ATT: X Ball Selectors

[Beaker]

Sorry Simon but I am also going to disagree with you

While I appreciate your points about pressures of time etc there are many things you are missing.

Robbo, Ledz and I are NOT trying to recreate another Dynaty as a carbon copy. I completely agree that there are various circumstances we just cannot emulate (5 players living together, shooting over 100cases a week practicing etc etc). But we can take a LOT from how the team is set up.

Dynasty play what I would class as "total paintball" that is basically every player can play every position and role with minimum fuss or hassle. I keep using Ryan Greenspan as an example. He usually starts centre back, carries 9 pots yet if Ollie or Angel etc go he can fill in their spot right up front and mix it with the best of them. If they need to sit back and lock it up they can (last game of Max finals against RL anyone?).

Now the other thing they do is they are lead by a few great thinkers who know how to fully exploit the skills that each of thes players have. Warped Kids, Trauma, Adidcted are all proving you can quickly get results by successfully mixing a couple of experienced players and the majority being new, fresh faces.

With the Xball format of 3 coaches we can impart that "thinking" part of the game onto these (relatively) inexperienced players. they do not need to have experience of the game itself, merely the self belief that they can stand up to the best. We take the burden of responsiblty off the players, we lay the plans, mix the ideas up and they just have to go out and play the best ball they can

We can win, if we pick the right players with the right mindset.

 

[Jinxy]

I played at the tryouts the other Sunday and sucked big time. But I came away from it a better player, I learnt a lot in such a small amount time.

For this reason alone everyone should go to the southern tryout.

At the end of the day, if ROBBO and the rest of the UK team does the best they can, that’s all we can ask from them.

I’m for sure, behind ROBBO and the rest of the UK team, who ever they are? Supporting them and I look forward to hearing the out come of this event.

Jinxy

 

[Simon Malone]

I understand what Pete is trying to achieve, and agree it's a good idea.

Working on the basis that all players are selected from a trials system. Which is obviously the fairest way of running it seeing as everybody who wants a go should have one. Surley were going to end up with the same result. Don't the best players all play on the pro teams, or am I looking at this in a too simplistic manner.

Laters,

Simon

 

[Simon Malone]

Slow down your all typing way too fast for me to take all this in. Geez i'm supposed to be working as well

 

[Collier]

Pete,

will the team be taken further then just X ball, I mean if they can cut it there what about millenium series etc?

Paul.

 

[Liz]

Far too simplistically I'm afraid, the best players aren't always in the top pro teams for a number of reasons. Maybe they can't afford the time or money to train & play as often as the pro team does. Maybe they just don't have the right "chemistry" with any of the nearby pro teams. Maybe they are a newish player who hasn't yet had time to be seen & grabbed by a pro team. Maybe the team they are currently playing in is dross - you try looking good on the field when the rest of your team suck and are all gone in under 2 minutes. I think Robbo & his team are going to find a number of people who fall into the last 2 categories in particular.

Another thing they're going to be looking for is attitude. These players have to be really hungry for success, be pushy players who are willing to try anything on the field. Unfortunately, many players who have been around for a while tend to slip into a "comfort zone" & will find it harder to change how they play.

And we end up coming down to the age & size factors. All things being equal, for X-Ball they HAVE to go for the younger, fitter & smaller players & face it, many of the members of our top pro teams left their 20s a long time ago (along with 28 inch waists!).

 

[Robbo]

Originally posted by Paul_collier
Pete,
will the team be taken further then just X ball, I mean if they can cut it there what about millenium series etc?
Paul.

Paul, now there's a question

 

[Jake]

I don't think that ALL the best players play on Pro teams. I think there are plenty of Am and even Novice players with the potential to play at a higher level. There is undoubtedly a large amount of experience involved in playing tourney ball at a higher level.

There are a disproportionately high number of good players on Pro teams, however to discount players just because of the team they play in is foolhardy. Plenty of current UK pro players have worked their way up from novice or Am teams. If you look at the players going forward to the next round or already selected then you will see quite a few already play Pro anyhow e.g Jack, Junior and Matt etc ...

A combination of a couple experienced and newer players is probably our best bet, the truth is we won't know until after the event.

I wouldn't be suprised if the southern trials chuck in a couple more Pro players ... however I sincerely hope there at least 2 or 3 guys selected from a relatively unknown position. At least we'd have scapegoats if we do bomb! .......... only kidding lads

Good luck everyone who's coaching or playing ... I hope we do well, I think there are some excellent players in the UK

 

[Robbo]

Originally posted by Liz
Far too simplistically I'm afraid, the best players aren't always in the top pro teams for a number of reasons. Maybe they can't afford the time or money to train & play as often as the pro team does. Maybe they just don't have the right "chemistry" with any of the nearby pro teams. Maybe they are a newish player who hasn't yet had time to be seen & grabbed by a pro team. Maybe the team they are currently playing in is dross - you try looking good on the field when the rest of your team suck and are all gone in under 2 minutes. I think Robbo & his team are going to find a number of people who fall into the last 2 categories in particular.

Another thing they're going to be looking for is attitude. These players have to be really hungry for success, be pushy players who are willing to try anything on the field. Unfortunately, many players who have been around for a while tend to slip into a "comfort zone" & will find it harder to change how they play.

And we end up coming down to the age & size factors. All things being equal, for X-Ball they HAVE to go for the younger, fitter & smaller players & face it, many of the members of our top pro teams left their 20s a long time ago (along with 28 inch waists!).

Dammit Liz, first Wendy flips my previous thinking regarding chicks playing good Paintball and now you, displaying such an enlightened and informed understanding of paintball.
Now I swear I am not being patronising in any way, it's just unsettling to see for a hardened sexist like me
Pete

 

[Collier]

Originally posted by Robbo



Paul, now there's a question

Think I can guess the answer then lol

Paul