Is paintball a sport? What makes it a sport?

[jeremy7]

I am doing research over this topic, is paintball a sport? I need facts about paintball, and what things make it a sport? like teamwork and so on?? i am looking all over the web and i came across this site and figured you could help me..anything you can give me, types of games and such as xball, speedball, and so on that you think are part of making paintball a sport...anything to convince me and a class of other people that paintball is a sport...when do you think it became sport?? do you think it will ever reach the olympics?

thanks for your time

-jc

 

[rancid]

Hi Jeremy,

Practically everything you mentioned has been covered on this site over the last couple of years. I suggest you do a search, cos maybe those who could really help you wiill be reluctant to post again on the subject.

I also recommend you get a copy of pgi magazine - this may help in a classroom debate.

Good luck.

 

[Liz]

Jeremy - try contacting Hotpoint from here. He's the guy that's been trying to get the Sports Council to recognise paintball as a sport in the UK so he should have all the arguments to hand.

 

[Problem]

Now I'm in trouble -- I get PGI only for TJ's editorials (well, steal it actually), but I did write an article for another equally good magazine (Paintball2xtremes) on this very topic. It's being published this month and next month in two parts, and since it's out, I'm not breaking any rules by telling you the jist of it. The reason I'm in trouble is I just came from another thread here that also happened to address the topic of an upcoming article of mine in the Jan or Feb issue.

I've used up my quota of "self-advertisement" space, apologies if such was inappropriate.

Paintball is not a gravity / extreme sport, nor is it a sport. It is barely a game. It is rare in the world as it has no parallels (even water polo has similar / like sports) and yet has three distinctly different but equipment sharing variations. "Pro's" are not pro's at all, but are unpaid (and I'm including the store clerk with the pony tail, no matter what the rumours are) amateurs with sponserships, and most novices are long time players sandbagging (as in playing at a lower level to win more). If you care, the title of the article is Paintball Is Not What You Think It Is.

Paintball is a "Super-sport". It has borrowed and evolved the best elements of computer single-shooters, childhood hide and seek, dual-sports like the biatholon, and martial sports. There are only a couple of "Super-sports" out there (tow-in surfing, sky-boarding, and BASE jumping), and arguably paintball accidentally became one (whereas the others were direct evolutions).

I could be wrong. I could also be fired as a writer, but the arguement is pretty strong. Now if only we can (and are allowed to) grow up,

Larry Janecka

 

[Ally^McK]

 

[We had Nexus first]

Dont know where you live, but many pro players and teams are starting to get a salary per tournament. Chris Lasoya, makes a nice chunk a change. So, yes they are Pros. Yes, this is a sport, it has every aspect of being a sport.

As for you,you are a Problem, and just go back to the woods were you belong.

 

[Rabies]

Originally posted by We had Nexus first
Dont know where you live, but many pro players and teams are starting to get a salary per tournament. Chris Lasoya, makes a nice chunk a change. So, yes they are Pros. Yes, this is a sport, it has every aspect of being a sport.

I think Chris LaSoya was the "store clerk with the pony tail" in question Oh, except his store's not there anymore And I'm note sure there's any proof yet of the story he's being paid 6 figures by anybody.

Now have I missed something, or does the sequence "extreme sport -> sport -> game -> barely a game -> super-sport" lack something in the logic department? Replace the word "super-sport" with "golf" and it makes sense

Yes, the division names are completely erroneous, maybe they should be "Amateur", "Amateur with sponsorship", "Amateur with more sponsorship" and "It's not how you play, it's who you know" but that really has no bearing whatsoever on whether paintball counts as a sport. It seems like your argument is about as strong as "I always get my ass bunkered off the break. Therefore paintball is not a sport."

Hope that helps. Have a nice day

Oh yes, a quick look at Merriam Webster's definition of "sport":

a : a source of diversion : RECREATION b : sexual play c (1) : physical activity engaged in for pleasure (2) : a particular activity (as an athletic game) so engaged in

Hmmm, I think that says more than I intended it to

 

[}{y8ri|)]

Wether its a sport or not do you have fun if yes thats all that matters



CHEERS BATTY

 

[ascutt]

Rabies

Having played tournaments for the last 12 years I rather take offense to your catagories. I much prefer:
New
Trying
Getting There
Bloody Good

Seems to sum it up nicely!!

 

[Robbo]

Originally posted by Problem
Now I'm in trouble -- I get PGI only for TJ's editorials (well, steal it actually), but I did write an article for another equally good magazine (Paintball2xtremes) on this very topic. It's being published this month and next month in two parts, and since it's out, I'm not breaking any rules by telling you the jist of it. The reason I'm in trouble is I just came from another thread here that also happened to address the topic of an upcoming article of mine in the Jan or Feb issue.

I've used up my quota of "self-advertisement" space, apologies if such was inappropriate.
Larry Janecka

Larry, u gotta be kiddin us ain't ya, u come on here spouting this and that about what you've written for other publications at every opportunity and then introduce the idea of it being inappropriate on PGI's web site ?
Robbo
US Editor of Paintball Games International