State Of The Union

[TendringLOEB]

I play paintball, I have done for a while, I look at what's going on across the pond and then I look at what's going on over here. I look at the growing, if rather disturbing, trends in this nations game and see the sharp decline in the caliber of UK Ball compared to what has been before.

Now, I'm not just talking about the skill level of players, I'm talking about the genre as a whole, because there are lots of good players out there, but they are supplied with hardly any support, let alone any form of structure in which to raise the bar for this nations paintballers.

Now you've got some context, I propose to you (what's left of our community), that:

UK Ball - If it's not about the latest gear to waste money on, it's about pretending to be a gangster and dressing accordingly, if it's not about that it's about being a marginally decent paintballer yet shouting that you're gods gift from the rooftops. All the while you've got the so called 'sponsorship' whores, the name droppers and the socialites, the general decline in the standards in the UKs illiterate chavvy youth, the industry personnel who have massive misconceptions about this so called 'sport' and it's players, not to mention the crooked tournament organizers on the take, and lastly the vast multitude of old guard and informative players jumping ship and getting out because they don't like what it's turned into.

All that and finally you get the minority of individuals who actually do good in our mad little world getting oppressed by the above. If there was one word I'd use to describe UK ball, would be stagnant. All that potential that just sat here and rotted in our own microcosm, because we didn't expand where we needed to.

It's not just nostalgia, UK Ball really was much more glorious in the past. So I'm asking you, from a grassroots level, what the hell can we, as a concerted effort, do to help our ailing industry?

TL;DR - You're the reason for your own demise, now suggest something to better yourselves and get things back on track.

 

[lil wenlock]

I agree with you there pal, although i may not of been playing long enough to know what it was like say 5 years ago i can say UK paintball is definatly not where it should be.

Although saying that there are more things going on such as new sites opening, new teams, new tournaments but there is just not the commitment.

I think rather that slagging each other UK team off, teams should be training together reguarly to make something of UK paintball.

I was at the Xball lite on sunday and there was alot of potential in some of the lower class teams but i know they do not train enough to get better.

UK paintballers should be a big family and help each other to dominate the rest of the World.

Just my 2p.

 

[JTD1993]

Some teams play tourney paintball more as a hobby rather than a sport, Jord.

But the teams that have most potential are those with younger players with the oldies in there to teach them(no offence guys)

My 2p

 

[Gassy]

Things will continue the downward slide aslong as supair ballers look at woodsballers as soldiers and woodsballers look at supair ballers as power rangers.

 

[JTD1993]

Things will continue the downward slide aslong as supair ballers look at woodsballers as soldiers and woodsballers look at supair ballers as power rangers.

Quoted for truth.. But It's just the style each player likes, but I'm sure you like playing both?

 

[evoonline]

this question gets asked week in, week out. i doubt things will change no matter how much people moan about it. unless your gonna hold a gun to someones head then they arnt gonna do more than what they wanna. i play for fun with the odd masters and going to walkons at bassetts pole and the likes because my job doesnt give me the time off required to travel the world playing paintball. believe me that if they did then i would. i dont drink, i dont smoke and i play at least once a month whether through walkons or recball with customers at my local site. work is the key factor, if people dont work to free up playing time then they cant afford to play because they dont have a job. vicious circle.

 

[balf]

Things will continue the downward slide aslong as supair ballers look at woodsballers as soldiers and woodsballers look at supair ballers as power rangers.

I'll get working on my red ranger dance for the next time I'm up at YPC (I'll be kind and not break out the lycra)

I think there needs to be a preverbial rocket up the arse of uk ball, be it the event organisers sitting in a room and talking without killing one another or even teams(captains/managers whatever) and seeing what needs to be done.

There was alot of positives from the masters x-ball (apart from the whole us losing part) the standard was a lot higher than I expected, I think the amount of tournaments needs to be knocked down, around the north type area theres the PA and masters, now if you commit to them both (for whatever reasons) thats 3 sundays a month not a lot of time for training, I guess what I'm getting at in a roundabout non-sensical way is that somethings got to give to go forward

Balf (the non-sense making man!)

 

[Tommy210]

I say it simply Div1 in any league in UK right now is a joke apart of PA where the level is much higher and worth Div1 standard.

Don't slaughter me over this but it is true.

But as mentioned it is all about teams working together and better themselves.
Lot of team play for fun and that good, but serious team hungry to progreess have no one to train against and most importantly train correctly.

There is no developement programme and it would be really good if maybe we as community work on possible solution.

I heard that maybe there will be a paintball school which would help develop new players.

... and then again there is the question of cost....

 

[ListerOfSmeg]

Things will continue the downward slide aslong as supair ballers look at woodsballers as soldiers and woodsballers look at supair ballers as power rangers.

Nearly p****d myself at that!

With woods events on the up in this country, could it not be a good opportunity to re-build and rejuvenate the UK scene? I admit I've only been playing 3 years so please don't take what I say as gospel, but once people remember why they started playing in the first place and they get the right attitude back surely they will be more committed to restoring the UK game to what it should be?

 

[Markie C]

^^^^^^ and how many people will say that's the best thing ever then how may people will show up ??

I am keeping my comments to my self about this one cause it will only upset people.

but what i will say for thinking purposes is.

first ever reball centre opened and closed in the same year after a 10k if not more was spent on it.

it wasn't the biggest place in the world but it was something.

why did it close cause every one is full of ****.