How to improve UK standards in Paintballing.

[sjt19]

With the introduction of a new series in the Uk, the M25 league, there is an oppertunity to increase the standard of Uk balling. The ideas banded around these forums about an end of season tourney with the best teams from all the leagues is a great idea. This will bring together the top teams in the country increasing the standard of everyone. Teams will then take this experience back to their respective leagues and improve the standard of play there.

I also believe that more Uk teams need to make the transition to playing the millennium events. I realise that this is expensive, and beyond the capabilities of some teams, but more effort needs to be made if we are to challenge the dominance of world paintball by the USA. In Portugal there were 20 odd Uk teams there, more than any other country, this is exactly what needs to happen at every Millennium event, as teams such as Wolf, Infiltrators, Jags, Unreal, Method and other Novice teams gain a huge amount of experience from these events, as indeed do Pro and Am teams, rather than just playing domestic tournaments.

Performances such as those that Backlash, Wolf, Infiltrators, Method, Tigers and Shockwave raise the awareness of UK teams in the eyes of Europe and the States, which can only be a good thing. Results like ours against Paintballgateway.com (a top USA Am team) (we took them to a draw), the Shockwave game vs Dynasty (Shock won!!) and any one of the 12 games that Tigers played against Strange does wonders for the confidence of teams, and makes them hungry for more success.

I sincerely believe that in order for Uk (and indeed Euro) balling to improve, there has to be greater cooperation between the top teams. I think that the best thing possible is more training against each other, and a syncronised assualt on the US (in balling terms obviously!! ). Maybe half a dozen of the top teams could make the jump stateside for the WC in miami and further improve the state of Uk playing. Just an idea, and i know an expensive and time consuming on, but nothing is free.........

Anyone have any ideas on how to improve the standard of Uk balling?

Oh, and you cant forget train train train!!!

Sam

 

[le-pig]

yep i do,we need to drop the cost of pb products over here(uk),us mere mortals can not afford to train and travel,and without new blood getting into the game ,how are we supposed to compete with the yanks

 

[Syd (NSPL)]

Sam, the UKPL is the perfect vehicle for this. Teams should strive to attend as many of these feeder events as possible and then the UK National Final is going to have the top teams from across the country competing. This will be the toughest competition you can possibly get in the UK - that can only help improve UK paintballing standards.

 

[Dave S ECI]

Le-Pig: If you want to improve you must take the view that training is more important than playing for a decent length of time, therefore it is less an issue of cost and more an issue of commitment.

 

[Andy]

some teams would rather train and train hard then to go to these feeder events, and u will then see a higher standard of play as theyve worked for it more.

 

[L J]

Originally posted by Andy
some teams would rather train and train hard then to go to these feeder events, and u will then see a higher standard of play as theyve worked for it more.

Team zone have done thius....they have trained at LPS for aaaaages watching how teams go wrong etc,......then they went to the 1st leg of M25 (their first tourny) and ripped up the whole rookie section because of it

but i cannot afford to train AND play...i can do one or the other

 

[blakey]

Maybe..................if?

We at the Midlands Masters have been listening to the teams, and their points of view, we have at the request of the teams made our main series, all Concept, next year in consultation with our UKPL partners we may see a move towards more 7man Concept events, and with other initiatives such as the UKPL,and the Disciplinary and rules committee( name to be changed soon, as the role is being defined).

As an aside I agree more training does help teams to improve, but define training, because some teams think that training is just turning up and playing ball, not that it's a bad thing, but training really does need to be structured.

 

[sjt19]

Originally posted by Syd (SWPL)
Sam, the UKPL is the perfect vehicle for this.

Matey i couldnt agree more!!! I think that the effort that the organisers of the respective leagues have put into the thought behind a national system should be applauded. It is this kind of effort that will further the standards of Uk balling immensley.

Organisers, take a bow and give yourself a pat on the back.

It may take time, but there are certainly people about with the drive and determination to make it succeed.

Exciting times lay ahead!

sam

 

[gaff]

Originally posted by sjt19

I also believe that more Uk teams need to make the transition to playing the millennium events. I realise that this is expensive, and beyond the capabilities of some teams, but more effort needs to be made if we are to challenge the dominance of world paintball by the USA.

I sincerely believe that in order for Uk (and indeed Euro) balling to improve, there has to be greater cooperation between the top teams. I think that the best thing possible is more training against each other, and a syncronised assualt on the US (in balling terms obviously!! ).
Sam

couldnt agree more Sam. i have been trying my nuts off getting members of STORM to play more of the milleniums, but to date it looks like we are only gonna play Amsterdam, Toulouse and campaign. this i feel is not good enough, cos by the time we realise the standard that the foreign teams are playing at we will only have two more events to improve! yesterday at the M25 highlighted our weaknesses against You guys, your pro team and Tigers pro, we simply do not train enough (once this season!!!!! )

on the training front, i also think your suggestion is a good idea, interaction between teams has been happening stateside for ever, we need to catch them before we can overtake them!

as an asside, can anyone tell me wht the history is between STORM and SHOCKWAVE cos i'm a newish player for STORM and cant understand why every other team wanted to shake hands before and after a game, but us two!

 

[SHERIFF]

Some days we turn up to training and dont play a single game just drills.
We set up targets around our bail feild and do target practice.
1 on 1 snap shooting that kind of thing other days its 10 to15 games.
We like shock am have the benefit of haveing 2 of the best teams in europe to train against.
I think the UKPL will help a lot to get the uk teams better and if it all changes to 7 man sup air the better....