Welcome To P8ntballer.com
The Home Of European Paintball
Sign Up & Join In

Recognition as a 'sport'

Raffles

Going....going....not quite dead yet...
Jun 21, 2004
2,766
1
63
57
oldham - lancs
Aha - thanks for clearing that up Liz. I'm not a 'horsey' person as you probably guessed.

This does bring me back an old point I keep chirping on about though. That being the name of the 'sport'.

If you noticed all the horse sports I mentioned - most of them don't even mention the word horse in them. So why do we still have to call the sports side of paintball 'paintball'?

For the sake of the newer members of this forum - my proposal is for a completely new name for tournament paintball. I just have no idea what it should be called. But, let's say it's called "supair" (as an example). If you tell Joe Public you play "paintball", they immediately think of the woods and camo (as this is probably the most exposure they have ever had to it). Now, instead of telling them you play "paintball", tell them you play "supair" and they will more likely ask "what's that then?" and have no preconceived ideas involving trees. Never mention the word "paintball" and I bet you spark some interest - as opposed to inducing a coma :).

Sorry to go all 'off-topic' again. I believe the name and image is something that should be looked at a lot more closely.

Actually - to try and drag in some 'on-topic' flavour. What would happen if you approached the SC and asked them for recognition of a new sport - called "supair" - with no mention of paintball at all?
 

Magic_8ball

$outh $ide
Sep 24, 2005
2,719
0
61
Probably Licking AL France...
Visit site
Aha - thanks for clearing that up Liz. I'm not a 'horsey' person as you probably guessed.

This does bring me back an old point I keep chirping on about though. That being the name of the 'sport'.

If you noticed all the horse sports I mentioned - most of them don't even mention the word horse in them. So why do we still have to call the sports side of paintball 'paintball'?

For the sake of the newer members of this forum - my proposal is for a completely new name for tournament paintball. I just have no idea what it should be called. But, let's say it's called "supair" (as an example). If you tell Joe Public you play "paintball", they immediately think of the woods and camo (as this is probably the most exposure they have ever had to it). Now, instead of telling them you play "paintball", tell them you play "supair" and they will more likely ask "what's that then?" and have no preconceived ideas involving trees. Never mention the word "paintball" and I bet you spark some interest - as opposed to inducing a coma :).

Sorry to go all 'off-topic' again. I believe the name and image is something that should be looked at a lot more closely.

Actually - to try and drag in some 'on-topic' flavour. What would happen if you approached the SC and asked them for recognition of a new sport - called "supair" - with no mention of paintball at all?
I think the man has a very good point! *applause*
 

Half-Pint

Underground
Jun 18, 2002
432
0
0
Whilst changing the name of tournament paintball does have some very good merits, and opens doors for some fresh angles... does anyone else not think that it kinda smacks of a poor gimmic? i mean like those stupid american hybrid sports you see on crappy sky channels 'Extreme turbo supair shooty bang turbo extreme bang turbo extreme!' y'know?

although in fairness.. those sports are on tv..

to do list..
-contact the SC and apply for recognition of 'Extreme turbo supair shooty bang turbo extreme bang turbo extreme!'

-contact Fox/ESPN2/Sky Sports9 and tell them all about my crazy new sport thats gonna be well cool called 'Extreme turbo supair shooty bang turbo extreme bang turbo extreme!' and try and sell them broadcasting and image rights...
 

Raffles

Going....going....not quite dead yet...
Jun 21, 2004
2,766
1
63
57
oldham - lancs
I don't see it as a gimmic - but a sound business idea. You have to look at it from a business angle - as the SC are a business.

The name has to be something short and memorable (*waits for Skeet to interject*) - or even something long - but with good initials.

Once we can safely seperate the sports side form the rec side, we can progress. This even leaves the door open for DF to talk to the SC about their intentions (whatever they are). And, as much as some people don't like DF - they are still there after many years - and are still used by a lot of people (even if they have never heard of Peter Robinson :p).

Half-Pint said:
although in fairness.. those sports are on tv..
Exactly!
 

Robbo

Owner of this website
Jul 5, 2001
13,116
2,157
448
London
www.p8ntballer.com
I'm not so sure the fact DF have been around for a long time and they process a lot of people makes them in any way eligible to represent our sport as some sort of official body.
I don't trust their reasons for seeking this recognition and I don't trust their overall ethos.
It would be a massive step backwards if they got anywhere near achieving that goal.
If I had to choose somebody to represent us, it would be Bully, he may not have the complete package of skills that is needed but he is I believe, a man of integrity and that matters more than anything in my book.
He can learn what he lacks but you can't learn integrity, you either have it or you don't.
 

john251282

Platinum Member
Oct 4, 2005
1,212
23
63
Bristol
www.google.co.uk
I don't see it as a gimmic - but a sound business idea. You have to look at it from a business angle - as the SC are a business.
Exactly!
Certainly is! As I brought up in the other thread, current examples include American Football and football, Rugby Union and Rugby League.

I think what could make a key difference might be, for example if tournament paintball moved totally over to Xball then just call the sport Xball. Or Xtremeball, I am sure there are loads of variations people could suggest.

It is all about branding. And "Paintball" has be so successfully branded by site owners that the public only thinks that rec ball exists. So a different name is VITAL!
 

Russell Smith

The Paintball Association
I'm not so sure the fact DF have been around for a long time and they process a lot of people makes them in any way eligible to represent our sport as some sort of official body.
I don't trust their reasons for seeking this recognition and I don't trust their overall ethos.
It would be a massive step backwards if they got anywhere near achieving that goal.


Being around for a suitable time frame is certainly a prerequisite for application to be made to the SC but there is so much other criteria that has to be met I promise you they could never get anywhere near what is required, they are not worth worrying about, they are only a fly in the ointment so to speak and who ever gets the nod will have my full support because I know what is necessary to achieve it.
And you now what, if a bunch of idiots did manage to get control they could not "spoil" what we have at the moment as in make it worse because they would have no influence at all and there status could be rescinded by the sports council who double check everything for quite a while.
However if it is possible that the same idiots may have some good ideas and may help paintball or "supair" along.

Russ