Too many teams?

[Tommy Gun Nexus]

Every Pro player has earnt themselves a trial or put themseleves in the right places to get noticed and biggest thing of all, have performed consistantly when it mattered.
Just to highlight where i am coming from, Nexus run an OPEN trial for anyone who wanted their shot in 2008.. I think we had 20 players show up including 2 foreigners. About 5 more of those were invited, meaning we had about 13 people come off their own back. Not great numbers by any standards, and hardly inspiring to run any more.





Just wondering if this is possibly because many people feel intimidated or worry that they would embarrase themselves?
The jump to try out for a team like nexus before being scouted or spotted would be a big one in many eyes perhaps??!!

Hi Essx,
Maybe that is the case.. I'm not sure. If that is then those people are looking at it in the wrong way..
What a better place to learn and to test yourself than against other aspiring players, infront of Pro players that are more than willing to help and offer advice.
Even if you didnt get picked you could meet people and hopefully learn some stuff about your game along the way.

I think Jay's points about a lack of commitment and pride are spot on..
Hope to see you back out on the field soon dude.

 

[Tommy Gun Nexus]

You hit the nail right on the head there. Unfortunately, the scourge of the paintball player will strike every time - not swine flu - more deadly than that - apathy!



That is exactly my point. In football, players are invited to try-out for the bigger teams - they don't hold open days and hope some new talent will just walk in. Maybe if we had people out there inviting the youngsters to their 'invitation only' sessions it would get more trying to get that invite in the first place (bad grammar - but you get my meaning ).

So - is the answer to have 'scouts' at most events/training sessions?

PS - thanks to Tommy (Nexus) for your insight .

Sorry just caught this after i posted.
We did also invite chosen players to that tryout and they all came i believe.

Like Robbo said, if you are super talented and have the right attitude then people will notice. If on the off chance that you havent been spotted, it is up to YOU to get better and get noticed by attending open clinics/asking pro's questions at the field/playing at the right field or events/joining the right team/by playing good consistantly.
I think it is all up to the aspiring player, not the top teams.

 

[Nicky T]

For what it's worth i think that lack of commitment is the biggest failing point for our nation of "could have beens". I honestly believe that too many people mollycoddle the facts and shirk away from the issues at hand; if the talented players that are out there had half the commitment of the old guard they'd make it to the top with ease.

Over recent years i've seen many players with obvious talent fall by the wayside either through lack of commitment, personal circumstances or generally just growing up and away from paintball.

There are/were some incredibly talented individuals out there; some of which who are only now just starting to make a name for themselves including George Bruton (Disruption) and Martin Cheung (DXS Entity) both of whom, with the necessary support, will make it to the top.

If you want UK paintball to be back at the top, you don't need less teams, you need a home-grown circuit that actually means something if you win it to get some pride back into the sport!

Nicky T

 

[Rat]

Just to quickly return to the national "league" idea.

how about one game from Ancaster/Masters

one game from NPSL

and one from CPPS?

with a national "finals" at a different location.

that way you get the best of all the current series and a national standing.

points/awards based on overall series and/or individual games within the series.

Idea that just bounced into my head so thought to put it past you folks.


Regards the talent spotting/enthusiasm posts. what about those that have the enthusiasm and the drive to play every weekend or at least as often as possible but are prevented by health problems?

does this mean they're not as devoted to balling and shouldn't get a chance to be in "top teams"?

 

[Sid Sidgwick]

Just to quickly return to the national "league" idea.

how about one game from Ancaster/Masters

one game from NPSL

and one from CPPS?

with a national "finals" at a different location.

that way you get the best of all the current series and a national standing.

points/awards based on overall series and/or individual games within the series.

Idea that just bounced into my head so thought to put it past you folks.


Regards the talent spotting/enthusiasm posts. what about those that have the enthusiasm and the drive to play every weekend or at least as often as possible but are prevented by health problems?

does this mean they're not as devoted to balling and shouldn't get a chance to be in "top teams"?

This may ruffle your feathers to a degree Rat as i know about your health issues but yes in part to your question in my point of view, it doesn't mean they are less devoted to the sport, ive seen lots of people who play every time they can who aren't great but they are devoted to the game. As for disability if it affects their attendance at training/events then yes i would say it will effect their chance of playing top level, if they can't play every time then the team will lack consistency. Look at football many good players have to give up top flight due to injury and health reasons. Not saying people with health issues should give up on getting to the top at all just saying they may find it harder.

 

[Return of the Silver Fox]

So we are more or less agreed that its not the number of teams that are the problem - its the players.
It takes an enormous commitment to make it as a pro and this includes time, money and relationships. Those that fall by the wayside generally can't give one of these to the extent thats required.
If we are talking about improving the talent at the top, teams in lower divisions need to take a look at themselves and consider if they are doing the best they can for players on their team. Ask yourselvesthe following questions
Have you got a player thats good enough to go pro but won't because of loyalty?
Are your team supporting this player through your play or are they hiding your failings through their play?
If you started as friends, as many am/novice teams have, are you really doing the best by your team mate?
If we really want to see playerscoming through the ranks they don't need holding back they need captains in lower divisions who can see talent and nurture it. Captains who actively encourage players to be the best and get recognised. Captains who understand the game and know where they fit into the bigger picture.
This may actually provide benefits for the feeder teams from sponsorship/support from the pros and by ease in getting good players (some who won't be good enough to be pro) and consequently strengthening their squad.
I know this is a pipe dream but from acorns....

 

[Rat]

This may ruffle your feathers to a degree Rat as i know about your health issues but yes in part to your question in my point of view, it doesn't mean they are less devoted to the sport, ive seen lots of people who play every time they can who aren't great but they are devoted to the game. As for disability if it affects their attendance at training/events then yes i would say it will effect their chance of playing top level, if they can't play every time then the team will lack consistency. Look at football many good players have to give up top flight due to injury and health reasons. Not saying people with health issues should give up on getting to the top at all just saying they may find it harder.

thanks for an honest answer Sid, no ruffled feathers here . i do think though for People on regular treatment plans, (I.E) dialysis, chemo or the like could (if they had the devotion, enthusiasm etc) play to a high level despite their health issues.
Providing they make allowances for treatment (to play full weekends have treatment during the week for example).

This is what I aim to do with dialysis and have asked for my treatment days to change so i can commit to whole weekends of playing. and if i ever get lucky enough to play overseas whilst dialysing. i will dialyse overseas aswell.

 

[JF21]

Regards the talent spotting/enthusiasm posts. what about those that have the enthusiasm and the drive to play every weekend or at least as often as possible but are prevented by health problems?

does this mean they're not as devoted to balling and shouldn't get a chance to be in "top teams"?

i dont think its all down to devotion but more skill, the one would hope there is a direct corilation between devotion and skill. ie players who train more are better. sadly as we know this is not always the case.
so no it doesnt mean their less devoted, and it doesnt mean they dont have a chance of playing at a high level as long as they have the skill (speed strength stamina technical ability ect). the issue lies in the amount of trainings they can make, with fields being played for months before the event playing the field as one team has become even more important. this is where i have fallen down this year, though im usually in the starting squad for each game it looks like i will end the year having only played 2 events, though i have been present at them all (this is due to either being just out of an ops ect ect). i dont this isnt upsetting or resented as my lack of training would mean i was likely to be a burden not an asset but i was still rostered incase of injury and able to coach.


re silver fox:
i agree with the principles and think it would be good for the top teams and good players if thats how it worked but it would obviously be at the expense of the lower teams results.

the lower team captains development of players actually ties back into some previous points. you see allot of the old guard taking these new players and teaching them their bad techniques. the new players obviously take this as gospel, after all they have been playing a long time. if these coaches admitted they didnt know it all and got help it would help both the teams and players.

though i fear human nature restricts this

 

[Return of the Silver Fox]

I agree on the coaching - a good player doesn't always make a good coach and vice versa.
I've been to a few training days where you wonder why you bothered and end up having to undo a lot of damage given by the 'expert'.

 

[Robbo]

I agree on the coaching - a good player doesn't always make a good coach and vice versa.
I've been to a few training days where you wonder why you bothered and end up having to undo a lot of damage given by the 'expert'.

And that's a very real problem we face in this country in trying to undo bad behaviours that have evolved either thru bad tuition or an inept coach who failed to spot inappropriate techniques or actions.