cheating
My apologies, but this is going to be a long post:
A few people have said that cheating is an integral part not only of paintball, but of all sports. I have to say that I would take issue with that, but lets examine a sport where cheating aka "Fouls" are an everyday occurrence; that of Football (or for our cousins across the pond, or at least from across the pond, soccer).
(Foul play!)
When a footballer fouls an opponent, the referee will (if called for and appropriate) stop play. He will inform the player of what he did wrong and may even penalise with a yellow or red card. Two Yellows or one red card and that player takes no further part in the proceedings. A considerable advantage, in the form of possession, is then handed to the other team.
In the case of unacceptable behaviour not associated with play the referee may still stop play and penalise players.
(And now here comes the important bit)
But this is not where it ends, after the game the governing body (UEFA, the FA whoever) automatically ban players for a number of games as a result of any cards earned.
Not only that, but the governing body will look at any particularly bad incidences, whether or not the ref picked up on them at the time, and may instigate greater bans or even fine players considerable amounts of money.
Particularly of note is the charge that the British FA may bring against any player "bringing the game into disrepute".
(How could this be applied to paintball?)
One really big advantage that football has (something REALLY worth noting is that football in this country does not have professional referees, in fact there are many of them that are fighting to keep things this way) is that video evidence may be considered in the case of any disciplinarily proceedings, so objective decisions may be made and action taken.
If a player breaks the rules then he should be penalised, not only with point deductions, 1-for-1s etc but he should receive, where appropriate, automatic bans from playing for the rest of the tournament, followed by a ban from playing in following tournaments.
Tournament organisers should film games (at least the finals) and then points should be adjusted and penalties awarded after the fact. So a player who has been seen wiping a hit (and there are commercial videos out there with players doing so out there) then he may be penalised.
If after the fact penalties were applied to may players then perhaps sponsors would be less willing to give that player their newest super-marker, and would be more likely to think twice before taking a double page spread in PGI of their golden boy holding his new toy.
(Why Paintball is easier than Football)
Paintball, unlike football has the great advantage that most calls are not a matter of opinion, but a matter of fact, if a player is hit by a paintball and it bursts then he is eliminated from play, it is as simple as that (well not quite, but I'm getting to that). You know when you have been hit by a paintball, with the very small exception of a few areas such as the marker, I feel it should then be the players responsibility to establish that he/she is still in the game, and not up to the marshal to keep track of every paintball.
(Why Paintball is harder)
Obviously there is always the touchy issue of "playing on" in a mugging situation. Many players feel that unless there is paint dripping down his goggles he is still entitled to finish the move and "let the marshal sort it out". If this is in fact the rule then it should be made abundantly clear to all concerned that this is the case. Marshals should be in positions to make such calls and should be willing to do so. However if games were in fact filmed, then contentious calls could be watched again and if it turns out that an eliminated player carried out a mugging then I feel that the points (including flag hangs) should be readjusted accordingly. After all if a max can only be achieved if all muggings were made by clean players; then it gives a big incentive to make damn sure you get it right and would help to ensure honesty at the time (if your team requires a max then you are much less likely to pretend that hit happened after a you mugged a player if you know that it'll be watched afterwards…)
(The End)
Paintball needs to eliminate cheating if it is to be considered as a real sport (come on guys, can you imagine the Olympic committee considering a sport in the state ours is in?) Maybe video camera's at tournaments is pie in the sky, but considering the amount of money involved a couple of cam-corders isn't that much is it?
I have never ever cheated at a tournament, and neither me or my team consider cheating to be acceptable, so like most players, any marshal can watch me any time.
Once again apologies for such a long post, but I feel that this is an important issue worthy of significant debate.
Richard Kirke
My apologies, but this is going to be a long post:
A few people have said that cheating is an integral part not only of paintball, but of all sports. I have to say that I would take issue with that, but lets examine a sport where cheating aka "Fouls" are an everyday occurrence; that of Football (or for our cousins across the pond, or at least from across the pond, soccer).
(Foul play!)
When a footballer fouls an opponent, the referee will (if called for and appropriate) stop play. He will inform the player of what he did wrong and may even penalise with a yellow or red card. Two Yellows or one red card and that player takes no further part in the proceedings. A considerable advantage, in the form of possession, is then handed to the other team.
In the case of unacceptable behaviour not associated with play the referee may still stop play and penalise players.
(And now here comes the important bit)
But this is not where it ends, after the game the governing body (UEFA, the FA whoever) automatically ban players for a number of games as a result of any cards earned.
Not only that, but the governing body will look at any particularly bad incidences, whether or not the ref picked up on them at the time, and may instigate greater bans or even fine players considerable amounts of money.
Particularly of note is the charge that the British FA may bring against any player "bringing the game into disrepute".
(How could this be applied to paintball?)
One really big advantage that football has (something REALLY worth noting is that football in this country does not have professional referees, in fact there are many of them that are fighting to keep things this way) is that video evidence may be considered in the case of any disciplinarily proceedings, so objective decisions may be made and action taken.
If a player breaks the rules then he should be penalised, not only with point deductions, 1-for-1s etc but he should receive, where appropriate, automatic bans from playing for the rest of the tournament, followed by a ban from playing in following tournaments.
Tournament organisers should film games (at least the finals) and then points should be adjusted and penalties awarded after the fact. So a player who has been seen wiping a hit (and there are commercial videos out there with players doing so out there) then he may be penalised.
If after the fact penalties were applied to may players then perhaps sponsors would be less willing to give that player their newest super-marker, and would be more likely to think twice before taking a double page spread in PGI of their golden boy holding his new toy.
(Why Paintball is easier than Football)
Paintball, unlike football has the great advantage that most calls are not a matter of opinion, but a matter of fact, if a player is hit by a paintball and it bursts then he is eliminated from play, it is as simple as that (well not quite, but I'm getting to that). You know when you have been hit by a paintball, with the very small exception of a few areas such as the marker, I feel it should then be the players responsibility to establish that he/she is still in the game, and not up to the marshal to keep track of every paintball.
(Why Paintball is harder)
Obviously there is always the touchy issue of "playing on" in a mugging situation. Many players feel that unless there is paint dripping down his goggles he is still entitled to finish the move and "let the marshal sort it out". If this is in fact the rule then it should be made abundantly clear to all concerned that this is the case. Marshals should be in positions to make such calls and should be willing to do so. However if games were in fact filmed, then contentious calls could be watched again and if it turns out that an eliminated player carried out a mugging then I feel that the points (including flag hangs) should be readjusted accordingly. After all if a max can only be achieved if all muggings were made by clean players; then it gives a big incentive to make damn sure you get it right and would help to ensure honesty at the time (if your team requires a max then you are much less likely to pretend that hit happened after a you mugged a player if you know that it'll be watched afterwards…)
(The End)
Paintball needs to eliminate cheating if it is to be considered as a real sport (come on guys, can you imagine the Olympic committee considering a sport in the state ours is in?) Maybe video camera's at tournaments is pie in the sky, but considering the amount of money involved a couple of cam-corders isn't that much is it?
I have never ever cheated at a tournament, and neither me or my team consider cheating to be acceptable, so like most players, any marshal can watch me any time.
Once again apologies for such a long post, but I feel that this is an important issue worthy of significant debate.
Richard Kirke
