Brit Future

[Robbo]

After seeing what Joy Division achieved over this past year both sides of the Atlantic, it brings into an extremely sharp focus exactly where we are at when it comes to international paintball. Our short to mid term destiny is inextricably locked into the Millennium with no prospect whatsoever of any Stateside presence and let's face it, that's where it's at for any self respecting baller.
Can we ever get a team back up there to play with big boys or are we destined to play in a bridesmaid league otherwise known as the Millennium?

This is not in any way meant to be a diss to the Millennium or any of its teams but it is universally recognised the best teams in the world (all but one) play exclusively in the US.

 

[WEEBLE1]

I think that this is mainly due to the fact, of the promise of being paid to play, *like Ollie Lang*

That would almost NEVER happen, over here, in the UK, infact it is EXACTLY the opposite - WE pay to play..........a BIG difference.
Also the Americans tend to have a lot MORE free time, and more disposable income to play with, and a bit of television coverage etc, helps too.

Paintball in the UK, is thought of, by NON paintballer's, as a load of folk running about, trying to be John Rambo, or The Terminator......its looked on as a silly game, like boys playing war, especially by my WIFE !!!!

Like you say Robbo, it would be nice to see Professional league players in the UK, don't think it'll happen

 

[phillips]

I think it comes down to the same things repeated before, the player base that either isn't commited enough( due to costs or inaccessability) or those who seek competetive paintball, but their thirst is only quenched via speedball so they ar epushed ontoa scene they may not want to be part of.

I think eventually we will be a big presence(sp?) on the world stage however we need to change a lot of the way players get into paintball.
I want to get competitive, yet there is no substabtial woods leauge for me so I know everntually I will get into speedball one way or another, my point being is that I shouldn't be the core that speedball teams are built on, ye tI feel a lot of players are in the same shoes as I am.

If we don't have a solid enough player base how can we hope to get enough raw tallent to progress?, I think football is a good example of how the pure tallent and people who are soley interested in that section of the sport are groomed into top team players.

Plus we do have a smaller pool of talent, not everything is in our favour.


My 2 pence

 

[Hoodless ECI]

*cough* Kelly's *cough*

I personly think that european and british ball is on the rise.
we see countless number's of young players entering the scene every week/month. Established teams are taking on a lot of young blood and new team's are forever popping up.
I think it may just be some time 'till we get our name back into international paintball.
also, Paintball in america from what i believe and have read is seen in a tottaly different attitude. i mean. if you walk down a British high-street today and ask 100 people what is paintball. i approximate that 5-10 people will have a clue what the sport is like and maybe knowledge of what we play, 50 will reply " Big kids running around the wood's with guns shooting paint at eachother on sundays "
and the rest will say something along the lines of " What's paintball? " or just walk away not giving a sh!t.
Maybe we should make a combined effort to promote tournement paintball and rec-ball alike.
how we should go about this is another issue.

I can't wait for the day that paintball will be as big here as it is in the states. But for now we simply can't compare to the caliber of the USA due to the lack of knowledge of our beloved sport.

One day we will show them... and we shall have our men up there once again.


A lot of dribble from me really
maybe the more wise among us can build on this.

Balloon #12

 

[Tom Allen]

I doubt the level of paintball will rise in this country, until we get rid of the many self obsessed tournament series, and all play in one league. A league that everyone has a chance to play at every level, and for a prize that means something to everyone.

 

[Matski]

Webble where do you get this crap from? Olly Lang didn't wake up one day and think 'hmmm where's the MEGA bucks at, the real money, I know - paintball!'. If the promise of a pay packet was the key motivator there would be few world class players around. I can't be bothered to respond to the rest of the examples, but they all just smack of the usual excuses. People will be harping on about the player base soon - despite the Russians and now the Swedes disproving it.

Our problem is culture and attitudes, and those are notoriously hard to change unfortunately. We seem to have an issue with getting 'one up' on each other and find reasons to play little league instead of dedicating to something and helping each other out. Our competitive drive seems to be focused on proving something to other teams and raising the middle finger, rather than just winning.

 

[spreadz07]

Maybe in a league where the organizers done it for the players and not their OWN pockets!!!
I know its time and money, I have organized tournaments before, but most organizers I know, line their own pockets. (few exceptions)
Nige

 

[WEEBLE1]

Tom,


But THAT league, would have to be :-

a) Accessible *central location for ALL of the country*
b) Affordable
c) Well run & promoted
d) & Finally - fun to play in....... well marshalled.....worth all the hassle

I play @ the UK Masters, I also play rec-ball @ Unreal Paintball in Staffordshire.
I'm one of the lucky folk, who CAN afford to play paintball - usually do it EVERY week....I'm hoping to start playing the Milleniums, next year (2007)

 

[Tom Allen]

There's no reason why all the current organisers can't step into a league system which could be played accross the uk, at their venues and others.

 

[spreadz07]

There's no reason why all the current organisers can't step into a league system which could be played accross the uk, at their venues and others.

And lose big profits Tom???
NEVER!!!
Nige