saw so many teams step onto the field the other week.Players when they start the game have a bit of adrenaline running round their system and that increases the pain threshold so it does not feel as bad, and you play about ten games per day - the refs play about fifty.
I'll trust your insider knowledge on this - but I've never seen or spoken to an NXL or NPPL ref who uses a shield, esp. the NXL guys (whom I consider the best Refs around)As for the MS Ulrich thinks they portray paintball as a painful experience so does not like them to be seen.
The NPPL I believe leave the individual refs to decide and the PSP encourage all refs to use a shield and even provide them.
Enforcing strict penalties for over-shooting also does this, plus I regularly put myself in the way when pulling players out and this stops 95% of bonus ballingA shield is not just to protect the ref it can be used to stop players getting shot when they are eliminated to stop the possible retaliation (if paintballs don't hurt why do you girls complain about bonus balling) (not you Rosie) and you can also stop players who are shot playing on by blocking their shots.
Really? you can crawl around a player in the zipper with a 3foot lump of plastic on your arm? And if you put your shield down to check said player, then when you have finished you are going to take your eyes off the game in order to pick it up again.
I strongly disagree with the mobility point - ever seen a ref with a shield able to run and slide around to check both sides of a player who is gunfighting?
True - they don't protect everywhere, but neither do shields so that kind of moots that point nes pas? And personally I find that wearing pads all day is no problem - but there again I do wash mine after every days play! Also carrying a shield is going to be more of a strain on your body than wearing body armour, however light you make them.
Do they? Really? Many thanks for pointing that out to me - I wondered why I saw so many teams step onto the field the other week.
Seriously, stating the bleedin' obvious is beneath you.
I'll trust your insider knowledge on this - but I've never seen or spoken to an NXL or NPPL ref who uses a shield, esp. the NXL guys (whom I consider the best Refs around)
Enforcing strict penalties for over-shooting also does this, plus I regularly put myself in the way when pulling players out and this stops 95% of bonus balling
I find.
As to the stopping a player from shooting with your shield - sorry, but that just sounds absurd, if you need to stop someone from playing-on then surely it is safer (for both you and the player) to use your hand to push the gun to the floor - swinging a bloody great shield around is going to go horribly wrong one day.
Either way - you have your view, and I have mine. I personally believe that body armour is far more effective and efficient, and you don't.
Life goes on.
Quite easily. Not that you actually have to crawl around players in the zipper. And a 3 foot lump of plastic doesn't take much finding again if you do put it down.Really? you can crawl around a player in the zipper with a 3foot lump of plastic on your arm? And if you put your shield down to check said player, then when you have finished you are going to take your eyes off the game in order to pick it up again.
Again, easily done. I speak from experience. Easier to do with a sheild in fact, as you aren't getting hit by the player he is gunfighting with.I strongly disagree with the mobility point - ever seen a ref with a shield able to run and slide around to check both sides of a player who is gunfighting?
If you hold a shield right, you can cover most of your upper body, and still look out over the field. Or your whole body if you crouch. Stick your head over the top and you can see all, without taking any hits to the body. No restriction of vision or anything. Beats sweating in body armour.True - they don't protect everywhere, but neither do shields so that kind of moots that point nes pas? And personally I find that wearing pads all day is no problem - but there again I do wash mine after every days play! Also carrying a shield is going to be more of a strain on your body than wearing body armour, however light you make them.
And results in you getting shot when there is little need to...Enforcing strict penalties for over-shooting also does this, plus I regularly put myself in the way when pulling players out and this stops 95% of bonus balling
I find.
Great, if they are standing next to you. Seems to me that Russ was reffering to players shooting from a distance...As to the stopping a player from shooting with your shield - sorry, but that just sounds absurd, if you need to stop someone from playing-on then surely it is safer (for both you and the player) to use your hand to push the gun to the floor - swinging a bloody great shield around is going to go horribly wrong one day.
Oh I'm sorry - I forgot that this was your personal forum.you obviously dont listen dont post up again and shield are used in all major torneys and you dont have to slide with a shield as you can run and not get shot.