AgreedI see 5 man as a build up to Xball. I started playing a few years ago and made my way through the Divs in 5 man, until I felt like I wanted a new challenge and out my hand to Xball with the Mad Monks. Its been our first season playing xball and we have done pretty well, its a steep learning curve stepping up to xball but one personally I wouldn't change.
Im enjoyed 5 man thourghly and can see why so many people love it but for me personally its Xball FTW (quick turn arounds and adrenaline rush)
I think leagues are pushing more and more to xball but not necessarily at the expense of 5 man. If we are looking at getting new blood in 3-5 man is the way forward, although im an advocate of academy teams from local areas setting up a series of teams with good support (not money I mean support as in help with training, help with actually puttting bodies out etc) and these could be either focussed on 5 man or xball.
Xball is fast paced, the speed that the game runs and everything else can be off putting to new players
Paintball in its own is an expensive hobby, after you factor in the cost of a competitive setup (air, marker, hopper, pot,s packs and clothing) you also have the disposable part which is paint, but also traveling and accommodation costs.
The federation is making a change and all of those involved should be recognised for getting uk balling back on the market
but as i mentioned above everyone is clamping down, the 5-man, in an xball format is fun but scares (when the ROF was 13.3 or 15) newer players as the amount of paint that is shot, they stand at the side of the field and think f@&k that.
we need to bring back 7-man semi first, from there it can grow, newer players can gain the confidence of being on a field, new players need to be welcomed into the sport not be stuck at the starting gate with the 'game on shout' and have excess of 4500 balls / min thrown at them.
The academies running are good but there still seems to be a north south divide
